If you want a gin and tonic or some other basic cocktail, Velveteen Rabbit is not for you. They’ll serve you anything you like, but that’s not what this place is about. The Velveteen Rabbit is not a bar, it’s a temple of magic elixirs, brewed seasonally with creativity and panache.

Witch’s Jewelry Box
Stepping into Velveteen Rabbit is like falling into a witch’s jewelry box. Dim lighting, patterned wallpaper, tufted ornate couches all in saturated tones of garnet, onyx, malachite and amber. The atmosphere inside this temple is lived-in vintage.

Behind the chocolate-colored bar, multiple shelves and a wooden china cabinet are crowded with bottles in every imaginable size, filled with liquids varying in hues from peridot to diamond.

The art hanging on the walls can only be described as a 1920s cosmic fever dream. It’s the type of place you would expect to be smoky, a jazz-era trio playing a melancholy ditty in the corner. But the air is clear, and the music is ambient and upbeat. Choose your seat wisely – time tends to fall away at Velveteen Rabbit, and you might be there for a while.

Witch’s Brew
Winter, spring, summer, fall: the beginning of each season delivers a new and exciting specialty cocktail menu to Velveteen Rabbit. This is both a blessing and a curse. If you are a repeat visitor, it means that you will be eternally surprised and delighted by a stable of fresh possibilities. However, it also means that you can’t get attached to any particular favorites.

The names and ingredients given to each cocktail are inventive and eclectic. One Summer Menu featured “Papa Loves Mango,” a delicate concoction showcasing aged rum, cilantro, pepper, lime and mango-raspberry puree. The components mix beautifully, not one overpowering the others, creating a subtle sweetness that tickles the tongue.

On that same menu was “It’s Hoppin,’” a drink made for two with gin, house watermelon liqueur, grapefruit, lemon-lime meringue and burlesque bitters. This refreshing drink is served in a white porcelain bunny with two straws – Velveteen Rabbit gives cocktails and the vessels in which they’re served a serious amount of thought.

Witchy Workshops & Events
Extraordinary beverages are not the only thing that distinguishes Velveteen Rabbit as a must-visit Las Vegas location. The bar is also host to a variety of unique events. From summer-time sock hops to high priestess teas, from art installations to pop-up theater, the roster of happenings is lengthy and lively. There are also DJ nights that shine a light on a specific genre or artist, such as “The Soul Shakedown Party” or “Shine On: Tribute to the Smiths.”

As expected, the busiest time is Fridays and Saturdays between 10 p.m. and midnight – a witching hour of sorts, where all manner of patrons pack the place. Hipsters, Arts District denizens, tourists and locals of all ages flock to enjoy an evening at this beguiling establishment.

If you and at least 5 friends are thirsty for knowledge as well as libations, try the introductory cocktail class. The bartenders will attentively guide you through the preparation of three delicious creations, a memorable experience behind the bar for any bachelor/bachelorette party that will allow you to take Vegas and the Velveteen Rabbit back home.

Among the many, many places you could grab a drink in Las Vegas, this Downtown, Main Street staple stands out as a haven for those who like their cocktails with a side of mystery and magic.