Start planning your ultimate South Carolina adventure with a free copy of the 2025 Vacation Guide. Request your free copy, view the guide online or download a PDF version below.
Mysterious hallways, hidden doors, whispered passwords: Finding your way to Greenville’s speakeasies can be like taking an intriguing journey to another time and place.
Gatsby and friends might be fiction, but dressing up and sipping classic libations in clandestine quarters is a real experience you don’t want to miss.
If you want to party like it’s 1929, follow our clues to these hush-hush nightspots hiding in plain sight throughout downtown Greenville.
655 S. Main St., Suite 100 | (864) 603-1881
Clues: Walk around to the back of the Edward Jones Building and pass the dental office. You will be on the Falls Park side. Vault & Vator will be behind an inconspicuous-looking door at the basement level. Request entrance from whoever is standing guard.
Mood: Cozy and dim-lit with intimate seating areas, made-to-order Golden Age cocktails and a small but nicely curated menu of nibbles
Hint: First come, first served. Walk-in only.
1268 Pendleton St | (864) 214-1797
Clues: Enter the Wonderland-like Rabbit Hole, go around the bar, then walk down a dimly lit hall with an “employees only” look. You’ll find The Library in a secret back room. You can also enter through a private door from the back of the establishment on Branwood Street.
Mood: Like going through the looking glass, down the rabbit hole and landing in the library of a well-traveled barrister. Law books line the shelves, walls are filled with rabbit art and gold timepieces and exotic trinkets from faraway lands appoint nooks and crannies. Unique cocktails and small plates complement the whimsical vibe. Don’t skip a trip to the “facilities” with a floor made entirely of pennies save for a single dime. See if you can spot it.
Hint: Walk-ins are welcome but make a reservation to avoid disappointment.
315 S. Main St. | (864) 720-2950
Clues: Walk through Camperdown Plaza to the AC Hotel and take the red-carpet entrance. Ride the elevator to the second floor “Press Room Editor’s Office” then pass through the secret door.
Mood: Old-school newsroom vibe with appointments that pay tribute to the glory days of newspapers. Signature drinks match the theme and pair nicely with oysters, caviar, Wagyu and other menu offerings. Pop-up transformations with themes like “Aprés Ski Lodge” and “Cheshire Cat” are super fun and keep things fresh.
Hint: Reservations are a must. About 30 minutes before your scheduled time, a private access code will be sent to you so you can enter the bar.
220 E Coffee St | 864-434-9519
Clues: Located in a small, nondescript brick building on a street corner, you will know the Swordfish Cocktail Club by the swordfish emblem on the door.
Mood: Sophisticated and intimate with an elegant bar, attentive service, outstanding classic cocktails and a selection of shareable plates. This is adulting at its best, so dress smart and immerse yourself in the prohibition vibe.
Hint: Reservations are a must, but you must text or call to secure.
104 S Main St., Suite 105 | (864) 248-0702
Clues: Enter the Maestro Bistro and Dinner Club and ask the bartender for the password. (Be sure to whisper.) You will be directed to an attendant. Provide the password and watch the double bookshelf part to reveal the entrance to Entre Nous.
Mood: Relaxed 1920’s swank with expert mixologists, live music and a chef-crafted menu. Dark wood, leather furnishings and tables for intimate conversation invite lingering.
Hint: To secure a reservation, call Maestro Bistro at (864) 248-0702.
