We recently tried Velvet Tango Room for the first time and we walked in immediately impressed. Well staffed, dim lighting, and cozy cocktail tables and bar. I had a margarita and an espresso martini and both cocktails exceeded my expectations! The lime margarita was classic, slightly tart, and made me want another. The espresso martini was enjoyed by all - very smooth, full of flavor without making you feel full like some do because of too much cream, I assume. The space is cool, speak easy vibes, and the gentleman playing the piano was a nice tough with an ideal volume. read more

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Been wanting to try Velvet Tango for forever as I've heard so many good things about it! It lived up to the hype. The interior is huge and dark, romantic, and vibey. There was a live jazz pianist in every room. The ambiance was great. Keep in mind they don't have dinner food, just bar snacks, so don't come expecting a meal. The drinks were definitely pricey, especially for Cleveland (~$20 per drink, give or take), so I don't plan on coming frequently, but it's a fun spot for a night out. read more

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I had a great night out at this cocktail bar. High quality ingredients were used for my drinks, and it was very apparent! I sat in the back lounge area near the entertainment, and that is a total vibe! The pianist who I believe is a regular there was great. After he finished, an excellent band played. Being a huge music person, I loved that there were two different acts. This change up of music kept me really engaged! The service was top notch throughout the night! I had tons of recommendations and tended to the perfect amount! Pro tip....if you can snag a seat at the bar, it's a lot of fun watching these drinks being made. Some might even say it's an art form! read more

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One of the top cocktail bars on my list for Cleveland! Pro tip: Make that reservation to have a more intimate experience in the secret back room! Make sure you get there about 15 min early to find street parking on Columbus, or the surrounding blocks. (Drink responsibly, obviously, and call a ride share if needed). I've been twice for late evening cocktails and the staff are so welcoming. I love the live jazz in both areas, setting such a mood. I mentioned celebrating my partner's birthday and, a few minutes later, hearing a happy birthday melody playing on the piano - it was a lovely touch! We found out another group was celebrating a birthday as well! Would recommend sitting at the bar if you're curious about a custom made drink. Everything was spot on and it was such a treat to watch them craft the drinks so expertly. The front space gets packed pretty quickly but has more of a traditional bar vibe. A bit louder and more crowded, so it's easier with a small group. The back room has a few seating arrangements where you could fit up to 6, or 8 possibly, but reservations go quickly. I'd love to come back in the warmer weather when the back patio is open. Note there is a dress code so why not use this outing as an excuse to dress up! read more

Velvet Tango Room - Love Potion - Lounges Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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A must try spot in Cleveland! The cocktails are exquisite, detailed, and perfected. The menu is so vast it's hard to pick just one! The bartenders are also so willing to modify and give suggestions. Love this swanky place! read more

Love the drinks and vibe at Velvet Tango Room! We've been a couple times for happy hour and it's always a great choice for a cocktail. The bartenders are very friendly and fun to talk to if you're sitting at the bar. They have a great dirty martini which is always my go to here. Definitely recommend for happy hour or a night out! read more

The drinks are incredible! Such craftsmanship goes into each one, and many unique ingredients make this place a must stop. There's not a lot of food options, but it's a great place to stop before going somewhere else. There space is pretty narrow, but has many rooms for you to sit and enjoy. When we last visited, we were treated to a lovely pianist. Service is great and you can feel the passion put into the drinks. read more

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I wanted to reach out regarding my visit last night. I've been a patron of VTR for years... however it's been a while since I've had the opportunity to pop in. I'm happy to say that the music, ambiance, cocktails & staff were still spot on & quite lovely. However I have one serious concern. Never in all of my visits have I encountered the EXTREMELY STRONG, and I mean OVERWHELMING fragrance in the bar like I did last night. It was so intense it was burning our eyes & causing headaches, despite sitting as close as we could to the open door. They are clearly using an exceptionally pungent air freshener/diffuser that is very off putting to their patrons & it's hurting their business. I heard SEVERAL PEOPLE discussing it & being bothered by it. Please, tone this down substantially ASAP. It's very overwhelming. read more

VTR never disappoints. Great atmosphere and drinks. Always recommend to family and friends coming into town to visit. read more

Velvet Tango Room - Spicy margarita with mezcal and repasado - Lounges Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

This cute little speakeasy has hand muddled and specialty drinks. The ambience is super cute. They do have some small bites. Every time I've been there's been a piano player. They have a lovely backyard with a little putt putt game, outback. Check this spot out. read more

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This is usually our first stop for drinks and a cheese board before we go out on the town. Their mixed drinks like Moscow Mule are tasty. The servers are fun! read more

Cool atmosphere. Good drinks Bartenders will listen and recommend We didn't have any food because the kitchen was closed for a large party - they only have a few "heavy" snacks Cocktails are $20 read more

Velvet Tango Room - Lounges Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Velvet Tango Room is such a lovely experience every time I come. It has a very intimate, jazz, speakeasy vibe going on. But, no matter how many people are packed into this bar, they make you feel like the only people there. Very attentive, helpful, & friendly! The cocktail menu (or should I say book) is very large, so you will definitely be sure to find something you like! It is sorted by alcohol type, so it is very easy to navigate - don't be afraid to ask questions if you have any! Most of their drinks are around $14, but are worth every penny - they are handmade in front of you and are very delicious! These are some of the best cocktails I've had in Cleveland and I know if you give it a shot you're going to enjoy them too! read more

Velvet Tango Room - Lounges Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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I loved VTR about 13 years ago. Maybe it's me, maybe it's them, but this is no longer what it used to be. The drinks were very traditional, without any innovation at all. In addition, instead of manually shaking the drinks, the bartenders had a mechanical shaker.... Furthermore, it was approximately 10° outside. The bartender stated that she was "too cold" and ended up turning on the air conditioning inside the bar - it was blowing COLD AIR on us! Not really caring about the patrons at all. This place needs to be shut down and revamped for something completely different. read more

Nice place. Parking nearby is a challenge.Good drinks. 2.5% service fee on the bill - not sure why.

Very disappointing, we ere so excited to get back to what was once a favorite spot. Sat down at the bar and were immediately multiple servers pounced on my husband to take his hat off, mind you this was a scully cap hand made in Ireland, we were dressed very high end and were very offended when I looked to my right to see another younger man wearing a $2 beanie cap from target and that was ok????? When I gestured and said what's that in that guys head ...they said oh that's ok it's a winter hat. wtf?!?!?! Wow never have we ever had such a rude experience. We took our money elsewhere and had a wonderful evening. We won't be back read more

Stopped in with the family after a wedding. Gotta say I loved this place. Great vibe, smelled incredible and the drinks were amazing. Server was very attentive. Pricey for drinks, but worth it. They were delicious and a huge selection. read more

Stumbled into this spot around 8 on a Saturday and easily got a table but instantly watched the place fill up after that. Server was incredibly friendly and candid about the cocktails. They have alll of the best classics and some fun seasonal offerings. There was great live music and the space was cozy. There's a great lounge area with a couch that looks almost like a living room and is perfect for groups. A bit loud due to the music in the background but a great spot for a well made drink with art nouveau / art deco vibes. read more

Velvet Tango Room - Lounges Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Just a bizzaro world experience of poor service and false accusations at this place. We weirdly got accused of swearing at the hostess and got kicked out even though we never swore at the hostess. We couldn't even figure out what could have been misinterpreted as a swear word. It was one of those alternative universe moments. I usually want to give servers and hostesses the benefit of the doubt because I know it's rough having to deal with people all day, but this was just insanity, especially as the hostess had been kind of rude (and a little spacey - it was weird) with us from the moment we walked in and asked for a table. It was such a bizarro world moment and counter to how I have ever been treated in any other establishment in this city - including many places classier than VTR. The only thing we can figure is maybe she wanted to give our table to someone else? Otherwise I have no idea what was going on. When we arrived she claimed it was an hour wait for a table as she had just seated all of the tables. Fine. Not a big deal. We tried to ask about other places in the area as we didn't want to wait an hour and she just acted annoyed. We then noticed a table was getting up and we pointed it out and asked if that table would work and she then gave us the table. There was a weird side issue because we said we were a party of 5 - we said this a few times to her as when we first arrived she tried to seat us at a 2 person table and when we reminded her we had 5 people, she said they would only be able to serve 2 of us so we said that wouldn't work. When we got to our table we realized the table only had 4 seats. We asked about adding a 5th chair and the hostess wouldn't let us add a seat even though there was plenty of room (VTR also doesn't allow standing so we kind of needed the seat if we wanted our whole group). Then one of our party said it was fine as she was just going to head home as we didn't want to cause issues. Why wouldn't the hostess just say she can't seat 5 and be done with it if it was an issue? We clearly were going to just go elsewhere if there wasn't room for us so it wasn't a big deal. But she just created a disaster situation and then made up stuff to her manager? It was just weird. And the manager didn't even ask us what had been going on. None of this was handled as it should have been for a high end establishment. I obviously will never be going back to this place. It's not the same under the new ownership. We then went to a different wonderful new establishment a little further west (LVL on the window - where clifton martini bar used to be) where we were warmly embraced the moment we walked in and got wonderful cocktails and when we shared the story of the craziness we had just experienced, they tended to favor the wanting the table idea. So I will be continuing to frequent the many amazing bars and restaurants this city offers, just not VTR. Such a bizarro world moment in my life, but I guess an interesting story. read more

Delicious! Hand-crafted gin fizz and nothing is better in the cocktail world. This is a Must for your foodie list while in Cleveland.

Velvet tango room is an unassuming, unique, jazz cocktail bar. My friends and I came on a Friday night, and were able to be seated at the high tops without a reservation. I really love how they have a satisfaction guaranteed policy, to encourage patrons to branch out and try more cocktails. Our server was so helpful and informative about the various cocktails we were interested in, and guided our choices with a deft hand. While their cocktails are usually $20, their happy hour pricing ranges from $12-$15. The live jazz was also excellent, though at times it was challenging to hear because of how loud the place was. I definitely recommend checking out this unique cocktail bar! read more

Velvet Tango Room - Bar seating - Lounges Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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One of my fav cocktail bars in cleveland! It's a bit hidden but beautifully decorated inside. I love that they organize their menu by spirt type. They specialize in the more classics cocktails but have some house created ones too. There is a limited snack menu but don't expect a large meal here! They have a really great happy hour too! A select list of 8-10 cocktails are $12 and the rest are $15 (compared to the usual $20). The staff and bartenders are extremely friendly and are always willing to help you find the right cocktail for your tastes/mood! read more

Velvet Tango Room is the sexy, swanky cocktail bar you've been looking for. Take a first date to impress them, or spend a night on the town with friends and listen to the smooth jazz being piped in, or the live music they bring in. The cocktail menu is extensive - and mainly focused on classics. On our recent visit, my husband got the Last Ward (a play on the Last Word), and I got a Rangpur Gimlet - a delicious and frothy lime and gin concoction. Our server was there when we needed her and gone when we didn't - the perfect service to have an intimate evening out. My only complaint is the pricing. $15 per cocktail is on the high end in Cleveland, and having no variability really isn't appropriate pricing for the variety of cocktails they have. An old fashioned is certainly costing less in products on hand than a more complex drink with specialty liqueurs. We'll be back when we want a nice night out on the town - but it's more than likely for when we want a night cap rather than a place to have several drinks. read more

Velvet Tango Room - Lounges Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Come here for very well made drinks- both classic cocktails and eccentric new choices. The Hulett was a mix of tequila and Laphroaig which turned out like a margarita with tastes of lime and tequila. The Ramos gin fizz was an epic foamy mildly sweet delicious concoction which had a sort of mild sweet citrus flavor. Bartender Amy was so very helpful with my selections. Prices are $20 per cocktail. Only a few food items to choose from ranging from $8 to $20ish for antipasti basically. Small place. Decor is a blend of old fashioned mid 19th century styling with notes of speakeasy and Ramada or Drury Inn from the mismatched and aged carpet and furniture. Cozy place but it was really cold inside so I literally had to keep my jacket on to stay warm. For $20 a drink I'd like them to keep the heat on in the winter. read more

Velvet Tango Room used to be one of our favorite spots. We've been coming here for years, always loving their drinks and service. If a drink wasn't to our liking, they'd replace it without hesitation--no questions asked. This time, we came to celebrate my wife's 45th birthday, and things were completely different. She ordered her usual drink, but it wasn't the same. When we mentioned this to the waiter, he arrogantly told us they had changed the recipe, as if it was our fault for not knowing. We asked to replace the drink with an Old Fashioned, and he brought out half a glass. When we questioned it, he argued that's how it's supposed to be. At that point, we just asked for the check--only to find out we'd been overcharged for both drinks. When we brought it up, the waiter reluctantly adjusted the bill but acted like he was doing us a favor. On top of that, the ambiance has completely changed--and not in a good way. The once classy, upscale decor has been cheapened. It looks like they cut every possible corner, and it shows. Even the bathrooms, which used to feel luxurious with lotions and perfumes, now feel like a gas station restroom. They're stocked with the cheapest toilet paper and paper towels imaginable--so thin they practically disintegrate in your hands. If you came here 2, 3, or 4 years ago, you know why this place was rated as a top 10 bar in the US. It's not even in the top 500 now, and it's because of experiences like this. To make matters worse, when we asked to speak to a manager, we were told the waiter was the manager. We are never coming back. This place is quickly becoming a dump under this new management. read more

Some of the best cocktails in cleveland. Located in a not so obvious building in Duck Island. Such a range of drinks mostly organized by type of spirit. They have all the classics + some invented at Velvet Tango. I've never had a bad drink, but the bartenders always stress that if you don't like something they will remake it or make you something else. They also have the best happy hour. Outside of happy hour drinks are $20, but during HH, all drinks are $15 with a special list for $12. Also pro tip- go during live music (usually jazz on fri and sat) read more

You will get cocktails for the highest quality at VTR. The menu is extensive and the bartenders know how to prepare a cocktail. If you are not sure you are ready to try something new, ask the bartender for a recommendation based on something you know you like. Here, when they say fresh squeezed lime juice, they mean FRESH, just squeezed 5 seconds ago - not some store bought "not from concentrate" mess. The freshness of the ingredients shines through in the drinks. The drinks are top-notch. No question. But there is another reason to visit! Live music! Sometimes they have a live band which is icing on the cake for me. Tip: food selection is very limited and parking is a pain but just keep driving around until you find a spot lol, it's worth it. Oh and happy hour is 5-7 (I think) drinks are $5 off, which means they cost $15. It's not cheap but it's worth it. read more

Velvet Tango Room - Old Fashioned - Lounges Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Went there for after dinner drinks. The service and ambiance were awesome. Didn't try the food but I'm sure it would be good read more

Very nice vibe in here. We stopped in around 8 or 9 on a Friday evening and luckily got seated fast. The drinks are strongggg and tasty! The menu is a whole book, organized by spirits which is nice and easy to navigate. I loved my tequila drink with the banana cinnamon syrup. Relaxing atmosphere, friendly service, all around nice place! We'll be sure to visit again in the future. read more

Stopped by VTR on a recent date night with the wife and we sat at the bar because there were no open tables. We were given drink menus to peruse and peruse we did. I don't consume mixed drinks often, so I was clueless as to what to order. I told the bartender that I like sweet drinks and she recommended the Amaretto Sour or a peach cocktail. The word, "sour" scared me, so I went with the peach one. My wife ordered the Ultimate Amaretto Sour. It took about 10 minutes to get our drinks. We watched the bartenders skillfully craft and shake the drinks. We also noticed that they poured egg whites into several drinks, which made me return to the menu to read why. I learned that egg whites make the drinks beautifully frothy when shaken vigorously. When I sipped my drink, I realized why these cocktails cost $18. Wow! Best mixed drink I've ever tasted. Then my wife and I switched and I tasted her Amaretto Sour. It was even more amazing! It was so much better than my peach cocktail and it made me wish that I ordered the same as her. Not sure why it's called Amaretto Sour when it's really very sweet. I guess Amaretto Sweet just doesn't have the same ring. We finished our drinks, paid, and went on our way feeling a sense of contentment and satisfaction knowing that we finally made it to VTR. read more

Velvet Tango Room - Peach cocktail - Lounges Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

The Velvet Tango is a classy, dark getaway that I dug the moment I walked in. It's so dark that from the outside I wasn't sure if it was open. I love jazz and the live music was extraordinary - compelling if you want to listen, unobtrusive if you're chatting up your friends or your date. Seemed to me to have a lot of regulars, a nice place to relax in and enjoy a cocktail. Clevelanders have a real gem here. read more

Grown N Sexy crowd for sure...loved this swanky bar with a live old school jazz band, the band was fabulous. All cocktails are $20 for the most part and they are worth it due to the fresh ingredients and decent pours. The service was perfect from start to finish. I believe her name was Kate and she made us feel like we were her only customers that night. She explained drinks and helped us navigate through the lengthy drink menu. She was the most pleasant server I've encountered in a very long time. Everyone stopped by to check in on us and made us feel like we were at home. I'm not from Cleveland but when I'm in the area, this will be my first stop. read more

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Expensive but quality & inventive craft cocktails, comfortable setting. Excellent service.

Excellent bar. The wife and I were in Cleveland to visit family and she found this spot. We got reservations for the lounge in the back room. Great, classy Gilded Age speakeasy vibe. Our bartender (John? Jon?) was extremely helpful and made us some of the best cocktails we've had. read more

Velvet Tango Room - Ramos Fizz and an Earl Grey Martini by John the bartender. Excellent. - Lounges Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

Fun atmosphere with the live jazz band. Interesting concept where the menu doesn't actually tell you what's in any of the drinks, but they have funny descriptions that are more mysterious than anything. They also cost $20 a piece, but there's the disclaimer that if you don't like something they'll just make you something else. They seem to know how to make a great cocktail- mine even had a whole egg in it! It wasn't bad and smooth for sure. read more

This speakeasy style bar was everything I hoped it would be. I went on a slow Monday and there was neither a wait, nor a need for a reservation after 6p. The drink menu is impressive, and the quality of the cocktails is as advertised. Some of the best I've ever had - no lie. There are also small plates available, so a great place to pre-game an outing or to just relax with some friends. I can't wait to go back. read more

Velvet Tango Room - Inside - Lounges Near Me - Cleveland, Ohio

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Grown and sexy vibes. Ambiance is on point !They got a piano player and the tv plays black and white old timey shows. the wine will have you feeling real saucy read more

20$ per cocktail BUT TOTALLY WORTH IT. Each drink was made fresh from scratch by the awesome bartenders. The LIVE MUSIC was superb, and the decor gave a bit of a speakeasy vibe with modern touches. They have the front bar area and the backroom. The backroom has a more romantic feel and reservation is required (perfect for a date). The front bar area is louder and has more energy (perfect for being with a group). 2 drinks per person is required for the backroom FYI. Do not let the small appearance from the outside fool you. You wont regret coming. read more

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Tried a seasonal drink but not sure if I like the fact that all drinks are $20. It's a bit hefty. The live jazz music is nice. Decor seems a bit dated read more

Take yourself back in time to a speakeasy vibe with old classic cocktails and live music that has you feeling like you're in a different era. The Velvet Tango room is known for craft cocktails made from scratch with the freshest ingredients and classic tools for shaking and mixing. The methods and style shine through in the exquisitely made cocktails, that will blow your tastebuds away! My favorite here is the Pisco Sour a very popular drink of South America. The bartenders are amazing here and will concoct something up to you're liking if you describe your preferred taste. It's always fun seeing what they come up with. We got a quick tour of the secret back room with a private bar that can be accessed with a reservation ahead, or they use it as overflow on super busy nights. I would definitely reserve this spot for future visits, there was a nice fireplace and a more intimate feel. Always enjoy a night here whether it's to start or end and evening out on the town! read more

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