Velvet Room brings elevated lounge, music-focused pop-up to Park City Main Street

Bartenders mix craft cocktails at the opening of Velvet Room on Main Street in Park City on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Photo: Marina Knight // TownLift

PARK CITY, Utah – A new velvet-draped lounge tucked beneath The Cabin on Park City’s Main Street is aiming to change how locals and visitors experience nightlife – leaning into an intimate, lounge-style atmosphere on a street known for packed bars.

The Velvet Room, a winter pop-up created by hospitality veteran Bryce Clarke, opened on December 10 in the lower-level space beneath The Cabin. The concept will run through the end of ski season, currently slated through April, with plans underway to find a permanent home if the model proves successful.

Clarke, whose background spans luxury cruise ships and Las Vegas nightlife, said the idea for the Velvet Room grew out of his own experiences spending time in Park City as a visitor — and eventually as a full-time resident.

“I came up here for what I thought would be a quiet white Christmas,” Clarke said. “Instead, I walked into every bar on Main Street and ended up sitting next to locals, talking, connecting. That sense of community really stuck with me.”

Clarke spent more than a decade working in food and beverage management roles aboard cruise ships before joining Tao Group Hospitality in Las Vegas, where he spent 16 years. His final role was vice president of event operations, overseeing private events across multiple venues in Las Vegas and Chicago.

He said Park City felt fundamentally different.

“In Las Vegas, you don’t get that community connection,” Clarke said. “Up here, people know each other. They care about the places they spend time in. I realized there was an opportunity to create something elevated but still very local.”

That opportunity came quickly. After relocating permanently to Park City and planning to take a winter off, Clarke connected with the owners of The Cabin and partnered with them to transform the downstairs space into what is now the Velvet Room.

The space has been reimagined with warm lighting, plush seating and, as the name suggests, plenty of velvet. The front room is where the stage and lounge seating is. The seating is arranged in couch vignettes designed for bottle and VIP-style service. A separate hideaway area is reserved for members.

“I wanted people to feel comfortable, recognized and not crowded,” Clarke said.

Music is central to the Velvet Room’s identity, with programming designed to shift throughout the week and appeal to different audiences.

Wednesday’s “Sessions” event promises rotating musicians offering originals, covers, and live studio energy. A recent night featured Preston Creed performing a Chris Stapleton tribute that began with ballads before building into a more rock-driven set that had the crowd on its feet.

Thursdays, branded as “Plush” with a focus on jazz and soul. Fridays and Saturdays feature a January residency by Kate Chanson, who performs cabaret-style sets from 6 to 8 p.m. before a DJ takes over later in the evening.

Sundays introduce a concept Clarke calls “Sundowner,” running from 3 to 8 p.m., with DJ-and-live-sax performer Simba Sax holding a residency. Monday and Tuesday the venue is closed.

Beginning Dec. 18, every other Thursday will also feature “Velvet Knights” — aimed at the LGBTQ+ community. Velvet Knights kicks off with DJ Audio Delivery.

Clarke said one of the guiding principles behind the Velvet Room is creating an upscale Main Street experience that doesn’t require standing in line or staying out late.

“There are a lot of locals who don’t want to be on Main Street at 10 or 11 at night,” he said. “This gives them a place to come earlier, have an elevated experience, and still be home at a reasonable hour.”

There is currently no cover charge, though a cover will be introduced in January. Clarke emphasized that capacity will remain intentionally limited.

Memberships — offered on a weekly or seasonal basis — are available but not required. Members receive guaranteed entry and priority reservations for lounge seating during peak hours.

“I built the membership model for locals,” Clarke said. “I was tired of standing outside in the cold, watching tourists skip the line. This is about access and quality over quantity.”

Clarke said memberships are limited and selling quickly. Pricing details are available by inquiry at hello@velvetroomparkcity.com.

The Velvet Room also partners with luxury brands including Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne and Diageo spirits, reinforcing the upscale focus. A curated cocktail menu and light bites are offered, with service intentionally paced.

Clarke acknowledged that maintaining a dress code and service standards in a ski town can be challenging but said the concept naturally attracts the right crowd.

“The space kind of filters itself,” he said. “People looking for that elevated experience find it.”

While the Velvet Room is currently a seasonal pop-up, Clarke said interest in expanding or extending the concept has already begun.

“This was always meant to be a proof of concept,” he said. “If it makes sense, the goal is to find a permanent space.”

For now, Clarke said he’s focused on refining the experience — one night at a time.

“We’re not chasing volume,” he said. “We’re building something that lasts.”