10 Decked-Out Holiday Bars to Banish Your Inner Grinch
My memories of Brooklyn cocktail programs in the early 2000s are a blur of mustachioed men in leather-strapped aprons and bow-ties, tapping their bitters out like a lab technician as they murmur words like “orgeat” and “creme de violette.” Cocktails at that level can be a gravely serious business, but luckily, every December, we can rejoice in the antithesis: the big, bombastic utter absurdity that is the winter holiday bar.
For Sother Teague, owner of Amor y Amargo, a bitters-focused bar in New York’s East Village that hosts an annual holiday pop-up, these settings offer a break from business as usual and a bonding moment in a tough city.
“Year-round we do this serious thing, but the point of holiday bars is taking the piss out of yourself,” he says. “It’s an opportunity for us all to step out of our own lives, take a break and relax and join with other people at bars, which are places of community.”
Whether a pop-up or, in rarer cases, a permanent year-round fixture, these holiday-themed bars lean toward Christmas more than Kwanzaa or Hanukkah (though there are tributes to those two holidays, too), but aim to be inclusive.
You might be treated to a live piano singalong, A Christmas Story on the telly, a cozy fireplace and games to play, plus a bartender in a Santa hat. You’re part of the fun, too—come in your holiday best, whether that’s your ugliest Rudolph sweater or your most festive red dress.
“It’s an opportunity to step out of your norm, dress outrageously, drink new themed cocktails, sing songs and make new friends,” Teague says.
From intricate ingredients to over-the-top decor, these are the most festive holiday bars around the U.S. and beyond.
Miracle
Locations: Worldwide
Dates (varies): Thanksgiving to New Year’s
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention Miracle, a pop-up that takes over dozens of bars across the U.S. and a few in Canada, Europe, Asia and Central America, too. Bartender Hawk House’s favorite Miracle pop-up takes place at Pacific Cocktail Haven (PCH) in San Francisco, led by owner Kevin Diedrich.
“PCH does the Miracle ask, but Kevin also does an amazing job taking his culinary knowledge and creating a well-balanced menu that is available to all palates,” House says.
Expect extravagant decor, adorable flourishes (like a family of tiny Christmas mice on the counter next to you), friendly bartenders and plenty of good cheer. Menus are standard across the bars, as are the mugs for sale, including everyone’s favorite Christmas unicorn, Santarex and the Naughty-and-Nice Santa set.
This year, get light and merry with the Christmapolitan, a vodka elderflower and vermouth concoction dressed up with spiced cranberry sauce, lime and rosemary, or head toward the darker end of the spectrum with the Snowball Old-Fashioned, essentially an old-fashioned turned up with gingerbread flavors.
This year, 10% of all proceeds from sales of the Santa Pants, Christmas Carol Barrel and Santa’s Head mugs will go to Seva Foundation, a nonprofit helping to restore sight.
Opening dates vary by location, with most opening in November and closing in early January around New Year’s.
Sleyenda at Leyenda
Location: Brooklyn
Dates: November 29 to December 31
Presents hanging from the ceiling, an igloo with furry chairs to drink in and singalongs to “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” and “All the Single Ladies”? We’re there for it. This mashup of Beyhive-love, Christmas and upscale cocktail culture takes place at award-winning bartender Ivy Mix’s Leyenda, a Latin-influenced spot in Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill neighborhood.
“It’s a ton of fun and attracts a lot of people, and they go all out on holiday decorations,” Teague says. “There’s all the usual stuff, but also the Latin influences of lots of prayer candles and sugar skulls, and the Tia Mia, a reverse-engineered mai tai with Latin spirits.”
You can also sip on the Coquito Ho Ho, which has reposado tequila, sherry, coconut, cinnamon and egg, along with a few surprises that will be unveiled on opening day.
Reservations accepted.
Krampus Cove
Locations: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Brooklyn, Austin, San Antonio and Denver
Dates: November to December 31
If you prefer Halloween and cult horror, and find Christmas an oversaturated, overly cheery mess, check out Krampus Cove at six cities across the United States. All of the pop-ups boast black Christmas trees with mutilated doll parts and other gory, bloody decor.
“I like the Krampus model because it looks at Christmas through a darker lens without being campy and sweet,” Teague says. “Someday Bar here in Brooklyn will transform their space to become an immersive experience that includes not just thematic decor, but also music that pokes fun at holiday classics by turning them goth-punk.”
Created by Erin Hayes, co-founder of the Black Lagoon Halloween pop-up, and Kelsey Ramage, director at The Trash Collective Consulting, the vibes here are dark and gothy instead of silly and lighthearted.
The man of the hour is Krampus, a sort of anti-Santa who visits kids along with goodhearted old St. Nick, whipping the bad ones with birch rods.
Imbibe on themed cocktails, including the Violent Night, a mix of Illegal mezcal, black sesame, chai, giffard banana and lime, or Teague’s favorite, the Santa's Slay, a drink mixed Harridan Vodka, coconut, peppermint, lemon, amontillado sherry and Peychauds bitters that, he says, looks like a creamy, snowy white field with a blood red top.
Seatings are 90 minutes and include a guided tour of the creepy space along with one welcome drink.
Sippin’ Santa
Locations: Worldwide
Dates: November 18 to December 31
“In winter, we’re all dreaming of warmer times, and there’s nothing quite as dreamy as a meticulously crafted rum drink,” says Clair McLafferty, a veteran bartender and author of the forthcoming holiday cocktail book Spooky Cocktails. Tiki-inspired and holiday-themed, Sippin’ Santa aims to make those tropical fantasies a reality (for an evening, at least).
Taking place in over 60 spots across the U.S. and beyond, these pop-ups, which are run by the folks who also produce Miracle, boast no shortage of palm-frond-thatched bars, surfboards, cocktail umbrellas and scorpion bowls, which they call communal tiki tubs.
The menu is orchestrated by tiki master Jeff “Beachbum” Berry. Drinks include Frosty the Merman—made with rye, vanilla-clove syrup and lime with pear, apricot and allspice liqueurs—and the Choquito, which has Jamaican and Puerto Rican rums, lime, coconut, creme de cacao and mole bitters.
Tiki purists are sure to enjoy this bar. “Berry spent years researching, tracking down and recreating original tiki recipes, and knowing the depth of research that goes into the drinks makes consuming them sweeter,” McLafferty says.
Nochebuena at Cavaña
Location: San Francisco
Dates: December 1 to December 31
Nochebuena, or Christmas Eve, is the central celebration in many Latin traditions. It’s a time when families come together to eat lechon and tamales, and celebrate the birth of Jesus. That’s the theme at Cavaña, a rooftop bar in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood.
In addition to gorgeous nighttime skyline views of the city—accented by a snow machine—it offers fun, cheeky takes on Latin cocktails and a festive photo booth. At the indoor bar, Christmas sweater-clad bartenders mix up drinks like Tequila Nog, Horchata Milk Punch and the Our Lady of Guavalupe, a guava, rose and tequila drink served in a traditional prayer candle.
“The Nochebuena pop-up brings me back to my favorite holiday memories, with the best authentic comfort food and a fun twist in classic holiday drinks,” says Helen Diaz, co-founder of plant-based spirits maker Chareau. “I love dancing to the Navidad Cumbia, the festive glassware and the over the top decor.”
Admission is free, but reservations are suggested.
Pete’s Christmas Vacation
Location: Huntington Beach, California
Date: November 27 to December 31
If National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is your holiday standby, this Huntington Beach pop-up at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach is a must. This extremely well-lit celebration—where no expense and no lightbulb is spared—provides the kind of over-the-top cheer the Griswold’s would adore.
From private igloo lounges to tiki decor, excess is on display in every corner of the surf shack-style restaurant. Upbeat Christmas tunes are cranked out through the speakers and there are little nods to the film scattered around, including a cat cut-out in the rug.
Themed drinks, such as Nate’s Naughty Nog with Papa’s Pilar dark rum, Remy Martin VSOP Cognac and a house-made eggnog syrup, are paired with light bites such as cranberry baked brie and turkey sliders. There’s also giant S’mores for dessert.
LIT at Molly’s Soulard
Location: St. Louis
Dates: November 29 to December 23
LIT at Molly’s Soulard is an annual tradition known for its community vibe and extravagant cheer. It’s got it all, from the picture-perfect sleigh and Christmas trees out front and Insta-worthy ornament wall to servers donning light-up holiday earrings and ugly sweaters.
The menu is festive, too. Appetizers, like beef tenderloin with béarnaise on garlic toast, are paired with decorative drinks, such as the Melted Snowman, a warming blend of Licor 43, Disaronno Amaretto, Rumchata and cream in a martini glass, topped with a snowman marshmallow.
“Their Partridge in a Pear Tree is a fantastic take on a French 75 with a pear and elderflower twist that I think about all year long,” Friedrich says.
Every year, the festivities draw groups back to the friendly neighborhood bar for gift exchanges and other holiday gatherings. Brittney Friedrich, bartender at St. Louis’ Chase Park Plaza Hotel, has attended LIT for four years. “Every single time is a brand new magical experience, and the Christmas-themed food and drinks are always perfectly curated,” she says.
Reservations are recommended.
Tinsel
Location: Philadelphia
Date: November 29 to December 31
Philly brings the same spirit to the holidays as it does to sports. This is evident in some of its best pubs and bars. Tinsel is one of the leaders with icicles, nutcrackers and snowmen as far as the eye can see, plus an augmented reality light show that casts colorful optical illusions across physical objects throughout the space.
Don’t be surprised when tiny snowflakes hit your cheek—it’s not an illusion created by your third martini, but actual fake snow falling from a machine.
The menu has its share of drafts and cans, as any good Philly bar would, but the cocktails include a Gingerbread Man Martini with Bacardi Oakheart, Rumchata, gingerbread spice and cream. Standouts also include spiked hot chocolate with Bacardi Coconut or Bailey's Salted Caramel.
Lala’s South Pole
Location: Austin
Dates: Year-round
A pop-up is fun to catch while you can, but when you want to celebrate Christmas in July, head to Lala’s, which has two locations in North and South Austin. Even when it’s 100 degrees outside, you’ll feel like you stepped into a cozy ski cabin in December as you sit on the Santa throne, take a selfie with the Christmas countdown clock and wave to Santa and his reindeer on the roof.
Grab pizza from next door while you sip on a Santa's Little Helper, a peppermint espresso martini garnished with a candy cane, or the Gin-gle n' Juice, a cranberry bitters-infused mix of Roku gin, Dolin génépy and citrus.
Blitzen’s on Bagley
Location: Detroit
Date: November 14 to January 5
If you’re feeling Grinchy, trudge through the snow to Blitzen’s on Bagley for a taste of Detroit’s best holiday pop-up, where the Grinch Punch and the Very Merry Marg will put a smile on even the meanest mug. You can get your eggnog spiked and have the hot cocoa your way, with booze or straight-laced.
The space is cozy and homey, with ’60s and ’70s furniture to settle into and photos of guests and bartenders past adorning the walls. Snap a photo by the 12-foot-tall Santa, admire the 200 wrapped presents under the tree or get lost in the candy cane forest. Then, warm up by the cozy little lounge fireplace with your $6 spiked nog.
While co-owners Jacques and Christine Driscoll weren’t sure anyone would show up when they first started the holiday pop-up right four years ago, it’s become a major hit, doubling in size. “Our thought was, ‘Hopefully, someone will come by,’ and now there are lines down the block,” says Jacques.
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- Make it a green Christmas with a cannabis-infused margarita.
- How to survive the holiday season, according to Wine Enthusiast staffers.
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