Hello everyone, I work as a lead at a craft cocktail bar inside a historic mansion that also operates as a hotel. Our business actually has two bars—a hidden speakeasy in the basement and the main bar, which I run. Both bars are part of the same team, and we all want guests in town (a summer lake vacation community) to have a great experience. But I’d love to get more people excited about the upstairs space, too.

The speakeasy gets a lot of attention because of its hidden nature, but it’s a small, crowded space (fits about 40-50 people) and often has long waits. We frequently hear guests complain about the wait time, the tight quarters, and even the bartender’s attitude—though she’s a veteran in the industry, and I’m not her boss, so that’s out of my hands. But despite the drawbacks, people still automatically ask for the speakeasy first, sometimes without even considering the upstairs bar.

The upstairs bar, however, offers a much more extensive and elevated cocktail experience. We have the space to store a wider variety of spirits and liquors, and we focus on modern craft cocktail techniques—proper stirred cocktails, large single ice cubes, milk punches, fresh citrus juices, homemade syrups, barrel-aged cocktails, clarified cocktails, and more. We also have multiple seating options, including cozy outdoor igloos, which make for an incredible drinking experience.

The irony is, when guests end up at the main bar because the speakeasy is full, they usually love it—but we want to help people see it as a first choice, not just a backup.

How can we shift some of the buzz toward the upstairs space? Any ideas on marketing, signage, or ways to guide guests to choose the main bar first rather than only discovering it when the speakeasy is full? Would love any insights!