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Customers pack a Manhattan dining room decorated with lights, Christmas trees, and hanging ornaments.
Frosty’s is taking over Bacall’s steakhouse in Midtown.
Frosty’s

The Best Pop-Up Bars for Celebrating the Holidays This Year

Six-foot snowmen, light-up reindeer, Christmas trees, and lots of ’nog

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Frosty’s is taking over Bacall’s steakhouse in Midtown.
| Frosty’s

New York City offers many ways to ring in the holidays: watch the Rockefeller Center tree lighting, take in a showing of the Nutcracker, or ice skate in Bryant Park. But let’s be real: The best way to cheer on the season is by tasting it — and there’s no better place than one of its holiday-themed cocktail bars.

New York’s obsession with holiday pop-ups began roughly eight years ago when barman Nico de Soto and operator Greg Boehm overhauled their bar, Mace, with Christmas vibes from head to toe. The takeover was a smash hit, with lengthy lines down the block in freezing temperatures. Since then, Boehm has committed to bringing the Miracle back every holiday season. In fact, Miracle has been such a success that the restaurateur has franchised the concept, with almost 100 locations internationally. The original, which lands at the Cabinet this year, is a must-visit, as are these other pop-up bars.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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Frosty’s

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New to the city’s lineup of holiday bars this year is Frosty’s, a massive pop-up that’s taking over Midtown’s Bacall’s steakhouse. The space consists of four bars spread out over three levels, with Christmas trees, lights, tinsel, stockings, and other over-the-top decorations completing the scene. Bartenders dressed in ugly holiday sweaters will be turning out festive drinks from 7 p.m. until 4 a.m., Wednesday to Sunday. Tickets, available online and at the door, start at $20 per person.

Customers pack a dining room decorated with ornaments, Christmas trees, lights, and other festive decorations.
Frosty’s is Manhattan’s newest holiday pop-up.
Frosty’s

Bell Book & Candle

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Through December 30, basement bar Bell Book & Candle will serve festive drinks — a gingerbread espresso martini, a margarita made with cinnamon-infused tequila — from a space that’s been redecorated for the holidays. Lights and garlands hang from the bar and flannel pillows and blankets are provided for bundling up.

West Village cocktail bar Ollie adds a Hanukkah-themed pop-up to this list courtesy of Boston bartender Naomi Levy, who’s bringing the show to New York for the first time this year. The menu lists classic and sweet potato latkes, along with themed drinks like a latke sour (apple brandy, potato, and lemon) and the Jewish Christmas, mixed with sesame-infused rye and Sichuan peppercorns.

The Cabinet

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The Miracle pop-up that started it all returns to the East Village this year. Expect every inch of the Cabinet to be decked out with holiday decor, and cocktails that are better than the usual lineup of festive-themed drinks: One of the main reasons that Miracle has been such a success is the quality of its cocktails. This year, the menu lists drinks made with nutmeg, oat milk, and mulled wine, along with obligatory naughty (bourbon and cinnamon) and nice (rum, peppermint tea, and chocolate) shots.

A mug engraved with the words “Fa La la” appears in a festive background with pinecones, cinnamon, and carnberries.
Manhattan’s Miracle pop-up is back at the Cabinet.
Miracle

The Skinny Bar and Lounge

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Lower East Side bar the Skinny is home to one of this year’s longest-running holiday pop-ups. (Decorations are sticking around through the end of January.) It’s the team’s fifth time turning the space into an over-the-top, debaucherous pop-up: There are gaudy Christmas decorations, burlesque performances on Friday nights, and festive cocktail pitchers.

Loreley Beer Garden

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The Lower East Side’s Loreley Beer Garden is going all out this year with light-up reindeer, a six-foot snowman, gingerbread houses, Christmas trees, and lots of lights. That theme extends to the cozy outdoor seating areas with ample heaters. In addition to the usual list of German beers, look out for festive drinks like boozy eggnog with rum and whipped cream and a peppermint martini with vodka and cold brew. The pop-up runs until January 8.

A backyard beer garden is decked out with lights, ornaments, and other festive decorations.
The backyard at Loreley Beer Garden.
Loreley Beer Garden

The Garret Coctelería

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Nolita cocktail bar the Garret Coctelería has once again outfitted its dining room with paper snowflake chains, miniature Christmas trees, tables wrapped in gift paper, and a floating sleigh. The bar from the team behind Manhattan watering holes the Garret and Bandits is serving festive Mexican drinks mixed with epazote, mezcal, guajillo-infused bourbon, and marshmallow. Look out for a mariachi band in the dining room.

A bar booth is decorated with miniature Christmas trees, lights, and ornaments.
Drink among Christmas trees at the Garret Coctelería.
The Garret Coctelería

Williamsburg cocktail bar Thief is home to the Brooklyn outpost of Manhattan’s Miracle pop-up. Through January 1, the space will be decked out with Christmas wallpaper, lights, and ornaments. Drop in for Santa mugs filled with a hot mix of rum, spiced butter, oat milk, and nutmeg, along with boozy homemade nog made from almond milk, cream, and cognac. Open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

A cocktail glass in the shape of a T-Rex wearing a Christmas hat appears to be running over a grandmother on a photo set.
New to Miracle’s cocktail list this year is Grandma Got Run Over by a T-Rex.
Miracle

Roberta's

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Roberta’s joins the city’s throng of holiday pop-up bars this year for the first time. Through January 3, the Bushwick pizzeria will serve hot buttered rum, frozen eggnog, pretzels with beer cheese, and other festive menu items from its bar, which has been decorated with tinsel, lights, and an inflatable green Grinch. The enclosed space is equipped with overhead heaters.

Plastic chairs are arranged around long wooden tables in a bar that’s been decorated with colorful lights for the holidays.
Roberta’s tiki bar has been turned into a pop-up for the holidays.
Roberta’s

The Dead Rabbit

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Jingle Jangle, a pop-up bar at Financial District watering hole the Dead Rabbit is also new this year. The Irish pub has decorated its dining room with wreaths, Christmas trees, hanging lights, too many ornaments to count — and the sawdust on its floors is sticking around, as well. Look out for a menu of seasonal drinks made with mulled wine, gingerbread spices, apple cider, and caramel cream ($19 each), available through January 3.

Lights and holiday ornaments decorate a bar.
The Dead Rabbit will post a holiday pop-up for the first time this year.
Nicholas Ruiz/The Dead Rabbit

Frosty’s

New to the city’s lineup of holiday bars this year is Frosty’s, a massive pop-up that’s taking over Midtown’s Bacall’s steakhouse. The space consists of four bars spread out over three levels, with Christmas trees, lights, tinsel, stockings, and other over-the-top decorations completing the scene. Bartenders dressed in ugly holiday sweaters will be turning out festive drinks from 7 p.m. until 4 a.m., Wednesday to Sunday. Tickets, available online and at the door, start at $20 per person.

Customers pack a dining room decorated with ornaments, Christmas trees, lights, and other festive decorations.
Frosty’s is Manhattan’s newest holiday pop-up.
Frosty’s

Bell Book & Candle

Through December 30, basement bar Bell Book & Candle will serve festive drinks — a gingerbread espresso martini, a margarita made with cinnamon-infused tequila — from a space that’s been redecorated for the holidays. Lights and garlands hang from the bar and flannel pillows and blankets are provided for bundling up.

Ollie

West Village cocktail bar Ollie adds a Hanukkah-themed pop-up to this list courtesy of Boston bartender Naomi Levy, who’s bringing the show to New York for the first time this year. The menu lists classic and sweet potato latkes, along with themed drinks like a latke sour (apple brandy, potato, and lemon) and the Jewish Christmas, mixed with sesame-infused rye and Sichuan peppercorns.

The Cabinet

The Miracle pop-up that started it all returns to the East Village this year. Expect every inch of the Cabinet to be decked out with holiday decor, and cocktails that are better than the usual lineup of festive-themed drinks: One of the main reasons that Miracle has been such a success is the quality of its cocktails. This year, the menu lists drinks made with nutmeg, oat milk, and mulled wine, along with obligatory naughty (bourbon and cinnamon) and nice (rum, peppermint tea, and chocolate) shots.

A mug engraved with the words “Fa La la” appears in a festive background with pinecones, cinnamon, and carnberries.
Manhattan’s Miracle pop-up is back at the Cabinet.
Miracle

The Skinny Bar and Lounge

Lower East Side bar the Skinny is home to one of this year’s longest-running holiday pop-ups. (Decorations are sticking around through the end of January.) It’s the team’s fifth time turning the space into an over-the-top, debaucherous pop-up: There are gaudy Christmas decorations, burlesque performances on Friday nights, and festive cocktail pitchers.

Loreley Beer Garden

The Lower East Side’s Loreley Beer Garden is going all out this year with light-up reindeer, a six-foot snowman, gingerbread houses, Christmas trees, and lots of lights. That theme extends to the cozy outdoor seating areas with ample heaters. In addition to the usual list of German beers, look out for festive drinks like boozy eggnog with rum and whipped cream and a peppermint martini with vodka and cold brew. The pop-up runs until January 8.

A backyard beer garden is decked out with lights, ornaments, and other festive decorations.
The backyard at Loreley Beer Garden.
Loreley Beer Garden

The Garret Coctelería

Nolita cocktail bar the Garret Coctelería has once again outfitted its dining room with paper snowflake chains, miniature Christmas trees, tables wrapped in gift paper, and a floating sleigh. The bar from the team behind Manhattan watering holes the Garret and Bandits is serving festive Mexican drinks mixed with epazote, mezcal, guajillo-infused bourbon, and marshmallow. Look out for a mariachi band in the dining room.

A bar booth is decorated with miniature Christmas trees, lights, and ornaments.
Drink among Christmas trees at the Garret Coctelería.
The Garret Coctelería

Thief

Williamsburg cocktail bar Thief is home to the Brooklyn outpost of Manhattan’s Miracle pop-up. Through January 1, the space will be decked out with Christmas wallpaper, lights, and ornaments. Drop in for Santa mugs filled with a hot mix of rum, spiced butter, oat milk, and nutmeg, along with boozy homemade nog made from almond milk, cream, and cognac. Open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

A cocktail glass in the shape of a T-Rex wearing a Christmas hat appears to be running over a grandmother on a photo set.
New to Miracle’s cocktail list this year is Grandma Got Run Over by a T-Rex.
Miracle

Roberta's

Roberta’s joins the city’s throng of holiday pop-up bars this year for the first time. Through January 3, the Bushwick pizzeria will serve hot buttered rum, frozen eggnog, pretzels with beer cheese, and other festive menu items from its bar, which has been decorated with tinsel, lights, and an inflatable green Grinch. The enclosed space is equipped with overhead heaters.

Plastic chairs are arranged around long wooden tables in a bar that’s been decorated with colorful lights for the holidays.
Roberta’s tiki bar has been turned into a pop-up for the holidays.
Roberta’s

The Dead Rabbit

Jingle Jangle, a pop-up bar at Financial District watering hole the Dead Rabbit is also new this year. The Irish pub has decorated its dining room with wreaths, Christmas trees, hanging lights, too many ornaments to count — and the sawdust on its floors is sticking around, as well. Look out for a menu of seasonal drinks made with mulled wine, gingerbread spices, apple cider, and caramel cream ($19 each), available through January 3.

Lights and holiday ornaments decorate a bar.
The Dead Rabbit will post a holiday pop-up for the first time this year.
Nicholas Ruiz/The Dead Rabbit

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