The Matterhorn Lodge at The Set Speakeasy in Montclair, California is a limited time immersive experience that brings the magic over the alps to Southern California. The experience has just 14 more nights and is offered only on Friday and Saturday nights. The Daps Magic team was invited recently to check out this immersive experience. In short, it was a blast!
Driving up to the location, one might not initially realize the magic can be found behind a non-descript door. There is a sign that says The Set Experience at a small stand in front of it. Other than that, you’d never know it was there. Instead, it looks like an 80s bar. Yes, you’ll be in the right place, however.
Reservations are a must for this experience and can be found at ExperienceTheSet.com. Arrive shortly before your reservation and check in so that you get to experience the entirety of your allotted time. At your time, you will be walked through a couple of doors and a hallway that looks like it could go anywhere before finally coming to another door. Behind this door is where the magic happens. It may look like you are entering a storage room, instead, you are entering the world of the Matterhorn.
After entering this last door, the Matterhorn Lodge comes to life in front of you. There are plenty of props, a talking deer, the footprint of a Yeti, and also the Yeti himself! Once inside, you’ll make your way to the table that you were assigned when you check in. Check out your table and then also check out the themed drinks that are available for sale in this themed speakeasy. The drinks are fun, they are tasty, and they help tell the story of the Matterhorn Lodge. Drinks can be ordered at the bar or through the QR code for your table that you were given when you checked in or find on your table.
Once you have ordered your drink(s), it’s a great time to enjoy the atmosphere, your drinks, and the magical moments that begin to happen. This might be a Yeti, who changes looks throughout the night. This might be paying attention to the digital windows and seeing the variety of stories that are happening around you. It also could be the roving magician that entertains table by table. The magician was definitely a highlight of the night for our table and he performed some magic tricks that were classic and also some that utilized modern technology! All of his tricks were entertaining and pretty incredible to see magic happen right in front of your eyes. The magician really made it for us!
Throughout the experience, there is time to comfortable consume a couple of drinks without rushing. Then, there is another secret door to exit and head back out into the night. In our case, the night was rather cool and continued the feel one would expect from the Matterhorn and the Alps.
Each window for this experience is 100 minutes long and costs $15 to enter. Reservations are necessary. Guests must be 21 years of age or older. The experience will be offered on Friday nights and Saturday nights through March 29, 2025. Then the Matterhorn Lodge will melt away and the speakeasy will become something else!
The Matterhorn Lodge as a charming and fun experience. It really surprised me how much fun this was. It had great entertainment, the drinks were fun, and the ambiance was a major winner. The staff really also added tot he fun to the evening as well. At one point, a photographer walked around and was taking Polaroid photos of guests that then went on a photo wall and a shelf. This whole thing is an experience made up of carefully thought-through details that make for a fun 100 minute getaway that is easy to forget that is still in Southern California! It is definitely worth checking out!
