Apparently, someone’s been talking: SHANGHAI MKE Named the #1 Speakeasy in the United States by USA TODAY
MILWAUKEE, Wis. —10/22/2025 — Whispers have a way of slipping through cracks, carried by laughter, late nights, and the faint clink of glass. And somehow — whether by rumor, by luck, or by a well-placed confession — those whispers found their way to USA Today.
Today, Shanghai MKE has been named the #1 Speakeasy in the United States by USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
A panel of industry experts first selected a shortlist of notable speakeasies across the country — the kind of places that don’t just pour drinks, but conjure atmosphere. Then the public took the reins, voting for the bars that left them haunted, enchanted, or a little bit changed. The final word? Milwaukee’s most mysterious hideaway now wears the crown.
Tucked somewhere in Black Cat Alley, Shanghai MKE began quietly in 2019 when New Land Enterprises transformed what was once a cleaning closet into a portal to another time. Since then, its low light, curated interiors, and impeccably crafted cocktails have made it a destination whispered about by those who prefer their evenings cloaked in secrecy.
“This honor belongs to the extraordinary team behind the bar,” says Emily Chirillo, Hospitality Director at New Land Enterprises. “They pour their passion into every detail — every recipe, every garnish, every note of the night’s rhythm. They’ve turned a forgotten corner into a place people can’t stop talking about, and somehow, that magic reached all the way to USA Today.”
Shanghai MKE has never needed a sign to be found. It exists where curiosity meets craft — and where, if you listen closely, the city’s best-kept secret is whispered.
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