Smoke and Mirrors

There’s a mysterious new magic theater and cocktail bar from twin brother nightlife impresarios Mark and Jonnie Houston that is making L.A. say abracadabra, hipster-style of course. Black Rabbit Rose opened in February, taking over the former Butcher & Barbers space. The rooms are filled with tributes to 19th century magicians, and there’s enough gilt and velvet to make the ghost of Liberace feel at home. The vintage adorned club houses a bar and restaurant on one side, and a theater on the other- once you access it by a hidden door- with ticketed shows Thursdays-Saturdays curated by magician Rob Zabrecky. Late night, the room turns into one of the coolest bars in Hollywood.

Featuring illusionists, jugglers, contortionists, a Zoltar fortune-telling machine and cocktails that involve tarot cards and fire, Black Rabbit Rose could be an extension of the Houston Brothers’ other scenester spots, like No Vacancy, Dirty Laundry and Pour Vous. But what could be the most magical thing about this place is how you can eat some of L.A.’s best Thai food inside a nightclub. The food is from Luv2EatThai, but it’s cooked by Pia and Kaewtathip at the adjacent Crying Tiger takeout window, which you can access from the street during lunch. And for those who may want to indulge before the show, these delicious dishes are served to your table. Although I didn’t leave with one of Zoltar’s fortunes, the best magic trick of the night was having the guy I came with disappear for good after the show. Now, that’s magic . www.blackrabbitrose.com