Just have a drink, will ya?

One of my favourite things to do while I was traveling around the globe was to find the hidden bar in every city I went to - otherwise known as speakeasy's. They're called speakeasy's because they date back to Prohibition-Era when you would enter a hidden establishment that served booze, the bartender would give you a drink and say, "sssh, speak easy" in case the cops were close by. Speakeasy's are fun - they're exclusive and have a very "chill lounge" kind of vibe.

One of my all time favourite speakeasies was in Melbourne on Chapel Street called Jungle Boy. The idea is, you walk into this place called Boston Sub and there is a fridge door behind the counter. You open the fridge door and then you're in a hidden cocktail bar!  Also, the music you'll hear, while drinking overpriced custom-made Moscow Mules, at these bars is quite eclectic. 

Here are some of the random songs I've added to my Spotify playlist, courtesy of the music I've heard in hidden bars around the world:

1. Mary Epworth - Me Swimming (Paris)

I heard this song while I was drinking a martini at a hidden bar near the Moulin Rouge in Paris. (I don't remember the name but it had a tropical theme, pretty sure there were live parrots too)! This is honestly the best kind of tune to chill out to or even if you're just trying to nurse a hangover. (Hanging out at The Moulin Rouge with some friends and coworkers, I'm on the right).

2. Lynryd Skynyrd - The Needle and The Spoon (South Lake Tahoe)

Gotta love this band. This song is off their album - Second Helping which was made popular by it's second single - Sweet Home Alabama. I actually thoroughly enjoyed the entire album including this song - The Needle and The Spoon which was also a lot of fun to jam out to while sipping on an old fashioned at a hidden bar in South Lake Tahoe.

 3. Public Service Broadcasting - Spitfire (Berlin)

Back in 2017, I hit up Berlin for the first time. It would be the first of my many subsequent visits to Berlin as this city really drew me in to it's progressive almost "anything-goes" kinda vibe. My good friend Ryan was actually the person who got me into the whole "hidden bar" scene and one night we went out to some hidden bar that was tucked away behind some massage parlour in the trendy neighborhood of Mitte. I knew this was going to be an expensive night once I saw that there were no prices on the menu. I ended up paying 20 euro for one cocktail but I will say, it was a damn good cocktail! oh....I also heard this song which was kinda cool too. (Picture of me and Ryan in Nice, no it's not what it looks like).

4. Michael Kiwanuka - Black Man in a White World (Berlin)

To be fair, I didn't hear this song at a speakeasy. I was in Berlin for Lollapalooza Music Festival and off in the distance I heard this song come on. I was with my friend Holly at the time and we were both pretty intrigued by this tune especially with the never-ending repeating lyrics, "I'm a black man in white world". The song talks about how as a black man he found it surprising that there was a huge white audience at his shows. (This is a random picture with me and Holly in Madrid. I didn't have a picture in the bar). 

5. Sixth Finger, Dew - Patience - Cool Wave Mix (Cartagena)

So this song wasn't at a hidden bar per se but it had a cool theme so I'm throwing it in the mix. The bar is called KGB and has a soviet vibe (no the drinks aren't all the same price). THis song came on right when I walked in and of course I recognized it because I'm a huge Guns n' Roses fan. This cover has a very soothing feel. It also sounded so much better 3 White Russians deep while wearing Soviet Hats. (That's me picture on the left with 2 friends I made in Colombia).

Tell me some of your chill tunes to enjoy a nice drink to!

Enjoy your Monday!
Mark D
IG: themarkdshow