Where bells on cocktails ring
Chicago’s pop-up bars are making spirits taste like the holidays
With the first snow of the year under our belt and the turkey leftovers consumed, Chicagoans are breaking out
the twinkly lights, cutting down Christmas trees, and
busting out the dreidels. Many of Chicago’s bars are doing the same, as more spots than ever are decking the halls with over-thetop holiday decor, special drinks in Santa mugs, special events and character appearances, and much more. Here are 20 jolly pop-up Christmas and
holiday bars across Chicagoland this season.
1. Sippin’ Santa at Cortland’s Garage Arlington Heights
Suburbanites have their own Christmas pop-up bar this year at Cortland’s Garage in Arlington Heights. Sippin’ Santa is an outpost of the New York-based pop-up bar network from tiki legend Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, offering signature cocktails, plenty of decorations, and more through New Year’s Eve. No cover. 1 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights
2. Yippee Ki-Yay at The Sixth
Some people debate whether the 1988 action classic “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie, but there’s no debate whether Bruce Willis fans will have a good time at Yippee Ki-Yay. Acclaimed Lincoln Square cocktail bar the Sixth is going all out to become the themed pop-up, offering 15 specialty cocktails, an array of movie Easter eggs, and plenty of destination-worthy decor. It’ll be open every day except Mondays through December. 2202 W. Lawrence Ave.
3. Rudolph’s at Casey Morans
This sports bar is one of the latest to join the Christmas pop-up parade in Wrigleyville. Expect character appearances by Rudolph the reindeer and others, plus themed spaces “Grinch’s Piano Bar,” “Frosty’s Rooftop” “Rudolph’s Lounge” and multiple bars, along with plenty of holiday decorations and drinks. Food is also available and ticket prices vary. 3660 N. Clark St.
4. Mistletoe at Hush Money
The cocktail bar above the sophisticated Mordecai joins the Wrigleyville fun with Mistletoe,
offering decor and drinks including “Santa’s Munchies” with Blanco Tequila, Becherovka, cinnamon, horchata, snickerdoodle cookie, and CBD Oil. It’ll be open through the new year. 3632 N. Clark St.
5. Santa Baby at Deuces and The Diamond Club
One of the largest over-the-top Christmas bars, Santa Baby, is back again this year at Deuces and the Diamond Club in Wrigleyville. The popular pop-up offers multiple themed spaces and bars including a “Gingerbread Village” with spiked hot chocolates, an “Alpine Ski Lodge” with more cocktails, Santa’s workshop and a DJ booth where Santa Claus spins tunes. Even its large outdoor patio is dressed to the nines with Christmas decor. Tickets are available online and at the door; admission is free on weekdays,
and the cost is $20 on weekends. 3505 N. Clark St.
6. Santa’s Workshop at Old Crow Smokehouse
This Wrigleyville barbecue restaurant and sports bar is also part of the pop-up craze this holiday season, proclaiming that ownership “spent over $100K on Christmas décor” at Santa’s Workshop. Expect “rows and rows of 10-foot tall trees and tremendously large Santas,” plus two “12-foot-high rocking horses,” cabanas and fireplaces on its second-floor rooftop, cocktails, a kids menu, and more. It’s open seven days a week through December, with no cover charge. 3506 N Clark St.
7. Elf’d Up at Stretch Bar & Grill
Fans of the popular Will Ferrell movie “Elf” can flock to this pop-up for a second year. Elf’d Up’s decor pays homage to the fictional syrupeating adult elf with more than 1,000 elves, an upside-down Christmas tree, wall quotes, and condiment carriers on every table with the “four main food groups”: candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup. Buddy the Elf will make appearances every Thursday through Saturday this year, movie trivia happens the three Wednesdays leading up to Christmas, and specialty cocktails include one with Chila ’Orchata, Fireball, whipped cream, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Free admission. 3485 N Clark St.
8. 8 Crazy Nights at The Graystone Tavern
Co-owners Kyle Bagley and Sam Stone of Wrigleyville sports bar Graystone Tavern aren’t Jewish, but they’re the people behind Chicago’s first Hanukkah bar pop-up, running through December. They’re offering Eastern European Jewish classics such as matzo ball soup and brisket along with “Manischewitz Spritzers” (Manischewitz, Koval cranberry, Mionetto prosecco, club soda, orange slice) and boozy sufganiyot — deep fried doughnuts with vodka-infused jelly. 3441 N. Sheffield Ave.
9. The Christmas Club at the Country Club
Another of Wrigleyville’s most popular popups, Christmas Club at Country Club, is back for another year. The two-floor Christmas party includes three bars offering six naughty and nice shots, house eggnog in souvenir mugs, and snacks such as snowballs and a cheesecake sampler served in waffle cones. No cover. 3462 N. Clark St.
10. Christmas with the Griswolds at Houndstooth Saloon
The 1989 comedy “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” gets the pop-up bar treatment at Houndstooth Saloon in Wrigleyville. Santa is parked out front of Griswolds in Cousin Eddie’s RV, handing out hot chocolate and cider. Food includes TV dinners, such as a traditional turkey leg and Aunt Bethany’s Jell-O. There’s a $5 cover or toy donation on Thursdays through Sundays after 5 p.m. It’ll be open through the new year. 3369 N. Clark St.
11. The Naughty List: Ludlow Liquors’ Villains of Christmas
Ownership of this acclaimed Avondale cocktail bar has another darker Christmas pop-up, this time with a theme of iconic bad guys of classic Christmas movies. Ludlow Liquors attendees can expect appearances by the Grinch, Wet Bandits, Hans Gruber from “Die Hard” and others, plus food and cocktail specials based on the films including a cookie plate paired with milk punch. It runs throughout December, and there’s no cover. 2959 N. California Ave.
12. Jingle Bell Square at Lost Lake
One of the most renowned bars in the country goes Christmas at Lost Lake’s second annual Jingle Bell Square. Until New Year’s Eve, staff fills the tiki destination in Avondale with festive decor, spiced tiki drinks, and over-the-top holiday flair including a 10-foot Christmas tree. 3154 W. Diversey Ave.
13. Silver and Golden Teardrops
The normally extremely dark basement bar below Lonesome Rose is lighting things up for the holidays, embracing its name and turning into a gold-and-metallic tinseltown. Seasonal winter drinks will speckle the menu through New Year’s Eve, and patrons will be able to bust out a favorite holiday tune during karaoke Thursdays from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. 2101 N. California Ave.
14. Last Christmas at Woodie’s Flat
This three-floor pop-up in Old Town will be open seven days a week through mid-January with tons of decorations, special events, and themed menus Tickets aren’t needed but “there may be a cover on weekends or nights in high demand.” 1535 N. Wells St.
15. Frosty’s Christmas Bar
This three-level, four-bar Christmas extravaganza advertises itself as the largest holiday pop-up in Chicago. Frosty’s, back for a third year, is open late everyday until 4 a.m. and offers singing Santa shows every hour, two dance floors, lifesize toy soldiers, themed cocktails, and plenty of over-the-top Christmas decorations. Tickets start at $15, and the pop-up runs through Jan. 5. 809 W. Evergreen Ave.
16. Miracle at Sable Kitchen & Bar
Miracle, the network of Christmas pop-ups around the country, is back in Chicago for another year at River North cocktail bar and restaurant Sable through Dec. 24. Its menu includes 10 Christmas-inspired cocktails such as a snowball old-fashioned, three shots, and snacks such as Christmas ham skewers and holiday stuffing fritters. Victorian-clothed carolers sing every day. 505 N. State St., Suite 101.
17. Reindeer’s at The Swill Inn
Chit Chat Lounge, the basement bar of the Swill Inn in River West, has become “Santa’s dive bar of choice.” Reindeer’s offers “holiday dive decor,” holiday drinks, frozen egg nog, a candy cane old-fashioned, food such as “next day” pub pizza, and cheap beer on Tuesdays through Sundays through the end of the year. 415 N. Milwaukee Ave.
18. Santa’s Bodega at Bodega
The Siena Tavern guys are turning their fastcasual eatery and shop in River North into a holiday pop-up, operating Santa’s Bodega every Friday and Saturday the rest of the month. Expect holiday cocktails, shots,and decor in the small space, which is also available for private parties of up to 25. 355 N. Clark St.
19. Happy’s at Chicago Athletic Association
The Chicago Athletic Association hotel operates Happy’s, a top pop-up bar option to escape the cold after a trip to Christkindlmarket or holiday shopping, on the ground floor on Michigan Avenue for the third year in a row. Expect top-notch holiday cocktails, a new food counter option called Hangry’s, and deckedout decor and special events every day except Sunday through Dec. 24. 12 S. Michigan Ave.
20. The Reindeer Room at Tack Room
This South Side holiday bar offers live piano music and well-made cocktails in Pilsen. Staff has made over the Tack Room’s cozy space inside Thalia Hall into the Reindeer Room, adding Christmas trees, tinsel, and more decorations. The pop-up is open Thursdays and Fridays through Dec. 28. 1807 S. Allport St.