Speakeasy & Craft Cocktail Bars in Frederick MD

Hunting for a speakeasy in Frederick, MD? There's one that earns the name: McClintock's Back Bar, hidden behind a pair of red doors near McClintock Distilling and styled like a 1920s speakeasy. Beyond that single hidden room, Frederick's real after-dark strength is its craft cocktail bars — open, walk-in spots downtown where the drinks are made with the same care, minus the secret door.

The Speakeasy & Cocktail Shortlist

McClintock's Back Bar: The Real Thing

McClintock's Back Bar (35 S Carroll St) is the closest Frederick gets to a true speakeasy. Tucked behind bright red doors a few steps from the main entrance to McClintock Distilling, it delivers the hidden-bar atmosphere — a small, considered room where cocktails are built in front of you. The drinks lean on McClintock's own distilled spirits and locally sourced ingredients, so a stop here doubles as a tour of what the distillery actually makes.

This is the one place in town that genuinely plays on the Prohibition-era speakeasy concept. If a hidden-door night out is what you're after, start here.

Frederick's Craft Cocktail Bars

Outside the Back Bar, Frederick's cocktail culture lives in open, walk-in spots downtown. White Rabbit Gastropub (18 Market Space) is listed as a cocktail bar and beer hall and is an easy, dependable choice for a well-made drink. The Tasting Room (101 N Market St) brings an upscale cocktail-and-wine program to the heart of Market Street, and Showroom (882 N East St) offers a cocktail-forward New American menu a little off the main strip.

None of these hide behind a secret door — but the craft is the point. For a Frederick cocktail crawl, they're the backbone.

Hours at smaller cocktail rooms can be limited and weekends fill up. Call ahead to confirm hours before you make the trip.