Monday, June 15, 2026

The Velvet Room opening June 17 in Bethesda


The Velvet Room
will open at 8020 Norfolk Avenue in downtown Bethesda this Wednesday, June 17, 2026. Reservations for an opening week table at the speakeasy are now being accepted online. You can also view the cocktail menu for opening night, which includes many drinks with hyperlocal names. Operating hours will be 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM Tuesday through Thursday, 4:00 PM to midnight Friday through Sunday, and closed on Mondays.



85 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are they still framing it as an r&b experience?

Anonymous said...

This looks so bad... JFC.

Anonymous said...

$16 for a Tito’s martini? I give this place 6 months at most.

Anonymous said...

Gonna end up like Society lounge in DTSS? If successful might not be the demographic we're looking for?

Anonymous said...

@3:22 PM: I hope it's less.

A said...

@3:22 unfortunately that's a normal price in today's economy

A said...

What's wrong with that demographic?

Anonymous said...

"Not the demographic we're looking for"?
Dogwhistle much?

Anonymous said...

The government grifter 10:14/17 needs to get back to work.

Anonymous said...

Most of us prefer the 'demographic' that doesn't involve police presence, lots of tax payer funded resources, danger, and crime. That too much to ask for?

Anonymous said...

@7:50 AM: I don't think the place will be around long enough for the framing to matter.

Anonymous said...

@10:14 AM: I was actually saying that I hope it's around for less than 6 months. Much less.

Anonymous said...

@10:17 AM/11:07 AM: Let's go to the FBI data! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-43

14% of the population. Responsible for 51.2% of murders and 52.7% of the robberies. It's data.

A said...

Rent free :)

Anonymous said...

That's at least racism-adjacent.

Anonymous said...

Ever been to La Catrina Lounge weekend evenings? I tried going a few times and wasn’t able to enter without being frisked down by security. I suppose it’s good that they’re safety-minded but one might wonder why that’s not needed presently for any other location in Bethesda.

A said...

@2:55 you're not fooling anyone lil bro. Sorry that Bethesda isn't as white and afraid of everything as you are. If you don't like it then leave. Perhaps Russia is more your speed?

A said...

@5:56 there are those "statistics" that completely ignore the reality of over-policing non-white areas, non-white people facing harsher penalties for crimes than white people, police brutality, police outright lying to secure convictions, centuries of redlining intended to destroy specific communities, food deserts, underfunded education, and numerous other economic and historical factors that are clearly above your level of comprehension.

Anonymous said...

5:56 posting the data 10:17 is trying to deny

Anonymous said...

@8:35 AM: You're only calling 2:55 AM racist/racist-adjacent because you can't call them a liar. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Anonymous said...

8:35 AM: That card has been declined. Try again with another form of payment.

Anonymous said...

@7:38 AM: Considering MoCo (and Maryland) is one party rule, it's your economy. You own this. All of it.

A said...

@12:11 facts don't care about your feelings, sweaty. Cherry-picked "statistics" that ignore context and historical factors isn't fooling anyone, we all know you're just afraid of anyone who doesn't look like you. Cry harder :)

A said...

@1:32 you seem to be suffering from Maryland Derangement Syndrome.

A said...

That's standard practice for clubs, which Bethesda only has a couple of

A said...

@5:52 speak for yourself. More nightlife right next door would be wonderful. Beats having to take a 30+ minute Metro ride or pay out the bum for Uber/Lyft.

Anonymous said...

@9:54 AM: Not "Statistics"... They are Statistics, without your scare quotes. Over-policing for murders? Someone's dead! Over-policing for robberies? Someone got robbed. Everything else you've put here is evidence of your suicidal toxic empathy for why the crimes happened. As Gad Saad put it, you're "Dying to be Kind".

https://www.amazon.com/Suicidal-Empathy-Dying-Be-Kind/dp/0063446537

Crime is a choice and these people have agency to choose whether or not they commit a crime. You have unlimited empathy for why they did it. Murder isn't a crime of necessity. Robbery isn't a crime of necessity.

People like you are the reason I conceal carry. Because you have suicidal toxic empathy for people like them and I refuse to be a victim of that.

Anonymous said...

1:24 PM: This is absolutely perfect.

Anonymous said...

@12:11 PM: 10:17 AM/9:54 AM is calling me a racist for citing the FBI Data because he can't call me a liar. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Anonymous said...

9:47 AM: I don't care how White Bethesda is. I care that it's safe more than you care. Why is your only solution to tell people to leave?

Anonymous said...

9:54 AM has the same predictable response that people on the Left have when someone like 5:56 AM lays out the hard data on this. Over-policing doesn't cause murder. Over-policing doesn't cause robbery. Someone's either murdered or robbed because someone murdered or robbed them. Fact. If the police catch the murderer or robber and then charge/imprison them, it's because they either murdered or robbed someone. You're only calling others here racist about that because you can't deny what the FBI data shows.

Let's go through the rest of it a step at a time:
Harsher penalties pay no role. Someone was murdered or robbed.
Police brutality plays no role. Someone was murdered or robbed.
Police lying plays no role. Someone was murdered or robbed.
Centuries of redlining plays no role. Someone was murdered or robbed.
Food deserts play no role. Someone was murdered or robbed.
Underfunding education plays no role. Someone was murdered or robbed.
Numerous other economic and historical factors play no role. Someone was murdered and robbed.

Anonymous said...

It's definitely not the demographic. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Anonymous said...

2:55, No, that's not too much to ask for, but here that will not happen.

Anonymous said...

9:54 you left out Poverty™

Anonymous said...

9:47 AM: Of course you're not afraid of the crime. You don't have a problem with it. For you the crime is a totally acceptable cost of living as long as it remains one party rule by the Democrat Party in MoCo and Maryland. You know that's true. That's what you vote for. Own it.

Anonymous said...

No thank you.

Anonymous said...

Let's see, over policing where crime happens more frequently... Sounds like our government grifter needs grade school cause & effect.

Anonymous said...

@158: I’ve never seen that at Tommy Joe’s or Caddies.

A said...

@2:31 you tried, sweetheart. I guarantee that all of your shots at five yards are outside the target. I know that you're used to playing the victim, you don't have to tell me that. Anything to keep you feeling scared I guess!

A said...

@2:35 I never said racist. Seems like you've self reported...

A said...

@2:55 your delusion is adorable. Facts don't care about your feelings, sweaty. Keep crying though. Maybe one day you'll harden up and stop being afraid of your own shadow.

A said...

@4:44 rent free. You're welcome for my service. :)

A said...

@2:57 tell me you've never been invited to a club without telling me you've never been invited to a club.

A said...

@3:55 correct! I did forget poverty. Thank you for reminding me.

A said...

@5:44 those are bars, not clubs

A said...

@4:30 why yes, I do not live my life in fear of some "ooooh the scary people from other there are out to get the white people ooooh" boogeyman. I prefer to exist in reality.

I do own my vote. It feels good living in one of the most successful, safe, and free states in the country. :)

Anonymous said...

3:55 pm, I see what you did there, "A" could add Victim of Racism™ too.

Anonymous said...

1:54 should know all about cherry picking statistics and goiing down with that ship in complete denial of ALL other data points. You represent the left so well!

Anonymous said...

@9:34 Now that's what true denial of reality looks like. Seek help

Anonymous said...

@2:01 PM - This is not the nightlife that Bethesda needs. This is not the crowd that it needs to attract. Crime in Bethesda will increase because of this place, not that you care. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Anonymous said...

1:54 PM: What "context" and "historical factors" matter or apply if someone is murdered or robbed? There's a clear victim who's been murdered or robbed and there's a perpetrator who murdered or robbed them.

Again: The FBI data for murders and robberies

https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/topic-pages/tables/table-43

14% of the population. Responsible for 51.2% of murders and 52.7% of the robberies. There's absolutely no way you can spin that, deny that or excuse that data because of any "context" or "historical factors". You know you can't but you're trying anyway.

I'm not afraid of anyone who doesn't look like me. I conceal carry because of people like you.

Anonymous said...

Look at all the posts from the federal worker "A" during the "working" day. Amazing amount of waste and fraud that still needs to be cleaned up.

Anonymous said...

@7:59 PM: You sure about that ace? I carry a firearm so I'm not a victim of the things you vote for. Speaking of playing, you're "Schrodinger's Voter": You manage to vote for and then not own what you voted for at the same time. Incredible stuff.

@2:35 PM: As 1:24 PM here said, your card has been declined. Please try another form of payment.

@8:02 PM: As expected, you have suicidal empathy. Explains everything really. There's no delusion here. Only cited FBI data which makes you really uncomfortable.

Anonymous said...

@1:55 PM: Own what you voted for. Own it all. Wear it proudly. Own the crime, the taxes, the traffic, the moribund business economy. You got exactly what you wanted.

Anonymous said...

@8:03 PM: I've been invited to clubs, but I often look at the place and I decline. Like I'm going to waste my money in a dump like that. I'd rather be hosting or attending a party with friends where we have the drinks we want and the crowd we want.

Anonymous said...

@3:55 PM/@10:34 PM: There's always an excuse from people like "A" for why the data doesn't explain it. The truth is that it doesn't matter how much data there is for "A". There's no amount of proof or evidence that would satisfy "A" because "A's" opinions aren't based on data. "A's" opinions are based on belief, virtue signaling and moral superiority mixed with toxic, suicidal empathy. The FBI data crashed into them like a freight train and he's plugging his ears and making excuses to keep his delusion going. It's laughable.

Anonymous said...

@9:34 PM: That's because you ignore the data. You know you do. You have to in order to have that opinion.

"One of the most successful, safe and free states in the country?" LMAO. Are you nuts? That's absolutely delusional. Go to Baltimore and say that. Go to Silver Spring and say that. Go to Langley Park and say that.

Anonymous said...

8:00 PM: You didn't have to say "racist". It's obvious that's what you think and it's a lame attempt to avoid having to confront the empirical data and strong argument that 2:55 PM laid out.

Anonymous said...

Nothing scares "A" more than someone who doesn't agree with him or submit to his fever-dream. That's why he wants them to "leave". ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Anonymous said...

@5:22 Very interesting that a federal worker has so much free time to post on local blogs during times they're collecting a taxpayer funded paycheck. Probably need another round of federal austerity.

A said...

@5:04 again, speak for yourself. And you're not fooling anyone with your "crime will increase" dogwhistle.

A said...

@5:13 so you conceal carry because you're afraid of someone like me who means you no harm. Really proved my point there big shoots. And I'm not surprised that you don't understand how crime statistics have underlying context that explains why crime happens, and that historical factors and events can lead to poverty, which can lead to crime. Seems you have a hard time wrapping your head around complex issues. Couldn't be me LMAO

@5:24 I own the fact that my vote triggers you fantastically :)

@5:50 correct, I didn't have to say it, because you self reported.

A said...

@5:26 ok! :) And you are correct, I did get what I wanted. I wanted to live in a fantastic and safe community with tons of opportunities, where people of different ethnicities can coexist happily. Sorry if that offends you!

A said...

@4:56 projection

@5:46 I do go to those places and say that. If you weren't so afraid of your own shadow then perhaps you would understand.

A said...

@5:30 and why do you think it's a dump?

A said...

@5:22 absolutely rent free, holy hell. I should put your skull down as a residency on my SF86.

Anonymous said...

The only framing will be for a crime that occurs on the premises or out front.

A said...

@5:39 oh, sweetheart... no. Just no. It's well known that the terminally fearful like yourself roll out FBI crime statistics as a bad faith talking point while conveniently ignoring WHY crime exists. You use them in a pathetic attempt to justify your hatred of anyone who doesn't look exactly like you. This topic has been explained to death but you refuse to believe facts and reality when it goes against your biases. We already know you lot operate. You're not fooling anyone.

Anonymous said...

From the same Fed whom always fills out their NCAA bracket 64 while on the clock!

A said...

@6:38 projection

A said...

@8:11 you're welcome for my service :)

Anonymous said...

@8:21 AM: You're only calling me a racist because you can't call me a liar. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Anonymous said...

One big factor in why crime exists is the price of Nikes.

Anonymous said...

@8:26 AM: I conceal carry because of who you vote for, what their policies are and what the consequences of those policies are. "Meaning no harm"? You've made MoCo and Maryland a high tax, high crime, and high traffic dump of a County/State and then you expect me not to protect myself from the effects of the policies which you voted for?

Again, crime statistics for Murder and Robbery and who does them have nothing to do with the factors that you keep trying to use to explain the data away.

Murder: Somebody kills someone. It's data.
Robbery: Somebody robs someone. It's data.

Also, you have it backwards: It's "Crime creates poverty", not "Poverty creates crime". There are plenty of poor people who don't commit crime. Explain that without accusing me of racism. Go.

As far as owning "the fact that your vote triggers me", it doesn't actually trigger me. You're not making the argument that your vote has made things better in MoCo or Maryland. You're willing to live in crime-ridden/economic mediocrity as long as your Party stays the one in power, to the point where anyone else should just leave if they don't like it. How fascist.

As far as you not having to say it, your card has been declined. Try another form of payment.

I take comfort in knowing and everyone else knowing that there's no amount of empirical data that will convince you, because your opinions are not based on data. They never were and never will be.

A said...

@9:02 I'm more a tennis fan tbh

Anonymous said...

LMAO at A talking about "facts and reality" when they won't acknowledge FBI Crime Statistics and attempt to write them off as a "bad faith" talking point. Hilarious!

Anonymous said...

8:28 AM: A "fantastic and safe community with tons of opportunities"? Talk about a total denial of reality.

Anonymous said...

@8:30 AM: No projection on my part. Only undeniable empirical data from a valid source which makes you squirm and really uncomfortable.

You go to Baltimore, Silver Spring and Langley Park and say that? My goodness. You've let all these places go to hell. They look like crap.

Anonymous said...

Interesting to see the lack of productivity on some of these federal employees. probably get more done with some high school students looking for summer jobs.

Anonymous said...

@8:30 AM: Because I have higher standards than you do. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Anonymous said...

8:36 AM: That's the best you can do? If you had a better argument or response than that you'd make it here, but you actually don't, so you can't. Absolutely embarrassing for you. Glad everyone here can see it.

Anonymous said...

8:30 AM - Baltimore, Silver Spring and Langley Park are "safe"? Are you insane? They're unsafe because of people like you.

Anonymous said...

@8:26 I'm sure the victim who got sexually assaulted at the library feels so much safer because of your skewed version of reality.

Anonymous said...

@8:30 Going to call total BS on your claim to 5:46. I lived over there while working and attending UMCP because that's what I could afford. You've never walked down Piney Branch Road near University or University past Riggs Road after dark. Peddle your lies someplace else.

Anonymous said...

8:36 AM --> The FBI data is your kryptonite and you know it. Some hard cope for you.