Most people walk right past a set of stairs in downtown Colorado Springs and assume it leads to a subway that the city never built. It does not. Follow those steps down, and the street disappears behind you while a storybook dinner waits below the sidewalk.
The restaurant at the bottom borrows its whole personality from Alice in Wonderland, and locals have kept it busy for years. Thousands of diners have weighed in, and the place still holds strong marks for its mood, its creative drinks and its friendly staff. It also stays open until 10:30 PM every single night, which makes it a handy pick for date nights and late plans.
Read on to learn where the entrance hides, what the space feels like, what to order beyond dinner, and how to snag a table without a long wait.
1. A Doorway Hiding in Plain Sight
The most famous door in downtown Colorado Springs does not sit at street level at all. It sinks into the sidewalk.
The Rabbit Hole is found at 101 N Tejon St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, in the heart of downtown. The entrance looks a lot like a city subway stairway, which is a clever touch in a town with no subway.
Many first-timers pause at the top, unsure if they are in the right place. They are.
Officially, the restaurant is listed as a New American spot. In practice, it works as a dinner destination and a late-evening cocktail den rolled into one underground room.
The address puts it close to downtown shops and theaters, so a meal here fits easily into a bigger night out. Some guests head down for dinner and then walk to a show nearby.
The stairway matters more than it seems. It is the first part of the theme, and it sets the tone before a single menu is opened.
Once those steps are behind you, downtown feels a lot farther away than one staircase.
2. Wonderland, Minus the Cheese
Theme restaurants can go wrong fast. Too many props, too many costumes, and the whole thing starts to feel like a party store.
Here, the Alice in Wonderland idea is handled with a lighter hand. The decor leans classy rather than cartoonish, with whimsical details tucked around a sleek subterranean space.
Diners often describe the balance as immersive without going over the top. The story is clearly present, but it never shouts.
The room is kept dark on purpose. Intimate tables and low light give it a mysterious quality that fits the tale of a girl who tumbled into a strange world.
That darkness is part of the charm for most people. A few find it very dim, so those who like to read menus in bright light may want to plan for that.
The mood shifts a bit by the hour. Earlier evenings can feel calm and quiet, while busier stretches get louder and warmer as the tables fill up.
For a downtown restaurant, it pulls off a rare trick. It manages to feel like a secret even while everyone seems to know about it.
3. Cocktails Named After Storybook Royalty
The drink menu reads a bit like a cast list. The Red Queen, The Duchess, the Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit all make appearances.
The names are not just for show. Bartenders here put real effort into their creations, and guests regularly praise the bar as one of the strongest parts of the experience.
The White Rabbit, the signature drink, comes with a bit of theater. A marshmallow gets set aflame, and plenty of guests enjoy watching it as much as anything else on the table.
The Red Queen ranks among the most talked-about options. Other picks include the playfully titled T Party and a few espresso-based creations.
Not everyone wants a cocktail, and the restaurant plans for that too. Mocktails are on the menu, and they draw compliments for being just as creative as the main lineup.
Bar seating is also a smart workaround for busy nights. Several guests without reservations have slipped onto bar stools and had a great evening there.
Sometimes the best seat in Wonderland is right in front of the person making the magic.
4. Service That Remembers the Occasion
A good theme gets people through the door. Good people bring them back.
The staff at this underground spot earn steady praise for being warm, quick and knowledgeable about the menu. Servers often guide first-timers toward favorites, which helps when a menu is full of playful names.
Special occasions get noticed here. Guests who mention a birthday or celebration when booking have found it acknowledged at check-in and again at the table.
Some birthday parties have even found little decorations added to their desserts and drinks. It is a small touch, but it sticks with people.
Diners with food allergies also report careful attention. Staff members know the ingredients and help steer orders safely, and gluten-free options are available.
Hosts have been known to shuffle tables to seat early arrivals sooner. That kind of flexibility matters in a place that fills up fast.
Like any busy restaurant, the experience can vary. A rare guest has found the front desk less welcoming than the rest of the team, but the overall pattern leans strongly friendly.
In a room built on fantasy, the hospitality turns out to be very real.
5. Date Nights and Grown-Up Escapes
Parents who have not had a night out in months know the value of a good escape. This basement hideaway fits that bill nicely.
Couples make up a big share of the crowd. The low light, small tables and storybook setting make it a natural pick for anniversaries, birthdays and long-overdue date nights.
It also works for family outings with older kids and adults. Some guests pair dinner with a theater show down the street, turning one evening into a full downtown adventure.
Friends looking for something different from the usual chain spots tend to enjoy it as well. The theme gives everyone something to talk about.
A few groups may want to think twice. Those who prefer quiet, cool, brightly lit rooms could find the busier hours a bit loud and warm.
Accessibility is another factor. The only entrance is the stairway from the sidewalk, so guests who cannot manage stairs should keep that in mind.
For everyone else, the payoff is simple. A short staircase delivers the feeling of a getaway without the I-70 traffic or a hotel bill.
6. The Reservation Question
Here is the honest truth about this place. Walking in on a whim can work, but it is a gamble.
The restaurant gets busy, and not just on weekends. Even Monday nights have filled up, and one Thursday crowd went from open tables at 6 PM to packed by 6:30.
Reservations can be made online through the restaurant website, and nearly everyone who has eaten here suggests doing just that. It saves a lot of guesswork.
Walk-ins still have options. A couple of first-come, first-served tables sit in the bar area, along with cocktail tables and bar seats.
Those spots are not always the comfiest in the house. Still, plenty of guests have landed one after a short wait and enjoyed a full meal.
Arriving right at opening, around 4 PM, may improve the odds for spontaneous diners. Early evenings also tend to run a little calmer.
Planning ahead takes just a few clicks. It beats standing at the top of the stairs wondering if there is room at the table, Mad Hatter style.
7. Hours, Costs and Getting There
Consistency is a quiet perk of this underground spot. The doors open at 4 PM and close at 10:30 PM, seven days a week.
No guessing about Monday closures or short Sunday hours here. That makes it one of the easier downtown dinner plans to lock in.
On cost, this is more of a nice night out than a cheap bite. One couple spent around $140 for two, which gives a rough sense of the bill with drinks and entrees.
Most guests feel the experience is worth it. A few think similar food may cost less elsewhere, so the setting and drinks are a big part of what the price covers.
Portions tend to fill people up without leaving piles of leftovers. That leaves room for a stroll around downtown afterward.
Getting there is simple for Front Range residents. The restaurant sits on North Tejon Street in the center of downtown Colorado Springs, a straightforward drive down I-25 for those coming from Denver.
Look for the stairs in the sidewalk. Once spotted, they are hard to forget.
8. Worth the Trip Down
Some restaurants are about the plate. This one is about the whole evening.
With more than 6,000 opinions shared and a strong overall score, the underground hideout has clearly won over a lot of Colorado Springs diners. The theme, the drinks and the staff carry most of that praise.
The food draws plenty of compliments too, though opinions vary a bit more there. A few guests have found dishes less exciting than the setting.
That balance is worth keeping in mind. Those chasing a creative, story-driven night out will likely leave happy, while diners focused only on value may see it differently.
It shines brightest for celebrations, date nights and anyone who wants a downtown outing that feels a little unusual. Booking ahead and arriving early can make the visit smoother.
The stairway itself remains the star of the show. It turns an ordinary sidewalk into the start of a small adventure.
Down the steps, through the door and into a story. Then, a few hours later, back up into the real world with a good tale to tell.
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