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50 states: 50 hidden restaurants and bars

Devorah Lev-Tov
Special for USA TODAY
Ohio’s Metropolitan at the 9, an Autograph Collection hotel, recently turned its underground space, The Vault, into a classy cocktail spot. Hidden in the maze of vaults and corridors that once kept the wealth of the Cleveland Trust Co., handcrafted drinks and a small plates menu with items like charcuterie and oysters are served in the classy lounge with vintage accents.

Speakeasies were real during Prohibition — covert bars where people could score illegal alcohol and have a good time away from prying eyes. When booze became legal again in 1933, speakeasies went the way of the dodo…or so we thought.

Recent years have brought back the allure of a clandestine place where customers can feel like they’re in on the secret, whether it’s a swanky cocktail club, a friendly dive bar or an exclusive restaurant.

“Eating has changed a ton over the years," says Michael Schulson, founder of the Schulson Collective restaurant group in Philadelphia. "Going out isn't dinner and a movie anymore. Now people see their meal as a night’s worth of entertainment. To enhance this experience we’ve found people love the element of surprise and mystery as well as another experience within the package."

Schulson has developed a penchant for two-in-one concepts, with one component always being something of a secret.

"Our downstairs izakaya at Double Knot, the bowling at Elbow Lane (below Harp & Crown), and Graffiti Bar hidden behind Sampan all offer a second experience that give guests a reason to spend their entire night with us.”

The latest iteration of this concept is Nokku, the clandestine karaoke bar at Monkitail, opening April 28 at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, Fla.

Secret bars and restaurants have become so popular that every state has at least one. These concealed destinations hide in seemingly innocuous establishments (like a gas station or office building), or reside above or below other bars or restaurants, at the end of dark alleys or out in the wilderness (really). And with camouflaged doors that vary from refrigerators to safes to bookcases, it’s easy to walk right past the entrance to these out-of-sight establishments.

Browse the gallery above for our favorite hidden bars and restaurants in each state (and D.C.).

Plus, see America's most Instagrammed restaurants below.

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