Get in the holiday spirit by grabbing a couple of ~holiday spirits~ at these awesome pop-up bars in Chicago!
Trust me, you’ll be feelin merry and bright in no time flat.
Sippin’ Santa’s Surf Shack
Photo Credit: Lost Lake Instagram
Lost Lake, 3154 W Diversey Ave – Open Through December 31st
From the creative masterminds behind last year’s Miracle pop-ups comes Sippin Santa’s Surf Shack, a tropical-holiday themed bar pretty much guaranteed to get you in the spirit of the season. Combining Lost Lake’s already stellar tiki aesthetic with December-in-Hawaii type decor, Sippin Santa’s Surf Shack is without question one of the cheeriest pop-ups we have ever seen.
Plus, the bar features unbelievably tasty drinks like the Jolly Apple Soul (a island-type drink made with Multi-Island Rum, Swedish Punsch, Scotch Whisky, Apple Cider, Cinnamon, Lemon, Tiki Bitters) and the Gimme a Gimel (made with Aged Rhum Agricole, Aged Guyana Rum, Lime, Ginger, Honey, Blackberry Manischewitz, Angostura Bitters, Absinthe, and Cardamom), making us seriously question why it can’t be holiday time all year round.
Miracle on Dearborn St.
Photo Credit: Brando’s Speakeasy Instagram
Brando’s Speakeasy, 343 S Dearborn St – Open Through December 30th
Miracle’s annual self-titled venture can be found at Brando’s Speakeasy this year. A true testament to any and all things Christmas, Miracle on Dearborn promises to bring The North Pole to the South Loop. In addition to some pretty rockin mixed drinks (see the full menu here) this holiday pop-up bar is also offering raffles, caroling, cookies, an actual visit from Santa Clause and commemorative glassware. Ya know, so your mug from this year’s Christkindlmarket has come company.
Open until 2am nightly – and available for karaoke on demand – Miracle on Dearborn will have you singing “All I Want For Christmas is You” in no time.
12 Nights of Christmas
Photo Credit: Replay Instagram
REPLAY Lincoln Parks, 2833 N Sheffield – Open Through December 22nd
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a REPLAY pop-up bar.
Building off of the success from its Simpson’s themed joint in October, REPLAY Lincoln Park has transformed itself into the crazy holiday bar you’ve been waiting for. Taking its inspiration from classic holiday favorites like A Christmas Story, Elf, Home Alone and Gremlins (yes, Gremlins is a Christmas movie, look it up), the 12 Nights of Christmas has been dressed to the nines in lights, decorations and more.
The menu is chock full of holiday spirits like mulled wine, a spiced negroni, hot toddies and a cranberry vodka mule, meaning that you’re probably gonna wanna get a DD for this one.
Frosty’s Christmas Bar
Photo Credit: Frosty’s Christmas Bar Instagram
809 W Evergreen Ave – Open Through January 31st
Frosty’s Christmas Bar is ready for action in Goose Island! This 4 bar, 3 level Christmas behemoth is one of the largest – and most festive – holiday pop-up bars in the country, and it shows no sign of stopping the party anytime soon. Putting on a number of ugly sweater parties, winter events and even a NYE party from now through the end of January, Frosty’s is more of an “experience” than it is a “bar.”
Stop by anytime in the next month for a glimpse of Santa karaoke, some special guest DJ’s, amazing drinks and maybe even a “North Pole” dance or two (no, I’m not kidding). The possibilities are truly endless.
No L’s Holiday Hip-Hop Pop-Up
Photo Credit: Emporium
Emporium, 2367 N Milwaukee Ave – Open Through December 31st
Emporium pop-ups has done it again with the No L’s Holiday Hip-Hop Pop-Up (try sayin that 5 times fast). Taking everything you love about the holidays and infusing it with a much needed dose of old-school swag, this holiday pop-up is not your Grandma’s Christmas party. With performances from some of Chicago’s top DJ’s and rappers, this is one holiday activity you’re not gonna wanna skip.
Plus, the walls of No L’s are covered in some super cool (and punny!) holiday graffiti and art – you’re gonna wanna check it out.
Believe
Photo Credit: The Orbit Room Instagram
The Orbit Room, 2959 N California Ave – Open Through December 31st
The Orbit Room may be shuttering its doors at the end of 2017, but they sure are going out with a bang. This alien/holiday themed combo implores us to ~believe~ in two of the most unbelievable phenomenon in the galaxy: Martians and Christmas magic.
A cross between Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Elf, the pop-up will feature dozens of Martian elves, foil Christmas lights and an out-of-this-world holiday train. With killer cocktails from the likes of top-notch mixologists Jeff Donahue, Wade McElroy, Paul McGee and Shelby Allison, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the holiday season by sending off this otherworldly bar in style.
Featured Image Credit: Lost Lake Instagram
