The General Riley House Speakeasy — Restaurant in Town of Aurora

The General Riley Hose is charming, cozy and unique. When the gas light lantern is "lit", it means they are open and you just need to descend down the stairs into the Speakeasy. As the door swings open, it's like a step back in time, to days gone by. It is nestled behind the Elm Street Bakery nearest the corner of Elm and Oakwood Ave (across from Wallenwein’s Hotel).

The Riley House built around 1825 used to sit on Main Street in East Aurora next to the Masonic Temple, until it was moved in the 1960s to Elm Street. You are literally walking through history as you traverse the former home of Brig. General Aaron Riley. Relax and enjoy the ambience by the glow of the fireplace and soft lighting.

The bar area is smallish but efficient. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, crafting a unique selection of cocktails. There are a handful of draft beer and wine options as well. Lite fare is available for those with an appetite. If you are looking to eat, just get your name on the chalkboard.

Additional space is available upstairs on the main level, ideal for larger groups, as on a busy night the Speakeasy can become slightly congested given the layout. Certainly a stop work making if you are...

Wow, what a gem! This is an awesome and unique spot for a date or a small group to grab a drink. If you don’t know where you are going you might have a hard time just coming across it. It is a house without a huge sign letting you know it’s a bar. Inside is also laid out like a historic home so it feels much more intimate than your standard bar/ restaurant. We started by entering the basement and ordered some drinks, they have wonderful cocktails, beer and wine. The basement is small and there is some seating but you can also wander upstairs where there are literally different rooms, you can sit in and enjoy visiting with your group. Very fun and unique this would be awesome for a live game of clue. There are small plates as well for food. We didn’t eat this time but will try another day. I had the airmail cocktail. Delicious...

Such a cool place. The speakeasy is usually open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. They do have an old lantern that they light up when it's open. It's in a basement setting, and on the smaller size, but it goes with the atmosphere. They make craft cocktails, and have wine and beer, as well as the full bar. They just started serving food on the 2nd floor on Fridays and Saturday nights. You can make a reservation online, or write your name on the chalkboard to get on the list. The two rooms they serve food in are very old school and reminded me of the rooms in the movie Clue! The third floor rooms are being converted into rental rooms through Airbnb or similar. Definitely a place to check out...