Akai

5 Stars – Outstanding Experience! I had Kai the absolute pleasure of being served by Micheal at Akai, and I can confidently say he is one of the best bartenders I’ve ever encountered. His attention to detail, warm personality, and top-tier hospitality made the entire experience unforgettable. Not only were the drinks perfectly crafted, but Micheal’s genuine energy and professionalism elevated the atmosphere. He made everyone at the bar feel seen, welcomed, and taken care of. It’s rare to find someone who balances skill, service, and charm so effortlessly. If you’re visiting Akai, do yourself a favor and sit at Micheal’s bar—you won’t be disappointed. Thank you, Micheal, for making the night exceptional!

Love this place… the speakeasy vibe of it makes this one of my favorite places in Dallas. The cocktails are to die for. When I first got there I wasn’t sure what I wanted so I simply asked the bartender to make me something refreshing. When I tell you that Michael delivered! He delivered… he made me the yummiest well balanced cocktail I’ve ever tasted. Will definitely go back for more. Not to mention how sweet and amazing he was to means my husband. Hubby loved his espresso martinis! will most certainly be going back, and asking for Michael on my date nights. He was the best, made my experience that much better

A super cool place! Intimate and fun! Next level cocktails at the hands of the wonderful bartender, Michael! Would definitely visit again! Great place to visit after a symphony concert!

From the moment I stepped through the entrance, I knew I had stumbled upon something special. This speakeasy is an absolute vibe — moody lighting, plush seating, and music that sets the perfect tone without overpowering conversation. The atmosphere is intimate yet electric, making it feel like you’ve been let in on the best-kept secret in town. Now let’s talk about the drinks — absolute perfection. Each cocktail is crafted with care, creativity, and balance. You can tell there’s true mixology talent behind the bar. Speaking of which, Michael is the real star of the show. Not only is he insanely skilled, but his energy, attention to detail, and genuine passion for what he does make the whole experience unforgettable. He’ll make you feel like a regular even if it’s your first time in. If you’re looking for a place with exceptional drinks, a chill but classy vibe, and a bartender who truly elevates the experience — this is it. 10/10 would recommend.

I and my friends had an incredible experience at Akai, thanks to our bartender Mike! He was super knowledgeable about the menu and crafted the perfect cocktail for us. Mike's recommendations were perfect for what I was in the mood for, and his friendly vibe made the hidden atmosphere even more special. If you're looking for a unique night out, definitely check out Akai and ask for Mike!

This place is a 10/10! We had the best experience because of Michael! He was so attentive, catered to our needs, and makes the best drinks. If you’re looking to have a great night, with good vibes, and the best service, make your way to Akai!

Akai is the perfect place for upscale drinks in downtown Dallas. We were walked back to this speakeasy after dinner at Musume (just ask your server with a wink). Once in the dim lit room, we received great service from Micheal G at the bar! He recommended some delicious cocktails while we listened to the Dj. Highly recommend!

Great after dinner craft cocktail lounge and late night speakeasy in Dallas. Staple in town for quite some time now, but always has consistent, over the top hospitality and service. Ask for Michael and/or Darryl… they’re the absolute best bartenders in the city! Although I’m a through and through ‘same drink all the time’ guest, everyone I introduce to Akai brags about how tasty and delicious their craft cocktails are! Always a fun vibe with even better music. Open late with live DJ!

A fun speak easy experience. Space is not very big. Love the red color design. Drinks were very good.

Drinks and ambiance were very cutesy. Went to grab drinks with friends here and had a secret kitchen entrance to bar.

This spot is through the discreet kitchen of Musume, a sushi restaurant in Dallas. Located in the Arts District. I had eaten at Musume back in 2021. But I didn't realize what was through the kitchen... Damn! The dimly lit interior is adorned with oriental motifs, namely dragons. It's an alluring spot with plush velvet booths tucked away in separated sections promoting exclusivity! The bar, also covered in crimson hue lighting, has an impressive handcrafted cocktail line up. I had the Cobra Akai and it was excellent.

This spot is a must. The vibes, the drinks, the music, and everything is amazing in here. The drinks are pretty strong and delicious. Start at the sushi restaurant and come back for some drinks. Such a cute spot with friends or a date night. Service is good! Espresso martini is a must!

Located inside Musume. We came here last night and the bouncer looked my friend up and down saying "I can't let that in." He was referring to her outfit. Apparently there is a dress code here? But this isn't indicated anywhere on their website or yelp. So we went to sit at the bar at Musume instead. I ended up striking up a conversation with the owner about the selection of alcohol on Musume's menu, which is handpicked by him btw. I casually mentioned my disappointment with the dress code at AKAI and not being aware. The face he gave me after made it seem like it was not true. He left and spoke to the bouncers and when he came back he said "someone was wearing crocs?" Which was obviously a lie as we were all clearly in sneakers. He left and spoke with them again and moments later the bouncer came by and said "oh you, were wearing leggings but you aren't from here so we can take you back." I have no idea what not being from here means, but he didn't bring up crocs like he did to the owner, but is now saying it was the leggings... ok sure. We were so turned off by that interaction that we did not take up their offer to be granted entrance. I would understand if the dress code was posted on their website and clearly indicated, but it was not or doesn't exist at all because we eventually were allowed in...who knows. Will not be going back to try this place. Ps. The owner was very nice and addressed our concerns right away. I know this is not a reflection of how he wants his business run but his staff can do better

Awesome and extensive drink menu and a very cool atmosphere. Service was top quick and prices were good for the area.

During our company event, I had the opportunity to visit Akai, which offered a wide selection of Japanese-inspired drinks. I decided to try Koko, Geisha, and Cobra Akai and forgot the other one. As you can see, named based on something Japanese. One aspect that stood out to me was the craftsmanship that went into each drink. The bartenders skillfully created unique concoctions, and the attention to detail was evident in every sip. It was apparent that they took pride in their craft. Aside from the drinks, the bar itself had a lot to offer. The spacious and clean bathroom was a pleasant surprise. The decorations throughout the bar were tastefully done, adding to the ambiance and creating a visually pleasing atmosphere. I enjoyed entering through Museum, and they will lead you the way to the bar. You will be guided and will pass through the kitchen. Staff will greet you, and you will also have the privilege to see what's going on in the kitchen "behind the scene." I can bring a friend here, especially if they visit the town. Little pricey, but hey, it's a different ambiance.

This place is a very cool speakeasy, hip crowd and a nice vibe. It's more of a chill place to get drinks and enjoy music nobody was really dancing. The drinks are great and the service is quick.

This discreet little GEM in the heart of downtown Dallas is the perfect place for a quaint but lively date night! I have read the 1 star reviews and as a consistent customer for approx 1 year this has NEVER EVER been my experience. While drinks are a bit pricey consider that you are paying for the location, privacy, and elegance that you experience. The bartenders and bottle girls are some of the most beautifully authentic people that you will EVER encounter in Dallas. We personally love Mr. Babb the GM, Celia, Matt and my favorite Asian persuasion head bartender. Lastly security is professionally trained & has military experience, there is no where safer in the city to be.

Gave me everything I was looking for. Friend in town, I wrote down a few places to check out to have one drink and see the next location. This place was behind another restaurant and it was absolutely cool. The host turned me over to security that walked me out the back of the restaurant, through the kitchen (smiling faces in the back) and through the hallway and into a secret clubhouse! So awesome! The security that opened the door was so nice too! Walked around the circle layout, stopped at the bar and placed an order. Cobra Akai and East to West were ordered and no disappointment was had! We danced, had some mixed shot that sent us out the door and to bed by midnight! I recommend this place and will be back, great experience

This is a cool venue and pretty large for being labeled a speakeasy in the Arts District. It's behind Musume restaurant. You actually enter through Musume and ask to visit Akai and the host walks you through the kitchen to get to Akai in the back of the building. This is more for the speakeasy feel than anything else. When we left, we walked out of the actual entrance on the side of the building lol. But, cool, continue to have that speakeasy feel, I guess. Everything is red decor inside, which is a vibe itself. Drinks were OK, not great. The atmosphere is more on the club side the later it gets in the evening - especially considering the varied options on the bottle service menu. At the start of the night, was more of a lounge, but as the evening progressed, it definitely had a club energy. I guess frequenting more speakeasies in NYC has me biased. It's not as intimate as speakeasies I'm used to in larger cities.

This is for the speakeasy club... $63.24 for 3 Goose & waters. Which includes $9.60 for gratuity... LOL I guess since they don't charge a cover, they upcharge everything else. I wonder if the owner also owns Spirit Airlines? :p Just be aware. It's a cool experience for sure, but I wouldn't go there unless you're ready to spend outrageous amounts. It gets crowded due to the small space and its pretty loud in there. Not my idea of a good time, but tons of 20-30 YOs seem to enjoy it. I like the concept, but it could benefit from additional space and multiple bars.

BAD REVIEW ! This employer DID NOT save a job position for a long time employee that was pregnant and left for maternity leave. She has been employed with this group for years and now that she was ready to return they said she was not able to. She made contact with the manager and they indicated only need girls that can sell "Tables". She was deeply hurt and disappointed and was assured when she took maternity leave her job would be available for her return. She got "LABELED" for having a baby pretty much ! SHAME ON YOU AKAI

Easily one of the best speakeasies in Dallas (Hence why I only have one photo of the bar itself). Hidden behind the active kitchen in an unsuspecting restaurant, mention the name of the speakeasy to one of the staff and they can direct you where to go. Say hello to the hard working kitchen staff on your way to a secluded room with a red door. There, you'll enter an entirely new atmosphere where a red dragon and intimate lighting look down on you from the ceiling. The bar is a wonder in itself as the attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable bar staff chill your glass with liquid nitrogen so you can enjoy an ice cold cocktail in one of the most entertaining and unique ways in Dallas. Hint: if you like bourbon or espresso martinis... this is a GREAT spot. (They have a mocha flavored espresso martini that will blow your mind) This place is not incredibly large but great for groups of 4-8 people. They have horseshoe style lounge chairs to fit a semi-large group. Very comfortable and exciting environment hidden away from the real world to go and enjoy some great drinks with your favorite people or significant other. I HIGHLY recommend a visit to this location if you're into speakeasies.

the secret is out, akai is in. Great vibes if you are looking to have an intimate conversation with someone. we went ealier in the evening (11p) & it lived up to a true 'red room'. Drinks were expensive and the music was amazing!!! someone give the dj a raise, and i mean a big one. However with that, there was nowhere to dance which made the amazing music sting a little. Overall, we will be back.

My date and I were drugged at the bar (Akai) last night. Barely made it out of there after only one espresso martini, and both passed out in the uber. After just one drink. I'm a big boy and I can hold my alcohol quite well. Never had such an impact on me! Whom ever had our tab went on a spending spree. They triple charged my card last night and then bought some concert tickets today before i realized the card was not in my possession. She and I were never away from our drinks. That plus the multiple charges at their 'till' leaves only one logical cause. Fuck that place and their staff!! Thank GOD we were ubering. We could have killed ourselves or someone else driving home. WTF!? Merry Christmas...

If a speakeasy doesn't inspire a WOW entering, they've already failed! I'm on the guest list for many, and Akai deserves a lot more than a WOW! Doesn't matter If you're arriving after enjoying the amazing cuisine of Musume, or Akai is your point of destination, you'll be treated to the same amazing service. While many speakeasies rely heavily on their clandestine locations, and entrances, Akai also adds the elements of service and presentation; by personally escorting each guest through the kitchen of Musume. Akai's contemporary Japanese design featuring tiered illumination will evoke an immediate smile. The space although bijou, offers varied seating accommodations, ranging from the most intimate, to tables for groups, or those who don't mind paying for the privilege. No speakeasy would deliver the vibe you deserve without also offering great sounds, and cocktails. From management, to Chino, one of the star bartenders with decades of experience, you're in good hands! Hopefully we'll share an amazing Akai speakeasy experience soon! Xoxo Lorenzo!

This is a very classy yet low key speakeasy/lounge. The owner of Musume (Ken) actually recommended that we stop by after dinner. He even personally walked us through the restaurant over to Akai (they're pretty much connected) which was pretty sweet. I absolutely loved the vibe inside. The room is dimly lit with red LED lights and the music was pretty good and matched the ambiance. The waitresses were attentive and helpful when we needed them. I was in the mood for a light drink that wasn't too sweet or fruity so I order the Precious Jade which is sake infused with cucumber water, vodka, hibiscus and a few other ingredients. I really liked it + it was the perfect light cocktail after eating sushi. The drink itself looks pretty cool too. With gratuity included my friend and I paid about $32 for our drinks, which wasn't too bad. There were plenty of other really cool drinks the bartenders made so I would definitely come back here.

Got kicked out for sitting on a table and then asking why the bouncer was flashing the flashlight at my face.:. That's all... I was here for a good buddy's bachelor party and the night was ruined simply because a bunch of power hungry low blue collar dicks wanted to flex there muscle for NO GOOD REASON AT ALL!!!! Avoid this place. It isn't great with no good vibes and worse customer service. I am a nice guy who was very sober at the time of the event and the manager took 39 min to come up and chat with me about what "happened" just to reject my admission and Corroborate with the apes that they hired... this place is NOT WORTH YOUR ATTENTION.

The drinks are amazing (interesting and delicious), the music is great (straight unce unce unce), the red light atmosphere is sexy classy, and the secrecy/intimacy of the joint is just fun. Located behind Musume restaurant, just tell the person up front you're there for Akai. They literally take you through the kitchen to get to the bar. I know they take reservations, so consider making one if you have a large party. They do bottle service if it's that kind of night. They pay extremely high attention to detail when it comes to their cocktails. Their ice has their logo on it, the appearances are visually appealing, and most importantly, they taste good. Drinks are like $15 each which I think is a fair price for the quality and happiness it brings. I highly recommend this joint for a date night out!

I stopped by Akai after attending the symphony across the street at the Meyerson (the combo makes for a nice date night). It's super convenient because you can leave your car in the underground parking lot (which connects to the Meyerson) since it doesn't close after the symphony ends. I like the fact that Akai doesn's show up on Google maps (I mean speakeasies are supposed to be secret). When you are escorted to Akai, you'll travel through four doors, the kitchen and back hallways. It's a longer walk than you'd expect but kind of cool. The bar itself is bathed in dim red light coming from the magnificent dragon which stretches the length of the ceiling. There's a piece of wall art in the back of two fighters which reminded me of characters out of the Street Fighter video game. The crowd was diverse (reminded me of the crowd I see Bourbon and Banter) when I was there. Everything from sparkly dresses and high heels to hoodies and baseball caps. Now, the most important part. The drinks! I tried several cocktails and for my taste (I generally like Old Fashioneds and Whiskey Sours), the Tuk Tuk was my favorite - very balanced. And the Arts District high ball was a close second - you really get the grapefruit bitters as an aftertaste. I sampled two other drinks that the girls ordered but I thought both were too sweet. Their Old Fashioned has chocolate bitters which is potentially genius so I want to try that next time. I appreciate that their drinks actually have a range of prices ($10-$18) although the mode is $15. The only negative is they only serve $4 bottled water so you might want to hydrate before you get here. Akai might be my new favorite speakeasy so I'm hoping it won't get too popular.

Totally hidden speakeasy; worth the trouble of navigating back hallways and passages! Dark and sumptuous/modern decor, with red lighting more reminiscent of Mortal Kombat than Amsterdam - creating a romantic hideasy for your dressy date-night! The house drinks are good; my wife LOVED the 'Geisha!' I stuck to my absinthe regulars, but they mixed on request with great aplomb. Friendly waitresses helped the vibe. Another winner; we'll hurry back soon!

Speakeasy that's tucked away behind a restaurant. The drinks are quite unique, as others have described. I got two drinks - one was cherry blossom, and the other I have forgotten the name of. Both were refreshing, though! The vibes are, as the name suggests, red. Red lights and furniture throughout. Gives a spooky + sexy vibe. Some negatives about Akai is that the staff members are not wearing masks, and I'm not sure they were adhering to 50% capacity guidelines. By 10pm, the bar seemed packed with a large crowd of people near the bar and at the tables. We were sitting in the corner of the bar and tried to stay away from the crowds, but as it kept getting more crowded, we felt a little uneasy and decided to leave. I just wish that the staff were wearing masks - that would have made us feel a lot safer and more comfortable and allowed us to enjoy our time here more. I think that, in a place like a bar where people tend to talk loudly over the music and huddle close together, it's critical to mask up when possible. Parking is hard to come across in the Arts District. There is a parking garage across from Musume, but I think it closes at 10pm, so it's not ideal for parking later in the night. ** SPOILER ALERT ** It's behind the restaurant Musume - you go into Musume, ask to be taken to Akai. Someone will take you through the kitchen to get to Akai.

This is a good date night spot. Dark and intimate. The staff are super knowledgeable in regards to the menu and sake options. The wasabi mashed potatoes were ! Definitely try those.

Cool speakeasy, love how you are escorted through the kitchen to this hidden gem. Dark, cool vibe, good music, not a very big place so plan on standing and being intimate with those around you. Went here on a Saturday around 10pm and the place was almost full, cool artisan cocktails. Beware they add 20% gratuity on your tab and do not disclose that so I tipped 40% all night on drinks. Not cool but I get it, just have the decency to let clients know otherwise 5 stars. So many cool places to choose in Dallas, not sure it's worth returning except for unless you want to pony up for bottle service. Love they offer large format sake for table service, that might reel me back in. Def worth checking out!

You won't be disappointed this is the spot to go too with great music and drinks. Staff is very professional including the bouncers making this a safe environment. Came here twice so far including my birthday and it's always a delight.

Amazing feeling when you walk in. The host/hostesses are awesome. Truly a bar for the elite. If you want to go out and dress up, this is the place to go. Beautiful people in a beautiful space. The drinks were amazing, I had the art district until it was time to go. It's a great drink if you like bitter yet refreshing flavors. I can't wait to go back.

Super hidden bar located way in the back of a restaurant. I walked into a restaurant on the corner of the street to ask if they knew where it was at. The hostess (non interested) said there would be someone that would be right with me to escort me the way. The escort was super nice, he walked us to the back, through the kitchen, through these back hallways, to a lot of doors and then to the bar. He checked up on us quite frequently as well more than the waitress herself. The drinks were a little different, but there were so many options as well. --Shibuya Smash (3/5) - A pretty strong drink that was a fruity refreshing drink but not too sweet. This was way better than the second drink I had. --Precious Jade (2/5) - I didn't like this one. There's five spice in here and I thought it would be a different approach, but possibly delicious since the waitress recommended it. Sweetness overload and it had a bad after taste. Cool experience with okay drinks. I would give it 2 stars but one additional for the experience!

Love the atmosphere and the mood created by the DJ. The bartenders are not as affable as I'm accustomed to with some of the other local bars but they still know how to make a great drink. I honestly like the bar but the staff and the crowd are very pretentious. Too up tight for me. If you like to hang out at a place where everyone pretends to be someone they are not and staff that respects those who pretend to have more money then by all means don't stop, don't pass go, come directly here!

I LOVED this hidden spot. I am from FL and I feel like everyone was super nice here. You can sit down at a table w/o bottle service. It was a very cool atmosphere, although the drinks were on the expensive side ($20 per liquor cocktails) is what we paid for a casamigos soda.

Drinks and service was excellent. Actually zero knocks on the crew and management. However, I must add - quite the ceiling leak near our table (that we bought for bottle service). Sure I could have moved over, but I was married to the seat near the leak. Was able to check out awesome babes, but at what cost? Had to sit through a 4 hour long cold drip shower while I spent time here. 10/10 experience would come back any time. 5 stars. Wouldn't miss a weekend here.

Very cool place with a creative and extensive cocktail list. If you're a casual cocktail drinker do know that it becomes very club-ish around 10 pm with bottle service options etc... I did love coming in when they opened at 8 pm and trying a few cocktails

Such a great gem in Dallas. Had a great time at Akai while recently visiting Dallas as the service, extremely friendly staff and crafted cocktails were all amazing. Definitely one of my favorite speakeasies.

Horrible and dangerous establishment. They left broken beer bottles all over the floor and one of them cut my foot so badly I had to go to the ER. The management did absolutely nothing to help except promise to refund our money back because we were there less than 30min. When I called back and spoke to the owner Josh about the reimbursement, he denied the entire thing and hung up on me. Major safety negligence and not to mention they do not care about their customers and clearly willing to rip off an entire group of people.

Want to feel cool? Exclusive? Elite? I'm not saying going to this place will make you any of the above but at least you'll feel like it! I've been to several speakeasies with intriguing entry's but this one is pretty cool. A lot more simplistic than others where a secret door pops out the wall but here, I felt like the celebrity that I think I am in my head lol. You enter through a swanky restaurant as any other patron would before you're whisked away to the kitchen (yes the real kitchen, where the top chefs are going hard over the hot stoves with large controlled grease fires like in the movies lol) they all give a slight smirk yet welcoming smile that makes you feel a little more exclusive like you're the only one that has taken this route and then Boom! Straight from the kitchen to one of the sexiest bars in the city. Very trendy crowd, I wouldn't say pretentious but certainly A few "fortunate looking people" and it feels great to be one of them.

The speakeasy predators... Hide your wife, hide your children, and hide your AMEX. My niece was celebrating a birthday night out with friends and her boyfriend was drugged with a shot of tequila. He had nothing else to drink and was comatose through the night with no recollection of anything after the shot. The establishment swiped his card at nearly 2 grand. Stay away. If we can not be safe in Dallas we can at least make sure others are aware of the dangers lurking at the bar. It appeared the waitress and bouncer were part of the scam.

Not a bad place and the environment is very cool and sexy. The drinks are on the pricey side, but the quality is good and unique. Not enough places to sit down, servers and bartenders didn't have masks and our drinks were empty for a long time before someone came by to serve us again. We might go back, but only for ONE drink. The bouncer was the best part as he was friendly and funny.

Okay, I am a huge fan of speakeasy bars. But this one - well - it's badass! I've never found one where you have to walk thru the actual kitchen to get there, but that's exactly what you do at Akai's. I loved the atmosphere and "speakeasy" vibe. They nailed that. They also had a DJ playing some tunes, which was nice (albeit they maybe could use a some new tunes:)). As much as I want to give this a 5 star review, I felt their drink menu was pretty limited. The drinks we had were good. We went right after they opened, so maybe they were still working out their menu. Either way, everything else about the experience here was well worth it, and I will be back! I highly recommend checking this place out.

Thank you! Finally the true definition of Speakeasy reveals itself here in Dallas..it's not just hidden...it's swank. Sexy people + music + vibe :) You are guided through Musume, the kitchen, long hallway, a few twists n turns and (where am I going??) to be brought into a dimly, red lit bar. It's only been open for 1 week, but they've got a good thing going! Drinks range from $12-$18 and are well crafted. Service was really attentive, but drinks were a bit slow to come. I had a party of 6(maximum table size without a minimum spend). Ordered the last samurai (fun take on the last word) and the Tokyo smoke? I had a relatively early reservation at 9:30p and the place quickly filled by 10:30p. This place will be the next Dallas hotspot!!

We love Akai! My husband and I were very impressed with this cool speakeasy. We were escorted through Musume's restaurant kitchen to get to the secret entrance of Akai. The ambiance/music/lighting was perfect and the crowd was upscale. Excellent cocktails and felt very VIP. We're looking forward to returning soon.

I was invited to Akai about a wk ago By some ppl in the restaurant business. At the bar i was approach by a girl who said she is works in the business and unbeknownst to me (the price of the brand) recommend the Macallan (had to look it up) rum When the time came to close out I saw my bill was $223! Yes, that's correct! 2 vodka pineapple n 2 of the rum plain I was pissed bc the bartender did not inform me of the price of the outrageously expensive drink. I sincerely believe I was hustled/con- girl working together with the bartender Had i only $30 in my acct, I would have been in an uncomfortable place with the establishment. My restaurants friends were not pleased with how that was handled by the bartender/establishment Beware of the bait and switch at this place or ppl approaching you with recommendations Ultimately, I would like some of my money back bc I would not knowingly spend $75 for a glass of rum.

This is truly a speakeasy. To get to the bar, someone has to actually walk you through the kitchen, all the way through the back of the restaurant to show you the way. I'm always thinking that I'm sure the kitchen staff hates it when patrons interrupt their flow, but I guess they wanted people to feel extremely exclusive. I tried a couple drinks, but didn't love it. The drinks are pretty sweet for my liking (even the bourbon based drinks). I would say it's definitely a cool place to check out for a date night and make sure to make a reservation!

After dinner, we were looking for a nice spot to have some drinks and were lucky to find Akai. We walked in the restaurant, Musume, and then were guided through the restaurant until we reached Akai. I had never been to a speakeasy before, so I was excited to give it a try. My husband and I enjoyed the ambiance and drinks. They have a set drink menu and big booths for seating, along with some good music and great service.

Was greeted by the musume restaurant owner after dinner and he invited our table to akai and walked us back. It was great service and the owner inviting us back was well received. Decent low key vibe with great service and smiling staff. Would definitely go again for after dinner drinks.

Great place to grab a drink before or after a show at the Winspear Opera House. Good luck trying to find it, if it's your first time. Follow the map and ask around, it's part of the experience.

Horrible place. DJ sucks. they say he is top notch but he has zero taste in music and never listens to requests just plays lame ass hits. place smells musty and weak drinks. bad vibes dont go.

I had dinner with my parents at Musume and then my boyfriend met us for after dinner drinks at Akai. I would describe it as more of a club than a speakeasy, aside from the walk there. The venue itself is darkly lit with a red overcast. There are booth seats as well as small tables. This makes sense once you hear how loud the music & bass as you have to lean very close to your companions to be able to hear. Service: Our waitress was attentive and offered great suggestions (but she had to point and yell to tell us due to the music) Drinks: Good but expensive!! My father got a mock tail and it still was over $12. Drinks/tax/tip for the 4 of us ended up being over $100. Ambiance: I enjoyed being able to grab a drink here after dinner. That said, I probably wouldn't actively seek to go there. Overall, we went for the experience of a speakeasy connected to our dinner restaurant. I would suggest the owner's tone done the music for the after dinner crowd and then pick it up late night to enjoy the club experience. It was so loud that I was a bit hoarse the next day. I'd also suggest adding more reasonably priced non-alcoholic drinks.

Neat speakeasy. Asian theme and you are escorted through the kitchen of Musume to a back room and enter Akai. My only complaint is if you have more than two or three people and sitting at a table it's a bit hard to talk becomes the music is a bit loud. It didn't help any that we had a speaker right above us. There was a DOJ setting up so not sure what type of music is played later on or if it gets louder. But the drinks were good and staff was attentive. We arrived around 8:45 and there was plenty of seating (first come first serve) and only a dozen or so people. But by 9:30 most of the tables were filled up as people would come and others leave. We stayed until 10:15. At 10:30 you can only reserve a table with bottle service but I'm not sure how it works if you're already at a table when the reservation people start coming in. We didn't get that far into it. But overall it was fun and atmosphere was unique. Just a bit difficult to talk to others which is what I like to do at a speakeasy along with good drinks.

It's very loud right now can you turn it down? Otherwise I really like this spot!! Please turn down the volume!!