Wonderland

'Should we call the others and tell them we found it?' I asked and immediately hoped he would say 'No'.
We had left our friends just three doors up the street in a pleasant if unremarkable bar. It had a perfectly average atmosphere and everything a bar should have - chairs, tables, drinks. All was good and the conversations were flowing just fine in this run of the mill watering hole.
Only I was after a different type of hole. One that only someone who looks for would find. And even then they could miss it. Or so did the review said.
The moment I read about this mysterious place I knew I should run out and start looking for clues in the masonry and pull out books hoping a wall would move. Because that's where I was to find it - in a wall under the rail bridge, unmarked and unannounced, a door was to be spotted and a bell to be buzzed.
My hesitation lasted a second and soon I was at the bridge under the rail tracks blinking sheepishly at a grey steel door more likely leading to a nest of cables and fuses than tables and booze. I saw my finger reach for the buzzer and my breath halted in suspense. I didn't have a chance to come to my senses before a vision panel slid open and a set of eyes rested on me.
The door then opened and a man stood before me and, for all I know, he said in German 'Welcome to the tea party'. For he was a true Mad Hatter.
When I did not reply his eyes framed by horn-rimmed glasses met my own gaze that was running up and down his odd straw-like hat and purple waistcoat and he simply asked in English if we had a reservation. We didn't. Was it just the two of us? Yes. We see, they have a dress code...
I smiled, hoping my hastily slapped mascara would compensate for our travel beaten look and jeans. And it did.
Sighing with relief my adventure did not end at the steel door we paid the $11 admission and entered a Clockwork Orange inspired Wonderland. My grin couldn't have been wider.
Two long, curved dark walls met in the far end a floor-to-ceiling pupil-shaped molten gold lamp that cast soft light amber light. As this was the only source of light shadows and silhouettes danced around us. Silky music enveloped us and while I was sipping on my delightful gin and fresh apple cocktail it made my mind drift away.
I was still charged by the emotion and high on my courage and luck and on the brilliance of my find I congratulated myself on giving it a go.
'Let's savour it' I said.