Prohibition is a fun theme for an escape room. Speakeasies were all about hidden doors, secret passwords and staying one step ahead of the law, and that’s basically an escape room already. The best ones we’ve played lean into it with moody lighting, great audio, real props and, in one case, live actors who pull you right into the story.
This list covers every prohibition and speakeasy room we’ve played, wherever it is, and it’s ranked by our review scores. We’ve only included rooms that are still open.
1. King of the Bootleggers (Toronto)
Our score: 9.5/10 · Secret City
Rocco, the King of the Bootleggers, wants a word with you, so find the speakeasy door at Casa Loma. This one shattered our preconceptions, with some of the best live actors we’ve seen in a Canadian escape room guiding the story with subtle nudges. It actually works for 12 people, splitting you into teams, and the puzzles use no combination locks at all. Our only nitpick was that just a couple of audio cues were present.
Read our review of King of the Bootleggers
2. Prohibited (Hamilton)
Our score: 8.3/10 · Escape Manor
It’s 1925, and Nucky Johnson’s newest speakeasy is only open to those smart enough to find the entrance. You’ll be saying “wow that’s so cool” before you even reach the door, and the staff are the most enthusiastic storytellers we’ve met in Ontario. They fit an incredible amount into a small space, right down to real glass bottles. It’s quite dark (you get flashlights), there’s some simple math, and we heard noise from neighbouring rooms.
3. Moonshine (Niagara Falls)
Our score: 8/10 · Adventure Rooms
Word is there’s a speakeasy nearby, but it’s prone to police raids, so you’d better be quick. This became a new favourite of ours, with the best ambient audio we’d heard, changing as you move through each area, and lighting to match. Everything is in great condition with very few “do not touch” stickers. The storyline needs a little more work to close the immersion loop.
