The Rabbit Hole (1208 N Wells St.) will be joining the Old Town bar scene later this month with its playful twist on classic cocktails.
Guests will notice a subtle Alice in Wonderland theme throughout the bar, from the white rabbit portraits to the charming glassware. The restaurant and bar is set to officially open on September 29 but it has quietly been open for the past month.
The food menu focuses on light bites and sports bar fare, so guests can expect burgers, wings, sliders and salads. There are plenty of TVs throughout the bar for game days and games like Jenga for patrons to play while they enjoy their drinks.
The Rabbit Hole will concentrate on cocktails, many of them utilizing whiskey or bourbon. The bar offers 25 beers on tap with craft beer selections from Two Brothers, Goose Island and Surly. There will be a few options for wine, available by the glass or the bottle.
The beverage director, Carlos Guerra, developed the cocktail menu with the neighborhood in mind. “We wanted to give young professionals and local people a place to enjoy simple, quality cocktails,” he said.
One of Guerra’s favorite drinks on the menu is the whiskey-based cocktail, What Dreams Are Made Of. The tart, refreshing drink is mixed with lime, berries, mint and topped with a gummy bear garnish. A more boozy drink is the Old But Fashioned, made with rye whiskey, demerara and two distinct bitters. His take on the Moscow Mule is the called the White Rabbit on a Dirty Mule, which includes mezcal, Jägermeister, ginger beer, lime and grapefruit juice.
The bar will also focus on attracting the weekend sports crowd, so Guerra has come up with a house-made mix for their Bloody Mary. The peppery Bloody Mary is lined with Cajun spices, topped with a hearty helping of bacon and is only $5 on the weekend.
As fall approaches, Guerra is already thinking of what seasonal drinks he could put on the menu. He’ll be ready for the pumpkin-spice fanatics with a pumpkin old fashioned and a hot cocktail cold remedy featuring tequila, lemon, honey and green tea. If you enjoy an occasional trip down the cocktail rabbit hole, you might want to plan a trip to Old Town.
Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.