A speakeasy during the Prohibition era, this still-secret tavern behind an unmarked door on Bedford Street retains its original ambience with oak booths, a fireplace once used by a blacksmith, and a sawdust-strewn floor. For years Chumley's attracted a literary clientele (John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, Edna Ferber, Simone de Beauvoir, and Jack Kerouac), and the book covers of their publications still proudly adorn the walls. There's another "secret" entrance in Pamela Court, accessed at 58 Barrow Street around the corner. As of this writing, Chumley's was closed but expected to reopen soon; call for information.
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