Down the Rabbit Hole

Vail’s Bavarian-inspired village and legendary Back Bowls have made it one of America’s top winter playgrounds. But when the lifts stopped turning, skiers didn’t have many options for ritzy nightlife or tony culture à la Aspen or Sun Valley. A modern-day wonderland, Chasing Rabbits gives skiers a new reason to visit Vail.

Thea Knobel, the young, stylish vice president of boutique real-estate development Solaris Group, changed that when she opened the wildly whimsical, Alice in Wonderland-inspired entertainment venue in 2022. “Vail attracts a very international crowd, and we wanted to give people a taste of London or New York City in this beautiful mountain setting,” she said.

Housed within a former movie theater in Solaris Plaza, the inimitable 13,000-foot venue designed by the Rockwell Group (responsible for making hotels stylish across the globe) takes guests on a fantastical journey through four unique spaces. Arched walnut portals and antique mirror ceiling panels give the Restaurant an air of elegance. The white-tablecloth destination has become the toughest reservation in town thanks to a light, flavorful Mediterranean menu of dishes such as citrusy ceviche, grilled whole branzino, and signature braised rabbit Bolognese. A meal there is just the prelude. After dinner, guests choose their own adventure.

For an intimate evening, tuck into the Library, a cozy nook with 16-foot-high ceilings, exotic tiger print rugs, towering bookshelves filled with tomes from Knobel’s globetrotting grandmother’s book collection, all anchored by a large, neon-helmeted astronaut painting at the room’s center. It’s the perfect space to sink into a rich, velvet banquette for a nightcap, like the popular Beans to Nuts, a riff on the espresso martini. The full restaurant menu is also available for those who prefer to dine away from the see-and-be-seen crowd in the always-bustling dining room. 

Cocktail lovers, follow the glow. The crimson-lightbulb patterned hallway is illuminated by red marquee lighting, creating an illusion of reflection as it unfurls to a secret panel door that leads to Moon Rabbit. East and West collide at this moody speakeasy decorated with Chinoiserie sconces and eggplant-hued velvet club chairs. More than a cocktail lounge, the space delights with an artistic, interactive experience. For example, the tequila-based Sage Advice is accompanied by a tarot card. And the Cosmonaut, a vodka and sake concoction, is served in a playful coupe held by a tiny astronaut with bunny ears. “Every drink tells a story,” said Knobel.

The final path is a dizzying hallway that transports you into a video game with neon Pac-Man and bunny-printed black walls. An 11-foot-tall magenta breakdancing bunny sculpture awaits, on guard at the entrance to the Rabbit Hole. Be warned, it’s hard to pull yourself out. By night, dance into the wee hours to tunes spun by international DJ artists, like American star John Summit and Mexico City duo Tom & Collins. During the day, it’s a lively, family-friendly arcade filled with old-school video consoles playing Super Mario Brothers and Pong, electronic Twister, and pop-a-shot basketball, set against a loud soundtrack of Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa.

Knobel continues to expand the programming, with the goal of creating a community-driven, cultural clubhouse. The venue hosts comedy shows, film screenings, and streams live HD performances from the Metropolitan Opera. Last summer, in collaboration with Vail Valley Theatre Company, Chasing Rabbits hosted six sold-out performances of Cabaret. On New Year’s Eve, it was an over-the-top Moulin Rouge-themed celebration, complete with seven-piece big band, can-can dancers, burlesque, and a DJ. “The sky is the limit with what we can do,” said Knobel. 

Few places manage to be everything to everyone, but Chasing Rabbits has truly reinvented the multiplex concept. And for those who really fall down the rabbit hole, there’s always membership, with private events, secret menus, and your own liquor locker.