Whisperz brings speakeasy glamor to a strip mall
When Dayton locals imagine a night out, they may imagine the buzz of the Oregon District or the elegance of the city’s upscale dining scene. But Whisperz Speakeasy, a new bar tucked into a West Carrollton strip mall, invites guests to something different. The bar celebrates its inconspicuous location as the perfect setting for a speakeasy.
Opening back in February, the bar dates to Julie Ziemba and her husband David’s Blue Note Bistro, which opened in Miamisburg in 2015 as a full-service restaurant and blues lounge. However, after the restaurant’s closure in 2018, the idea remained in the back of their heads. With the opening of Whisperz, “We finally get to do it the way we have originally wanted to,” Julie says.
Calling back to Prohibition, Whisperz pays homage to the era not just with its password-required entrance (visit the website for the week’s password), but through its moody interior and curated menu. Venetian Murano glass chandeliers dangle overhead and an onyx wall casts a warm glow, while cocktails are served in elegant Italian barware. Live jazz on Wednesday nights and weekends amplifies the vintage charm.
Over on the cocktail menu, classics of the era like the floral, purple-hued Aviation or the bright and simple Bee’s Knees are straight out of the 1920s. “We did a lot of homework,” Julie says.
She and David read books on the period and worked closely with their bartenders to create a cocktail list that balances nostalgia with originality.
For those who prefer not to drink, Whisperz offers a thoughtful mocktail menu. “It’s not just all your different juices mixed together,” Julie says. With creative blends of syrups and nectars, the nonalcoholic options are designed with the same care as the main menu. Lil Nellie is a virgin take on the bar’s pear martini, the Nellie Jane, while French Kiss is a refreshing and tart grape juice beverage. “We’ve really worked hard on a great menu so customers don’t feel like they have to drink,” Julie says.
That commitment to quality carries through every detail. All syrups are house-made, and the juices are freshly squeezed. “We do everything but grow the fruit,” Julie says.
Moreover, Chef Stephen Hartzell, whose culinary background includes time at Michelin-starred restaurants in New York, developed the small plates menu with the venue in mind. Featured dishes include prosciutto-wrapped dates and tangy goat cheese with a kick from hot honey and herbaceous whipped feta served with pita chips.
While the aesthetics and drinks may be the most obvious features setting Whisperz apart, Julie believes the true difference is something deeper. “Authenticity [is what sets us apart],” she says. “This can’t be replicated because it all came out of mine and my husband’s head.”
Whisperz Speakeasy, 926 Watertower Lane, West Carrollton. Tu-Th 4-11 p.m., F-Sa 4 p.m.-1 p.m. Closed Su-M. 937-312-4864, thedrinkerys.com
