The Plaid Rabbit Social Club and Speakeasy, located on the square in downtown Tyler within Culture ETX, is a destination you don’t want to miss, assuming you can get in!

The Plaid Rabbit is a REAL speakeasy, and you will need the current passphrase of the week to get in. Lance McWhorter, owner of Culture ETX & The Plaid Rabbit, built the bar to be more upscale, kitschy, and to feel like you’re stepping into another era. There is a very distinct change of environment when you go from the restaurant side of culture, into the hidden escape that is The Plaid Rabbit.

Once inside, visitors will be transported to another world that doesn’t feel like you’re in East Texas, but instead off to a larger city, once you get over the befuddlement of making your way through the back hall, of course.

“There’s this kind of little moment of like discomfort when somebody comes in for the first time. And I think that’s okay,” said McWhorter. “It’s a fun game and it wouldn’t be any fun if we didn’t play along.”

You have two ways to get into the speakeasy: 1. Make sure to check The Plaid Rabbit’s Facebook page for the password each Friday, or 2. You can purchase a yearly membership. With the membership, you get a metal coin that you can flash to the hostess of Culture ETX that allows you to entry. For those without a membership, make sure you have the password or else you no one may know what you’re talking about.

• You can learn more about what the memberships entail by clicking here!

Before becoming The Plaid Rabbit, the room behind Culture ETX was a two story apartment, with sheetrock and a ceiling that had to be demolished to show the soul of the building and show off the brick that was hidden underneath.

“I teamed up and actually partnered up with this this mixologist who’s phenomenal. His name is Ebby Kurian, and he is our creative director for the Plaid Rabbit,” said McWhorter. “All of the craft cocktails, all of the seasonal cocktails, we do a twist every three months. The menu changes and grows and gets really crazy.”

Overall, The Plaid Rabbit Social Club and Speakeasy is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for a unique and upscale experience. Don’t hesitate to visit and experience the immersion into a new kind of place.

The Plaid Rabbit Social Club and Speakeasy is open:

• Tuesday-Thursday: 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
• Friday: 4:00 PM - Midnight
• Saturday: 6:00 PM - 1:00 AM

They are located at 118 W Erwin St Suite B in Tyler, within Culture ETX. Learn more about Culture ETX with our previous article.

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