Speakeasies are definitely a thing of the past, or so we thought. There is actually a speakeasy right here in the South Wedge! Cheshire is discretely hidden above Solera Wine Bar, which is located on South Ave in Rochester, NY.
Speakeasies got their name in the 1920's for being underground bars during the prohibition, which was when the sale, manufacture and transportation of alcohol was illegal. The term comes from a patron's manner of ordering alcohol without raising suspicion - a bartender would tell a patron to be quiet and 'speak easy'. The underground bars would operate in abandoned buildings, basements, anywhere that was not easily accessible to the public.There were back doors that the patrons would enter through, but in order to gain access, you had to know the secret password or knock and a membership card was required.
Another term for Speakeasy is Blind Pig. the difference between them is a Speakeasy is a higher class establishment and a Blind Pig is a lower class, dive bar.
Cheshire is anything but a Blind Pig! It is definitely worth the Speakeasy name. The bar serves classic drinks, "like Corpse Reviver No. 2, Aviation, and Death in the Afternoon, along with other timeless concoctions invented in the first half of the 20th century but enjoying a renaissance today thanks to the craft-cocktail movement" (Dayna Papaleo, The city Newspaper). Cheshire is also dressed in an old fashioned decor, but yet there is a slight modern flare to the space.
To enter Cheshire, you need to pass through Solera and head up the stairs located at the rear of the room. As you walk up the flight, you are greeted by candles that sit illuminating narrow slits within the brick wall, giving the illusion you are going though an underground passage to a secret space. As you come to the top, you step into a room with navy blue walls and bronze and crystal lighting. There are a few tables placed strategically about the space and a wood bar with stools at the front. The mood of the room is anything but pretentious, but more laid back, a space to relax in and enjoy the company of your friends.
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| Old World, yet Modern chandeliers |
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| Huge selection of spirits, many hard to find at other bars around the area |
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| View of the rest of the space |
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| Love the bottles in front of the windows |
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| Stairway through one of the old fashioned lead pained windows |
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| View of the bar from the back of the room |
Another term for Speakeasy is Blind Pig. the difference between them is a Speakeasy is a higher class establishment and a Blind Pig is a lower class, dive bar.
Cheshire is anything but a Blind Pig! It is definitely worth the Speakeasy name. The bar serves classic drinks, "like Corpse Reviver No. 2, Aviation, and Death in the Afternoon, along with other timeless concoctions invented in the first half of the 20th century but enjoying a renaissance today thanks to the craft-cocktail movement" (Dayna Papaleo, The city Newspaper). Cheshire is also dressed in an old fashioned decor, but yet there is a slight modern flare to the space.
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