The Rathskeller is the extraordinary basement room of the historic Seelbach Hotel, completely lined with Rookwood pottery tiles in intricate Arts and Crafts patterns. When the room was built in 1905, Rookwood was the finest decorative ceramic manufacturer in America, and the Seelbach commission remains one of the most lavish examples of its work surviving anywhere. The murals depict hunting scenes and are remarkably well-preserved.
The room is used for private events but is accessible to hotel guests and those who arrange visits in advance with the concierge. The Seelbach itself is worth seeing — it was one of the grand hotels of the American Midwest in the early 20th century, and the lobby still has its original Beaux-Arts splendor intact. The connection to Fitzgerald and Gatsby gives the whole building a literary glamour that is not entirely imaginary.