A historic townhouse in Harlem with a Speakeasy hits the market for $3.2 million

A historic Harlem townhouse in the prized Sugar Hill area is available for $3,250,000.

Originally listed in September for $3,450,000, the home has just received a slight price reduction.

The four-bedroom New York City townhouse is 4,980 square feet and is filled with original details, including a wood-panelled foyer, 12-foot ceilings, stunning crown moldings, and a wood-burning fireplace. This stunning residence comes with a storied past as well.

“This house — as well as some sister homes designed by the same architect on the block — had bars,” says the listing agent. Susan Shams. “We don’t know exactly who frequented it or when it was in operation, but it was likely sometime between the late 1920s and 1940s.”

The only parts of the Prohibition-era bar that remain today are parts of painted wallpaper and a long wooden cabinet in the basement. A door from the garden level, with steps leading down to the basement, was recently removed in a renovation.

Other additions made in the recent renovation include a ground floor entertainment space with a media center, pool table and wet bar. On the top floor, a rooftop garden awaits.

“There is a fully landscaped, self-watering rooftop garden with amazing 360-degree views,” says Sunshine. “There is also a beautiful courtyard on the garden floor and a separate residential unit on the ground floor with its own kitchen, bathroom and private street entrance.”

“The house is part of Harlem’s historic Sugar Hill district, in the heart of Hamilton Heights,” says Sunshine. “It’s basically a distinctive area of ​​Victorian mansions and buildings of architectural interest.”

Nearby attractions include the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling, Dance Theater of Harlem, Bono Trattoria, Sugar Hill Creamery and many other popular Harlem destinations for live entertainment, jazz and dining.

There is also an important local landmark not far from the townhouse.

“There are a number of gilded mansions nearby, including the newly restored home of James A. and Ruth M. Bailey, at Barnum and Bailey Circus,” says Sunshine.