The Velveteen Speakeasy

Cocktail bar · Stillwater

The Velveteen Speakeasy

Cocktail bar · Stillwater

4

123 2nd St N, Stillwater, MN 55082

Photos

The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null
The Velveteen Speakeasy by null

Highlights

Cozy subterranean cocktail bar for elevated drinks & snacks in art deco–inspired surrounds.  

Featured in Eater
Placeholder

123 2nd St N, Stillwater, MN 55082 Get directions

thevelveteenspeakeasy.com

$$ · Menu

Information

Static Map

123 2nd St N, Stillwater, MN 55082 Get directions

+1 651 342 2571
thevelveteenspeakeasy.com

$$ · Menu

Features

payment credit card
reservations
outdoor seating

Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2025 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@eater

"Descend a tight staircase in a nondescript building in Stillwater, and you’ll enter a dusky room filled with stylish seating and romantic corners. Sneak onto the secret garden patio and enjoy a Prohibition-style classic cocktail, like a Hemingway daiquiri with tart ruby red grapefruit." - Justine Jones, Alex Lodner

Where to Find the Twin Cities’ Speakeasy-Style Bars
View Postcard for The Velveteen Speakeasy
@eater

"Stillwater’s only speakeasy is a swanky, Prohibition-style bar tucked into a 2nd Street basement. Wander over to the JX Event Center, enter into the lobby and listen for muted jazz music playing through a door — then, as the website instructs, “follow it down the rabbit hole.” Expect weekly live music, a robust cocktail menu (an entire section features Prohibition-style drinks like the Tom Collins and the “Alamagoozlum,” a gin, rum, and chartreuse mix) plus small plates, tacos, and desserts." - Justine Jones, Eater Staff

Where to Eat and Drink in Historic Stillwater, MN
View Postcard for The Velveteen Speakeasy
@eater

"Stillwater’s only speakeasy is a swanky, Prohibition-style bar tucked into a 2nd Street basement. Wander over to the JX Event Center, enter into the lobby and listen for muted jazz music playing through a door — then, as the website instructs, “follow it down the rabbit hole.” Expect weekly live music, a robust cocktail menu (an entire section features Prohibition-style drinks like the Tom Collins and the “Alamagoozlum,” a gin, rum, and chartreuse mix) plus small plates, tacos, and desserts." - Justine Jones, Eater Staff

Where to Eat and Drink in Historic Stillwater, MN
View Postcard for The Velveteen Speakeasy
@eater

"Descend a tight staircase in a nondescript building in Stillwater, and you’ll enter a dusky room filled with stylish seating and romantic corners. Sneak onto the secret garden patio and enjoy a Prohibition-era classic cocktail, like a Pisco sour topped with ethereal egg whites." - Justine Jones, Alex Lodner

9 Secret Bars For Clandestine Cocktails Around the Twin Cities
View Postcard for The Velveteen Speakeasy

David Brandt

Google
We’ve been here several times and have enjoyed every visit. Our last visit was with a group of six. We made a reservation and were comfortably seated at a combo booth and chairs. Staff was very attentive and even accommodated two more friends that wanted to join us. The N/A drinks were very good as were the specialty drinks. I liked my Asian bowl (even if my wife finds it too salty). Every member of the staff we encountered was friendly and helpful from suggesting drinks to keeping water on the table.

Jennifer DiPietro

Google
I’ve been here twice now and each time it’s spectacular! The food is delicious (I’ve had the jerk chicken flatbread, jalapeño popper pastry, charcuterie board and let me tell you, the blue cheese is the best I’ve ever had). And well the cocktails are always so much fun!

Amanda Johnson

Google
My husband and I stopped in to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary with a couple cocktails. The drinks were delicious and the stuffed mushrooms were so good. We really enjoyed the vibes and atmosphere. We will definitely be returning.

Rob Hughes

Google
If you are looking for an amazing speakeasy in the area, this place checks all the boxes. We were promptly seated and tended to by our server. We had the pleasure of having the general manager as our server. He was able to provide answers to all of our questions. We love coming here. The ambience is amazing, the staff exceeds the expectations. 20/10 will come back again. They exceeds expectations!!!!!!

Sarah Schlangen

Google
MUST GO! Cocktails are unlike anything you will find anywhere else. Our Server, Brenna, was helpful, knowledgeable and friendly. The comfortable seating & light music make it a great place for a date or gathering with friends. And, prices are reasonable. We each had 2 cocktails and split the generous cheese platter for $100. Highly recommend!

dakota andrew

Google
I have visited twice, early and late evening and this place never disappoints. I'm a beer over cocktail person but the cocktails here are great and there is something for everyone. The live music is really top notch. The old style furniture is very comfortable as well. The wait staff dresses really nice and the atmosphere is very upbeat and nostalgic.

Annika

Google
The food and drinks were absolutely delicious, and the atmosphere is great, EXCEPT for the music. Every element of the atmosphere is perfectly placed expect for the trending pop music. It really needs to be jazz or similar to fit the atmosphere. Other than that everything was great.

Sarah Hunt

Google
We have been going for a couple of years now. When we first went, the atmosphere was dark and mysterious, with music that seemed to fit the speakeasy era . We went on a Thursday night, and it was quite bright with more current KDWB style music. <you can get that anywhere. Please make it the speakeasy atmosphere again!

Julia J.

Yelp
Love this place! Great vibes and our waitress was amazing. Addy went above and beyond! Would recommend to anyone in the area.

Ron J.

Yelp
if this was helpful, please click to react, and Follow me for more reviews Check out my IG for more news, insight, pairings and other fun related content. ------------------------------------------------- I was very excited to visit The Velveteen as I enjoy speakeasy vibes. When we got there the door was open and you could just walk down. This is not a "secret" speakeasy. customer service was ok when we were there. Our server was very nice and knowledgeable of the menu. I was most disappointed in the service from a social media perspective. I reached out letting them know I was going to be celebrating a 16 year wedding anniversary, to which they did nothing for me as a customer. It was our first time, and probably the last unless they really provide a better experience. we enjoyed some late night snacks with cocktails. We did need GF options and were able to order chips and salsa, and flourless chocolate torte. The cake was great, but the salsa was very very spicy. With any speakeasy, I was looking forward to some fun bourbon options. Sadly, the whiskey menu was short and basic (almost bottom shelf) options. Very disappointing, and I would not recommend going here for bourbon. We ordered the illusionist and I order an old fashioned with 1oz four roses / 1oz knobs creek rye. Both cocktails were reasonably priced and work good. The ambiance could be very nice, unfortunately it seem very bright. I really thought the entrance and waiting area was a cool vibe and unique to many speakeasies I've visited. Overall, I think Matchstick is the best option for whiskey enthusiasts, and I would rather check other bars along the main strip.

Tiana D.

Yelp
A fun spot for a cocktail! It's a 'speakeasy', but very easy to find. Made an 8:30pm reservation on a Saturday evening. Our dinner beforehand was running long so we tried calling a couple times to push it back, but no answer. By 9 we missed our reservation and there were no spots left. We left our number for when a table opened up. We returned around 9:30 and got a couple seats at the bar. The bartenders were super friendly and made good recommendations. I had a Yellow Jacket - tasty and well balanced.

Matt W.

Yelp
First trip here and if you're a fan of speakeasy's it checks the box on the vibe. They have a decent range of craft cocktails for fair pricing, generally, speakeasy's can be pricey. For the most part, $13 was the price to pay here. Tried an old fashioned (which oddly wasn't on the menu and the server didn't know what their house whiskey was), the Bushwaker which was mildly fruity and pleasantly minty, as well as the Coyote which featured jalapeño which added a nice pinch of heat. Tried the cheesecake as well which was a solid 8/10 in flavor although it was a really slim slice compared to other places for the price. Overall experience was good, took a bit longer to get our tabs than felt warranted on a busy night, but good overall service and experience.

Lindsay S.

Yelp
We normally love this place, but when we came in... the hostess was super rude and said it would be 45 min wait just for us to get in and have a drink at the bar area. We didn't even want to sit. There were multiple tables open too. We stepped around to wait for a spot and ended up ordering with the bartender (who also wasn't that friendly). I took our drinks and we stood along side the bar where there is a nice rail that no one services. Meanwhile people would leave the bar and random people would take the spots. There clearly was no real reservation system to sit. My cocktail was tasty though. I got the "Professor Plum". The bartender was making a ton of "Not Another Australian" for other tables. It seems to be the most popular at least for the night. The speakeasy was pretty as usual and the crowd at the bar was somewhat rowdy with what seemed like "regulars" that acted like they owned the place. Maybe they did, but I would hope they wouldn't be drinking at the bar. Overall, I still like this place, but it was extra this time and not in a good way. We will still be back for an occasion to have a drink, but that's it.

Beth F.

Yelp
DO NOT GO. Terrible experience. They split our bachelorette party into two tables that were completely detached. If I had known that was their setup, I would've booked somewhere else. Even worse, we had just eaten at Lolito and the server there forgot to run one of the credit cards so she called Velveteen and asked them to confront our table for payment. It was HER mistake, not ours. It was embarrassing and the tall dude in charge was a complete prick about it. Drinks were PUTRID and overpriced. We couldn't even finish them. Gotta love that small town pettiness. AVOID

Lulu O.

Yelp
Do you feel like wasting your money on a garbage experience? Look no further- the Velveteen will rob you dry, serve you subpar cocktails, leave hair in your food, and ensure half of the drinks are spilled on the wobbly tables! After waiting five minutes for a hostess to appear, our waitress behaved as though the place was busier than all hell, yet there were only two other tables she was serving. She couldn't be bothered to help after she witnessed our drinks spill everywhere, and tried her very best to avoid eye contact anytime she passed our table. Our waitress was also fishing for compliments- which was tragic. Don't sleep on the subtly forced gratuity on your receipt. We regret to say that we missed that, and subsequently tipped more. Service = trash. It's also hardly a speakeasy. It's literally a bar that you go down one flight of stairs to enter, no passcode required! We were also so happy to spend $25 on three pieces of cheese, three pieces each of salami, capiculo and prosciutto, three olives, three slices of cucumber, and several long pieces of hair. Do not waste your time or money on this establishment.

Jessica S.

Yelp
Service is phenomenal, bartender made us custom drinks based on what tastes we like and they were so delicious. Atmosphere is underground dark but classy. They have a nice variety of drinks and food. Just looking at the drunk picture makes my tastebuds awaken for more. Love that it's a local family business who are very active in running it. Staff has also been consistent and there for longtime. Thank you for a great experience Velveteen!

Lucy N.

Yelp
If you are considering paying Velveteen a visit... YOU MUST! What a swanky, modern yet classic establishment. This was a stop along by Stillwater birthday bar crawl, and I'm so happy we ventured off the beaten path for this Speakeasy. We were lucky enough to belly up to the bar and all chose one of their Signature Libations. I ordered the "El Jefe" which is a concoction of Mezcal, fresno, pineapple, lime. Smoky, spicy and tasty... perfect. My whole group raved about their drinks. Everything was also very appropriately priced for a place as "cool" as this. I loved watching the bartender craft each cocktail. It really is a special place. The rest of the menu is so enticing, but we were on to the next bar, so we didn't have time to order food. I truly can't wait to be back.

Annette N.

Yelp
Loved it... I want to go back! I only had a short amount of time to enjoy this cozy dark place... I am so about this vibe. Tried the Bees Knees drink and it was interesting but I believe the next time I come here will be for my stand by martini and want to try their food. The grilled cheese and tomato soup looked simply perfect.

Brad K.

Yelp
Really! How overrated! Worst place in Stilllwater. TERRIBLE service. Worst server ever! Hope they figure things out, but the server was close to the worst I've ever seen. I'd hate to penalize a place for one crap server , but it's clear that everyone in the area was feeling the same way as us. PLEASE don't go here if you can help it.

Michelle O.

Yelp
This place is such a find!! We were getting together with another couple who live up North and I'm always responsible to find somewhere fun that we haven't been to before (no pressure right?!). I went to Yelp to get some new ideas and found this place and it sounded right up our alley! We decided to get dressed up a little in our 1920s gear and make a fun night of it and boy did we have a great time! The speakeasy is in a basement/cellar type area within another building and you find it by looking for the doormat ;). Not as hard to find as I feared. It's conveniently located across the street from the lovely Lowell Inn and a parking garage which was great! When you enter there is a flight of stairs (not sure of accessibility for people who cannot do stairs?) and into the speakeasy which has a warm, retro atmosphere with plenty of wood and beautiful velvet covered booths. Just lovely! Some reviews didn't seem very impressed with the service but we didn't experience that ourselves. I don't think it was overly friendly, but warm enough, professional, and attentive. So we tried a number of the drinks (I say a "number" but take that to indicate many drinks ;), and a few rounds of food as well. We were there for a long time ;) So to start, we ordered the Puff Pastry Jalapeno poppers (pretty good), the Filet Mignon bites (Incredible!! I actually ordered them AGAIN for my entree...LOL), and the Charcuterie tray (Fantastic with plenty of great meat and cheese choices as well as pickled veggies, nuts and other accompaniments). Everything was terrific and went well with the Old Fashioneds and other crafted cocktails. We also had some sliders which were very good as well and finished off with the NY Cheesecake. We were very happy with the experience and would highly recommend it to anyone!

Ellen L.

Yelp
I'm not sure what happened to our "go-to" spot! The Velveteen is no longer the classy/dark/swanky Velveteen we have loved for years. We arrived for our 7pm reservation and were sent to the hallway for 20 minutes (never happened before). Surprisingly, they now have couch seating areas with coffee tables in between, which was an improvement from the old cold metal table and chairs. They must be comfy because there was a person visibly passed out drunk on one couch, with loud friends standing all around and scattered food crumbs on the floor. The lighting was brighter than normal. When we got seated, our table was sticky from the prior group. The ultimate bummer was the menu (or lack thereof). Where did all the delicious food go? Now the only options for food are nuts, cheese and chips with nothing high caliber or anything cooked. Maybe this is why everyone was loud and drunk. We used to come for the sautéed mushrooms and steak bites and broccolini and Korean tacos and....(I could go on and on). Also the cocktail menu was greatly reduced. We left. I can't even believe this is the same place. Total shocker.

Carli C.

Yelp
We tried getting some pre-dinner cocktails on a Saturday night but didn't have a reservation, so the hostess awkwardly put us in a standing room only next to the bar. Bartenders never came over to grab our order and there was no room at the bar to order a drink. Tried again on a Sunday night and had no problem getting a table. Wasn't the experience I've had at other speakeasy's. Bright lights and half of the place was closed off with a curtain. Bruschetta wasn't anything special, mostly tomatoes and a bite of cheese. Drinks were fantastic. Next time we come here, I would sit at the bar for drinks and skip the food. Great service from our server.

Alison K.

Yelp
If you haven't had your own personal exploration of your top 3 favorites liquors, then you are too immature to appreciate the rest of this post and I mean that with love..errrr something. The velveteen is a place you can experience bougie drinks without experiencing the shame of not knowing half the ingredients in the drink. Marcus is a humble artist with pure curious creativity. His willingness to create and play with drinks, both on the menu, previously on the menu and never been on the menu is absolutely tantalizing. The food is legit and serves the skinny crowd. It's fresh, real and an appropriate size that allows you to continue consuming drinks on end. Genius! Order The Real Hanoi and experience the summer fresh drink of 2021. Everything has gone to shit, but the drinks at the velveteen by Mr. Marcus have only improved with his COVID caged creativity. Give them your money, tip like you aren't a tight ass white person and above all else, Be respectful.

Rod S.

Yelp
We love Speakeasies and seek them out wherever we go. I knew walking down the steps, hearing the old music that I would love this place. Stylish and very cool setting. Friendly employees. The Bruschetta was incredible. Solid drinks.

Peggy M.

Yelp
It is a Speakeasy! Think 1920's prohibition era...... So neat on the interior which is located down a couple flights of stairs in a darkly lit basement. We were a party of 14 and were very lucky to get the long table in the center of the room. Our waitress did an excellent job tending to our large party. We were there for cocktails to celebrate a birthday. All the cocktails were accurately described on the menu and tasty. I ordered a martini which wasn't in menu and it was reasonable priced at $10. Don't forget to look for the Jack-a-lope on hanging above the fireplace--a very rare specimen.

Katlyn P.

Yelp
Ugh, I used to LOVE this place. However, we brought both our parents here the night we got engaged in Stillwater to celebrate, and while they couldn't seat our group of six right away, they took my phone number and name and said they would call me when a table was ready. This was approximately 8:30 p.m. and they were open until midnight since it was a Saturday. And ... they never called ... they said it might be up to an hour but were the first people on the list. Super disappointing. Won't be back because it's just rude.

Autumn R.

Yelp
Went here for my birthday, everyone was so nice and when we needed to switch seating there was no problem!!

Yvonne M.

Yelp
Super speakeasy with excellent drinks and mocktails. Not a lot of signage, but not hard to find if you're looking specifically. Cozy place with low lighting. Very friendly bartender. Easy parking. Definitely worth stopping I. For a cocktail. They also have small bites but we didn't try any. Next time.....we'll be back.

Jeff R.

Yelp
Pros: Fun place to gather. Very good and well concocted drinks - hats off to the mixologist. Able to accommodate a group (two bridesmaid groups at joined tables) as well as a nice date night. A "nice" assortment of food. Nice concept, but there are opportunities to take it to a higher level ... maybe a visit to Untitled, in Chicago, would help... instead of simply a basement setting. Cons: Our server seemed to not like her job very much, wasn't very attention, helpful, or timely. And, though the menu fare has a decent amount of GF items for Celiacs or GF sensitive ... it is VERY POORLY laid out in that a diner is used to 99.99% of all menus having a GF designation next to an item. Here. . . . they have GF and GF*. In the menu, in the [dark] light, with drinks, it is hard to see the fine print at the end ... and who would look ... that indicates the asterisk as "able to prepare gluten-free." Huh?

Lindsey H.

Yelp
The coolest spot in Stillwater for sure!! Tucked in a cool (literally and figuratively) basement I felt like I went into a portal back in time. Amazing cocktails and live music. Amazing spot to escape reality. Will impress any date!

Roslyn B.

Yelp
Spent the day/ evening in Stillwater for my birthday. I stumbled upon their website and thought it would be an excellent place for birthday cocktails! This place didn't disappoint. The cocktails and charcuterie board were delicious!!

Kimberly B.

Yelp
Hey Alice, venture down the rabbit hole for a sit and sip in wonderland. The mood is dark, but still velvet. A lot of amusing drink names on the menu, but we kept it cool with white and red wine + apps. The food here has a little bit of a twist (that I liked) but my picky eater date (likes basic bland status quo bar food) stuck to his drink and a few chips. He did love the waitress's choice of white wine pictured below. I did too. I'm coming back for sure, but this time with a friend who is twisty.

Coco P.

Yelp
On an overnight stay in Stillwater, I took my sweetheart here for his birthday. The decor and environment was very inviting. The food was delicious especially the steak!

Jen S.

Yelp
My fiancé and I took a break from life to have a night away. He took us to Stillwater for food, drinks and hotel. I heard of this speakeasy from a friend. This was our first speakeasy, was classy and the service was good. We had cocktails and appetizer. The appetizer was filet mignon bites, they were delicious. I am giving is 4/5 because I wish it was a little harder to find ;). If you are looking for a nice classy place you'll find that here.

Luke G.

Yelp
Speakeasy first-timer here! I love the thrill of zero advertisements and the adventure to find the door. Spoiler Alert: The floor mat will help you find it! Great prohibition vibe and many people were even dressed to match 1920's attire! The drinks were good, not great... but definitely a place I'd visit again for the atmosphere!

Mel B.

Yelp
Best way to start off my husband and son's birthday weekend. Mocktails for the newly 13yr old, cider for the hubby, live music (Thursdays), and a great time for all of us as we celebrate this new stage in our lives. It's been a long year, and this was the perfect place to return to society. Bonus: lots of gluten-free options! Thank you!

Jim M.

Yelp
Cocktails and food were very good. Atmosphere was great, if not a bit loud. Although, it was getting late on a Friday evening when we were there, so should be expected. Definitely plan to stop there again!

Dana N.

Yelp
Wonderful drinks! The army was perfect! We had a corner booth (always a favorite) and super fun drinks. Will come back for some food next time.

Kim C.

Yelp
It wasn't that difficult to find which was nice. Speakeasy places tend to be difficult to find with unmarked doors and secret entrances. Just look for the 123 above the door from the street, enter the lobby and enter where the velveteen rabbit mat is on the floor. It is down a flight of stairs into what looks like a basement dungeon. There is a hostess at the entrance that will usher you in. On a weekend evening, you may be stuck waiting but it's worth checking out. The cocktails are mixed strong, are beautiful in presentation and very tasty. I had a drink called "fear and loathing". It was fruity and potent. I made the mistake of not eating before going there. My date and I each had one cocktail and started to feel pretty darn good (so much so that we had to take a walk down by the river to get a clear head). I saw a charcuterie board at the table next to us and it looked really good. The desserts looked great too. They don't serve hot meals here so unless you plan to snack, you should have dinner before going. Street parking only unless you park in the ramp across the street for a small fee. Go with a group of friends and it is even more fun. Cocktail prices are typical for the cities at $8 to $14 each.

Lorraine N.

Yelp
It's hard for me to find any fault with a dark swanky speakeasy that serves up creative cocktails with style and professional service. We arrived after the harvest festival and had to wait until it was open but were able to snag two seats at the bar that I'm pretty sure will become our regular seats now that I reside in Stillwater. I love the vibe and the menu and the drinks. I already have another trip planned this week. I am committed to trying out most of the menu.

Jessica L.

Yelp
It definitely took us a while to find the bar. We had the address wrong at first so my friends were going into stores asking where the top secret bar was. Once we had the address right, we did find it but it isn't well marked, there was a picture of rabbits in the window. The bar is located downstairs. We didn't get any food, just beverages. It was fun, different than the normal bars we go too. They had fun drinks, and was overall a fun time to hang out with the friends and chat. The drinks were expensive, my drink, appolloni (pretty delicious) was $11, but we were expecting that. It definitely had the feel of a top secret bar!

Richard H.

Yelp
I appreciate the small plates and the non alcohol drink options they carry and can make.

Joyce E.

Yelp
This place is the best! Every detail was taken into account with regard to decor and ambiance The food is outstanding and the drinks..... simply amazing! We are so lucky to have this hideaway right down the street. Follow the Rabbit

Corie Mae E.

Yelp
There has never been a time where the Velveteen hasn't exceeded my expectations. They have friendly staff, pretty sure their jalapeño poppers are homemade and I've never experience such awesome poppers. Their designer cocktails are out of this world and the ambiance is spectacular. This place may be in the basement but it's does not disappoint. Highly recommended for those seeking something out of the ordinary. 10/10

Haley W.

Yelp
I wanted to like everything about this place. But, I don't see this "sexy" vibe everyone keeps posting about. My husband and I were celebrating our 1-year wedding anniversary, and decided on a gondola ride in Stillwater (highly recommend) followed by dinner/drinks at the Velveteen. To echo others statements, it is not hard to find. In fact, it was downright simple. Then, we get downstairs where a gaggle of 20-something bachelorettes are taking selfies. No hostess to be found, so we elbow our way past them and are greeted by a rude man who said "you need to wait back there". We say "we have an 8pm reservation" (it is 7:47). He says, you are 20 minutes early. We say, we understand, and are happy to wait just didn't know where to go or who to tell. Next - we use the restroom while we wait. Overflowing trash with napkins and it is dirty. During a busy Saturday I understand; during COVID, that is a major strike against you. We come out and the bartender takes his foot and starts stamping down bottles in the recycle bin behind the bar. I didn't understand why he didn't just take the bin out... but I digress. Again, health hazard and just a classless move. Host realized he was probably rude to us before and gets us seated right away. He wipes down the table with what I can only assume is a dirty rag. No sanitizer bottle in sight. No one comes to our table for about 10 minutes - again, it's a busy Saturday so we understand. I am looking around, and see cocktail napkins, fruit skewers for drinks, etc. all over the floor. It's not clean. After working in hospitality most my life, that to me indicates that the kitchen is not clean either. Finally order a drink, it comes, no one comes back to check on us. Ice is completely melted in my husband's drink. Host delivers shots to a nearby table, squats down and takes a shot with the patrons. Maybe they are friends. We decide to bail to go to the Mudd Room in Mendota Heights. Leave $30 on the table for our drinks and dip out. No one even notices to care. This place has the ingredients and decor to be really great. Needs better management to elevate it from the next step bar for college kids. Feels like the type of place I would think is classy at 24 after being in scuzzy college bars in Dinkytown. But as a 30-something, I know better.

Jason M.

Yelp
Cool, hip speakeasy with an attentive, friendly staff. The atmosphere was great - good lighting, comfortable seating, and great music. Got an old fashioned and it was delicious.

Carissa E.

Yelp
Super cool vibe. Love the fact that it's very discreet and hard to find. Underground, awesome seating options, candles everywhere, dim lighting, perfect end cap to our date night. I drank "between the sheets", I'm usually a plain Jane vodka soda gal, but I like to try a signature cocktail at new spots. This lavender infused vodka was smooth with almost a smoky kind of flavor with a tart kick at the finish. the bar tender was super cool, even though he was busy he managed time to chat a bit and gave us some scoop on the place.

Ricardo M.

Yelp
TOP TOP TOP TOP of the line place!!!!! KILLING EVERYBODY!!!! for real!! soooo gooood, i can eat there everyday , drinks are unreal!!! food are off the chart!! great service too! 10 stars!!! its worth the trip to Stillwater!! 100% recommend!! cant wait to come back...

Connie D.

Yelp
This has been my third visit and each time, my experience has gotten worse. This is a fun place to get drinks, but I don't know if I'll be returning if the quality of my experiences keep diminishing. The bartenders were curt and sort of judgmental. On this particular visit, my friend and I sat at the bar. My friend ordered the "Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson" martini and I ordered a traditional extra dirty Chopin martini (not a menu item). Their drinks here are hit or miss, so on this visit, I opted for traditional cocktail rather than one off the menu. I also got the flourless Chocolate Truffle cake for dessert. It was rich, dense, and chocolately- just as I was hoping for! When I asked for this, I accidentally said turtle instead of truffle and the bartender quickly and rudely corrected me. I understand that I misread it, but he could have corrected me without making it condescending. Another example of the less-than-great service was when I saw them making a fun-looking drink that was orange/pink in color with a spring of burnt rosemary to garnish. I asked what drink that was since we'd seen them making quite a few of them, and the 2 bartenders and server all looked over at us and sneered as they told us what it was. I'm sure they get that question a lot, since it's an eye-catching, nose-piquing cocktail, but to respond in such a rude way was unwarranted. Customer-service is really something that needs to be worked on if they are expecting repeat customers.

Katie M.

Yelp
Love finding places that are discrete and awesome. Like this! Sat at the bar. Asked the bar tender to whip up something creative with egg white. He did. Three drinks and a headache later, for the win. Fun menu. Good drinks. Good crowd and low key. Super fun if you want to get creative and try a few new things.

Charlie T.

Yelp
This place is terrible. Went there for a birthday, and they treated us like trash. We will never be back!

Kelly O.

Yelp
I am disappointed in myself for not looking closely at the bill when I picked up the tab for a group of eleven. I was being nice and didn't want the staff to have to break down the bill amongst everyone. I did not see that they added a 20 % gratuity for parties over 6 and so I automatically added a 20% gratuity...thus the waitstaff received 40%. Staff was good but not 40%. I wish that they would verbally state it and I question now how it would have been handled had everyone wanted individual bills. My fault but soured my experience and probably won't ever go back.

Connie C.

Yelp
Have been here a couple of times. The service, drinks and food were all great. The only negative is the kitchen door, that is close to the end of the bar, is always open. Bright light comes through from the kitchen and ruins the speakeasy vibe. First noticed it when we sat at the bar the first time we were there. Mentioned it to my husband and he agreed it was very distracting. Second time there was with 7 other people and we were seated at two tables that were put together. I sat at the end of the table that was facing the kitchen door. Felt like I was seated at the worst table in a cheap restaurant. Would have given 5 stars if not for that.

Javier B.

Yelp
Our first visit, but definitely not our last. Staff was awesome, atmosphere great! Good spacing if your worried about COVID-19.

Marilyn A.

Yelp
I also wanted to like everything about this place but was disappointed. My husband and I were celebrating our 28th anniversary. I kind of expected some 20s music in the background instead of the same song played for 1.5 hours. As we went down the stairway, there was 20s music; however, not inside the venue. The poppers were delicious as well as the mushrooms. We had a six o'clock reservation; however, when we got there, someone said, "Pick your seat" when we told him we had a reservation. We waited a long time for our waitress throughout the evening and had difficulty getting her attention for further service. We will never go back to this establishment--such a disappointment. It definitely needs better management and service.

Katie B.

Yelp
Jan 8th, 2022- great afternoon visit for my mothers birthday. This place was so nice and the food was awesome. Staff was very friendly and especially Mandy our waitress was outstanding. We will recommend and will be back!

Brian H.

Yelp
The Velveteen was such a fun experience. We came here with a group of friends and were sat in a semiprivate alcove with a couple comfy couches. We all ordered different cocktails, which was great because it was so hard to choose. All were beautifully crafted and presented. The atmosphere was great, service was wonderful, can't wait to go back. Follow the Rabbit!