Dorothy Downstairs

Cloaked in ‘70s-era flair—wood-paneling, disco balls, pressed velvet wallpaper, an enticing array of plump burgundy-hued sectional couches and vintage lounge furniture—this queer-owned and -operated speakeasy beneath West Town fried chicken palace Split-Rail is full steam ahead after two years of COVID-fueled delays. And while the lounge might lean LGBTQ+—“a friend of Dorothy” was a covert identifier for closeted gay folks in the mid-20th century—this joint’s subterranean doors are open to bar-goers of any background, dubbing themselves queer-friendly rather than exclusively gay. Check your preconceptions at the door, grab a skillfully made throwback cocktail, and get into the groove Thursday through Monday evenings starting at 6 pm.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.