What’s more thrilling than stumbling upon a hidden gem? In Manhattan, secret speakeasies are practically a rite of passage—if you’re not whispering passwords, slipping through phone booths, or ducking down back alleys, then you might as well be hanging out at a Five Guys, right? (Though to be fair, there is a very cool one in the West Village that you can only access via the back stairs of a Five Guys. But I digress.)

Here in Sarasota, we have our own take on the clandestine cocktail culture, but none quite as intriguing—or as delightfully off-radar—as the private club tucked above DD Roasters and Kira Lee Art on Main Street. You’ve likely walked right past the entrance without noticing. That’s by design. (Hint: Study the picture carefully.)

Once you crack the code (and pay your dues), you’ll ascend a narrow staircase that transports you to another time—and, frankly, a better one. This is Club 23. Every detail in the space is intentional: sumptuous, moody, mischievous. The women’s bathroom channels coquettish burlesque glam; the men’s leans into brooding bohemian masculinity. One curved booth nods to the Moulin Rouge; the other pays tribute to Sarasota’s Ringling-era circus legacy. Most of the memorabilia is true to the 1920s and ’30s, lovingly sourced mostly from estate sales in Arcadia. There are Easter eggs for fans of hardboiled detective noir and personal touches like Kira Lee’s grandmother’s music sheets framed on the wall. There are 150 mismatched antique teacups to choose from during High Tea. (One member skirts the “no shorts, no beachwear” dress code by arriving in a traditional kilt, and I, for one, hope to see him sipping Earl Grey from porcelain soon.)

Theme nights are half of the fun: “Sushi, Sake, and Sexy” included a sake tasting and on-site Bambola lingerie shopping; “Who’s Your Daddy?” invited guests to dress up as their favorite fictional fathers and snack on gourmet pigs in blankets and Peachey’s donuts. Caffeination is courtesy of Vic’s exceptional single-origin roasts from DD Roasters below—a nod both to his coffee obsession and Kira Lee’s adult-entertainment alter ego. This is not a BYOB situation; it’s more SYLL: Store Your Liquor in a Locker. Club 23 isn’t staffed with servers so much as additional hosts—charming, accommodating, and utterly uninterested in your tips.

At the helm are your actual hosts: Kira Lee, ethereal and welcoming, often working on personal art in the space; and her charismatic husband, Vic Copilla—Sicilian by way of New York. His roots explain the aperitivo hour, though he’s quick to clarify that in Sarasota it happens a bit earlier than in Italy. “Nothing good happens after 9pm” is less a rule than a lifestyle here. The space opens daily, with locally catered breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday—but this is not your post-bar stumble-in spot. This is a pre-dinner, toast-to-sunset kind of place. And yes, it closes promptly at 9.

There are a few simple rules to maintain the vibe: no business cards, no photos. This is networking, sure—but the kind rooted in actual connection, not a dusty elevator pitch.

By October, Club 23 will have quietly marked its first anniversary. Of the 70 coveted membership slots, 85 percent are already spoken for—and still, there’s no website. No signage. Just a members-only newsletter and events calendar, and a whole lot of whispered invitations. There’s talk of a toga party, but unless you’re a member, you’ll just have to imagine the details. Because around here, IYKYK. And once you know, the FOMO hits hard.

Psst… There’s a rumor that if you email this address [email protected] you might be treated to a tour.