New York is full of clever speakeasies with hidden doors in the back of barber shops or restaurants. Now, there’s yet another one to add to our list.
Patent Coffee is an unassuming neighborhood cafe by day, but once evening comes the shop transforms into a dark, candle-lit decoy. Hiding behind an ordinary-looking door in the back is Patent Pending—a swanky speakeasy in an old cellar of the Radio Wave Building.
Fun fact: Nikola Tesla once worked and lived in the building.
During the day, you can step into Patent Coffee for your quick bite and cup of coffee. They offer cookies, pastries, croissants for food and a variety of to-go drinks including six teas, drip coffee, espresso, nitro, and cold brew. The pastries are all baked daily by Pain d’Avignon and the cookies are made by Senior Food Editor of Bon Appetit, Claire Saffitz.
When you come back to the shop after 5 p.m. you’ll experience a completely different side…literally. The speakeasy takes on a radio theme to complement the history of the building it’s in. To get inside you’ll have to use the buzzer located outside the coffee shop. Once inside you’ll be guided by dim lights through the cafe to the secret door that opens to the cellar bar.
The drinks at Patent Pending were created by Harrison Ginsberg and Nick Rolin, from well-known bars Dead Rabbit and BlackTail respectively. The menu at the bar is broken down into four categories inspired by the electric theme as well as Tesla himself (who they call the ‘Electric Messiah’): energy, frequency, vibration, and descent.
Patent is located at 49 West 27th Street, and the coffee shop opens at 7 a.m.
What: Patent Pending
Where: 49 West 27th Street
Operating Hours: Sunday – Wednesday, 5 p.m. – 12 a.m.; Thursday – Saturday, 5 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Featured image source: Instagram / @patentpendingnyc