PDT stands for Please Don’t Tell… but today we’re going to tell everything.
Please Don’t Tell is one of the most iconic speakeasies that you can visit in NYC and as such it is a must visit for any trip. Get ready to walk up to a vintage phone booth and step inside to enter a classy cocktail bar full of delicious and unique drinks. Ready to go? Awesome, because today we’re going to be going over everything you need to know to have a great visit to PDT.
The very first thing you need to know is that a reservation is required!
Getting A Reservation
Back on one of my first trips to New York City I tried to just show up to PDT with absolutely zero luck. What I learned is that if you want to guarantee your entry you need to get a reservation. In order to get a reservation simply call them at 3:00 PM, you will need to keep calling until you get through to someone. When I called it took about 15 minutes before I was able to talk to a host. She quickly set me up with an evening time slot and we were good to go!
How To Get To PDT
One of the things that makes PDT so unique is the entrance. PDT is located inside Crif dogs which is an East Village hotdog joint. The cool part about them being combined is that if you go in for cocktails and decide that you’re hungry you can always order a hot dog with a crazy combination of ingredients or even a burger. Once inside Crif dogs you want to locate the vintage telephone booth on the left wall. Hop on into the booth and make a call by following the instructions and a Hostess will open a hidden door in the wall to let you in.
Make sure to get there either on time or a little bit early as spots are given away if you’re even 15 minutes late. While there are tables there is also the option of sitting at the bar. My personal preference is almost always to get a table if possible. Also, do be warned that service is slow and seating is slow even with a reservation.
What To Order
The Green Light and Paddington are classics at PDT, but any cocktail should be expertly crafted. They also serve beer, although my friends beer came warm… which was odd.
Add some nachos or a hot dog from next door and your stomach will thank you later!
Overall, PDT is a cool speakeasy experience. Some of my table’s drinks were good, others were average. The hot dogs were good! But no reservation is needed for those. The service leaves something to be desired. So, overall, I feel like it’s one of those “must do once in your life” New York City experiences. HOWEVER, there are plenty of other cool and amazing cocktail bars in New York City and there are also other Speakeasies you can visit with better service.