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We were time-constrained on this particular Saturday, but we still had time for a mini-adventure. Months ago, we had stumbled upon a local gem of an experience that we couldn’t wait to share. Today was the day, so we invited local gals Allison and Annette to join us for a visit to Lourdes Library, a speakeasy tucked away in the backways of downtown Eau Gallie.

You would think giving directions to two locals would be easy, yet both of them managed to get lost. Turns out, the mistake was ours: we told them to look for “Montreal Blvd.” (the new name) instead of “Eau Gallie Causeway” (the old, local name). Neither Annette nor Allison knew where we meant!

Once everyone was back on track, we made our way to a storefront with a sign out front that simply read Lourdes Library. It’s a very unassuming place, easy to miss unless you’re specifically looking for it.

Once through the front door, Neil greeted us and corralled us into the cozy entrance room. We had been there before, but Allison and Annette were first-timers, so they got to hear the five-minute “sales pitch” for a yearlong membership ($80) or a weeklong pass ($5). Go with the $5 option and just consider it a cover charge.

The gist of this adventure is that Lourdes Library is a 1920s-themed speakeasy. Back in the day, speakeasies often had a legitimate “cover” business out front in case the police came knocking. At Lourdes Library, that cover business is—you guessed it—a library, complete with rows upon rows of books.

Neil instructed the ladies to find a specific book and bring it to him as a signal that we were interested in visiting the back of the business. Wink, wink.

We were surrounded by books, and Annette, the bookworm, was so absorbed in browsing the titles that she didn’t quite catch on to what was happening. We had to remind her that she was looking for Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. Fortunately, the books are alphabetized by the author’s last name.

Annette had already read it and wasn’t particularly interested. We insisted on Gone With the Wind, however, because we needed that book to proceed into the back of the house. Wink, wink.

The ladies found it quickly and handed it to Neil, who went over the basics with us. The $5 option includes access to the Library for the next seven days, which isn’t a bad deal. Then Neil smiled, gave us another wink, and flipped a hidden lever. One of the bookcases swung open, and we stepped through into the speakeasy section of Lourdes Library.

The Library is a small, low-lit space with a relaxed atmosphere. It was crowded, and the bartenders were going full tilt, even though only about 20 people are allowed inside at one time. Finding a spot for the four of us was a challenge, but we eventually settled in near the exit.

The menus are incredible flights of fancy in the cocktail world. They had gin, vodka, whiskey, and bourbon, and the concoctions seemed to contain at least a half-dozen ingredients each.

I went with the Lourdes of the Mule, made with lemongrass-infused vodka, crème de cassis, strawberry syrup, lime, and ginger beer, garnished with a sprig of mint. Bob ordered the Guavan a Good Time, made with rum, Alma Finca, guava juice, lime, tiki bitters, and Owens club soda. Mine was tasty, although it reminded me a bit of fruit punch.

Annette, excited to explore the entire menu, made our good-natured server come back several times before finally deciding on a brown-sugar bourbon. Allison went with beer. Lourdes does serve beer, but the choices are basically one brand or the other.

We dawdled over our drinks and soaked in the speakeasy atmosphere, complete with 1920s décor. It’s such a fun concept, and part of the appeal is simply enjoying the experience.

There are a few things to know before you go, though.

First, there’s a dress code, and they stick to it. Graphic T-shirts aren’t allowed, and Allison didn’t know that. Fortunately, Neil had an easy solution. He loaned her a black button-up shirt that he had on hand to wear over her clothes. All she had to do was leave her driver’s license as collateral so they could be sure they got their shirt back when she left.

For the record, the other clothing items not allowed are sweats, Crocs, beach attire, gym clothing, and, of course, graphic T-shirts.

Another thing to know: accessibility can be a challenge. If you have someone in your group who uses a walker, Lourdes Library isn’t set up to easily accommodate one. We were shown an inconvenient portion of the counter that could be used, but first they had to clear the knickknacks off of it. I didn’t find that particularly welcoming.

One of the coolest little touches is the way they present your bill: it comes to you inside a book. Go ahead and sign the book itself, too. You may have to flip through the pages to find an empty spot, but it’s a fun little tradition and adds to the experience.

Finally, keep the limited capacity in mind. Since the speakeasy is such a small space, only a limited number of people can be inside at one time. If they’re already at capacity, you’ll have to wait until someone leaves.

Fortunately, with drinks running about $15 each, most people don’t stick around for more than one or two. So how early should you get there? Lourdes Library opens at 4:00 p.m. We arrived around 4:30 on a Saturday and were one of the last groups allowed in before they reached capacity. We left around 6:00 p.m., and by then several groups were already waiting outside for Neil to let them in.

Would I go back to Lourdes Library? Absolutely. It’s a fun, unexpected little adventure, and we especially love taking people there for the first time so they can experience the surprise for themselves.

Sometimes the best adventures are hiding right in your own backyard, and this one is definitely worth finding.