It’s the 1920s. Prohibition is still in place, and in New Orleans, Louisiana, the only thing on your mind is the need to take the edge off with a nice, cold drink. But you can’t. Unless…
I’m not supposed to share this with you, but I’ve also never been good at keeping secrets. Word on the street is there’s a new spot on the block — 600 Block to be exact — that has just what you need to take the edge off. All you need to know is one little word…
Now that secret I can’t spill, but what I can share is that the 600 Block Speakeasy in Universal CityWalk is making a comeback, and it’s even better the second time around.
I’ve made several hints at what kind of business is taking place at 600 Block, but in case it wasn’t clear enough — this joint is for the 21 and older crowd. This speakeasy officially opened its doors Thursday, April 9, and you can indulge in all the light bites, good drinks, live music, and great vibes (in secret) until August 23, 2026.
600 Block: Setting the Scene
Drinking isn’t the only secret going around at 600 Block — the theming itself is one big secret! To be a speakeasy is to put up a front, and that’s exactly what 600 Block is doing. Lovingly named after the street where the first Pat O’Brien’s opened in New Orleans, 600 Block is a fairly new concept at Universal that turns history into fun.
To the untrained eye, 600 Block is just a warehouse-turned-hideaway bar dealing in high-end goods. From intricate paintings to extravagant jewelry, not a single detail was missed — except one! What those untrained eyes (and hopefully the cops) didn’t catch is that those high-end goods are of the stolen variety.
Each painting has been draped with cloth so as not to draw suspicion from the fuzz. The whole space has this kind of over-the-top velvet opulence that just draws you in for more. Couple that with some low lighting, swanky furniture, smooth tunes, and drinks crafted to the cat’s meow, and you’ve got yourself a certified 1920s speakeasy!
Lora Tarleton, Venue General Manager at Universal CityWalk, has been working tirelessly alongside her team to bring a speakeasy to the theme park. With the unexpected success that came from last year’s 600 Block installation, she and her team knew they had to go big this year when given the opportunity to bring it back.
“We are just bringing in this new experience where guests can come and truly sit, relax, and enjoy,” Lora says. “The cocktails and the food are elevated from what you would find outside of 600 Block, so it doesn’t feel like you’re in a theme park.”
One step inside of 600 Block truly makes it seem like you’ve been blasted into the past, which Lora says she hopes creates new memories for guests that they’ll never forget.
“It’s kind of like you’re entering a time warp, and when you step inside, you’re 100% going to feel like you’re sitting in the 1920s,” Lora says. “We’re creating a memory. Everything that you hear, see, and smell creates a memory for you.”
Lora and her team took that theming seriously — down to the names found on product labels throughout the venue. “They’ve got ‘Giggle Water’ bottles labeled as ‘Coffin Varnish’ … all the words that we would have used in the ‘20s to not let the police know that it’s alcoholic,” she says.
We can thank Channah Gencarelli, CityWalk’s Producer and General Manager of Entertainment and Events, and Lauren Culver, Show Director of Entertainment and Events in CityWalk, for this level of creativity. More than just savvy wordsmiths, these ladies played an integral role in finding all the right décor to turn this 1920s speakeasy dream into reality.
“The space itself provided both our best inspiration and our most intriguing challenges,” Lauren says. “The Briar Suite is an intimate footprint in comparison to other bar spaces we have overlaid, and yet, it was important to me that the guests feel a sense of immersion into the story of ‘the speakeasy.’”
By day, the space 600 Block resides in, known as the aforementioned Briar Suite, doubles as a meeting space for our Universal CityWalk food and beverage partners, which is something Lauren says she and Channah took into great consideration when designing the speakeasy.
“That meant developing a set with our Art and Design partners, but one that would not overcrowd and interfere with the wonderful work Food and Beverage is doing in the space,” Lauren says. “It was a lovely moment, really, of ‘necessity is the mother of invention,’ because the idea that a speakeasy would need to be able to hide their ‘contraband’ quickly makes sense thematically. Thus, the fabrics and curtains that are now part of the design in the space hold dual purpose: In story, they are for the moonshiners to cover their goods when the ‘fuzz’ comes; in reality, they are used to adapt the space for other uses.”
When guests step foot into 600 Block, Lora says she and her team want the overall experience to make them feel like they’re being pampered. “It feels like we’ve popped this opulent bar in the middle of a warehouse,” she says.
“I hope guests step into the space — once they’ve decoded the password on their membership card — and feel like they are part of an elite club,” Lauren adds. “… I want them to feel like they are in on a secret — that they know about a hip, new spot that feels outside the theme park norm. The musicians aren’t up on a stage because they aren’t necessarily meant to be watched; they are there to set a tone in the space, to create a feeling, that feels like an elevated night out in the 1920s.”
“The chandeliers have flickering flame bulbs in them, lights are down low, and the TV has this beautiful graphic on it that looks like it’s straight out of (a period piece),” Lora continues. “The artwork is pulling into that opulence that we want while you’re surrounded by all the stuff that you would expect to see in a warehouse that’s hiding a bar.”
Going hand-in-hand with these sightly scenes is vibrant live music playing from Thursday through Saturday, with a surprise “ghost” player on Sundays that you won’t want to miss out on!
How to Get into 600 Block
Again, there’s only so much I can spill, but if this is the first you’re hearing of 600 Block, I might be able to make something shake.
Before you concern yourself with finding the secret location of this speakeasy, you should first figure out how to secure an invite. If you know the right people and go to the right places, getting inside is a pretty easy feat.
You didn’t hear it from me (except you quite literally did), but apparently, if you’re a patron of Pat O’Brien’s in Universal CityWalk, the bartenders and servers may slip you a special Membership Card containing an encrypted message that reveals the password needed to enter 600 Block. No time to dine in at Pat’s? No worries! Just ask around CityWalk, and the Membership Card will practically fall right into your hands!
Now that you’ve got the skinny on how to get into 600 Block, you must find the secret entrance. I genuinely can’t say too much, but I can drop hints — the biggest one being the aforementioned CityWalk dining venue.
If you’re still wandering around CityWalk stumped, look to the stage on the Promenade. Now that you’re looking, look beyond the stage; you may see people flooding the balcony of a nearby venue. Follow the buzz!
The entrance itself isn’t obvious, but there will be signage leading you the right way. Follow the trail of green signs displaying the same symbol found on your Membership Card until you come across a giant green door.
This is where you have to put your reading and problem-solving skills to the test. On the back of your Membership Card, you’ll find clues that help reveal the secret password needed to enter 600 Block.
Knock on the door three times, wait for the sliding green peephole to open, and speak the password to the door host. You’re in!
It’s that easy! But don’t be fooled by all the secrecy; the buzz is real. Only so many people can hang out at 600 Block at once (this is a speakeasy, after all), so you may have to wait in line. Trust me when I say it’s well worth the wait!
What to Eat & Drink at 600 Block
Enough about the vibes — where are the drinks? If you’ve made it this far and I’ve built up enough hype, then you’ll be pleased to know that there are a slew of buzzing beverages and tantalizing eats awaiting you at 600 Block.
Liam Wedderburn, Assistant Beverage Manager at Universal Orlando, says creating the drink menu at 600 Block really feels like a culmination of his career up to this point. “It allowed me to draw from my experience bartending at a fine dining restaurant in New Orleans and at a cocktail bar here in Orlando,” he says. “The cocktails here really push the envelope farther than anything we’ve done at Universal Orlando before, with techniques like fat washing and smoke bubbles. We’re reducing an actual champagne into a syrup and using it in an Old Fashioned! It’s crazy, and I hope that guests love it and allow us to keep moving in that direction.”
The Drinks
Yuzu Smash Mocktail
- A mocktail made with fresh yuzu juice, ginger syrup, mint, and club soda.
Rosé 75
- A cocktail made with rose Irish gin, lemon juice, rosé champagne syrup, and rosé prosecco.
Water Lily
- A cocktail made with gin, orange liqueur, crème de violette, and lemon juice.
El Sueñito
- A cocktail made with tequila, dry vermouth, orange liqueur, and grenadine.
Kingsford
- A cocktail made with pineapple rum, lime juice, and sugar.
Gilded Old Fashioned
- A cocktail made with bourbon, rosé champagne syrup, and bitters.
Sirloin Sazerac
- A cocktail made with sirloin-infused rye whiskey, cognac, sugar, bitters, and absinthe.
Meatpacking District (UOAP Exclusive)
- A Universal Orlando Annual Passholder exclusive cocktail made with sirloin-infused rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters.
CityWalk Director of Culinary Operations Isaac Maisonet Pacheco worked with his team of culinary experts to create a lineup of food that both matched 600 Block’s 1920s theme and fit the palates of Guests who frequent CityWalk’s dining scene.
“The most impactful part was creating a menu that truly complements the Prohibition-era atmosphere while still delivering the consistency, quality, and creativity our Guests expect at CityWalk,” Chef Isaac says. “I’m most proud of how the overall menu came together to support the full speakeasy experience. We wanted every food option to feel unique, memorable, and connected to the story of 600 Block, leaving Guests with something they’ll crave to come back and experience again.”
The Food
- Deviled Eggs
- Caprese Skewer
- Dirty Rice
- Pinwheel Sandwich
- Millionaire Bacon
- Classic or Cookies & Cream Beignets
What part of the 600 Block Speakeasy in Universal CityWalk are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below!
Must be 21 or older with valid photo ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages.
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