Even though the holidays provide so many opportunities to socialize at home and work, there’s still something magical about bundling up and heading out into the frosty air and going to a local bar or restaurant. It’s nothing new that shops, gathering places and restaurants decorate for the winter holidays, but in the past few years, a new trend has been emerging that’s even more festive: Christmas-themed bars.
Forget a string of lights and a wreath or two, and imagine a self-contained little world of holiday splendor, with good tidings and cheer covering every available surface, plus the soundtrack, cozy drinks and indulgent bites to match.
Here are 10 Christmas bars in Pennsylvania to check out this holiday season:
Tinsel (Philadelphia)
Tucked inside a 100-year-old former jewelry shop in Philadelphia’s Midtown Village neighborhood, find Tinsel, a kitschy charming pop-up concept that runs from late November through New Year’s Day. The interior is awash with thousands twinkly lights, yards of tinsel, art installations, hundreds of ornaments and hanging presents, a light show, retro decor and more! Of course, there’s plenty to sip on, like thematic drinks in themed glassware (like Santa boots and snow globes), eggnog, warm cocktails, beer and cider. There’s also a Canned for Good cocktail, from which a portion of sales will be donated to charity, which we love.
Frequently packed with locals and tourists enjoying the spirit of things, it’s proven to be a huge hit year after year! After briefly changing to a Halloween-themed bar in October (The Nightmare Before Tinsel), Tinsel delivers maximum holiday vibes. The space is pretty tiny, though, so we imagine it will be just as jumping as ever this year — bundle up because there might be a line to get in! 116 S. 12th St., Philadelphia; (215) 397-3308.
Craftsman Row Saloon (Philadelphia)
Not far from Tinsel, find the equally-festive Christmas pop-up in Craftsman Row, a comfy saloon in Jeweler’s Row. The decorations are top-notch, with tons of lights, garlands, ornaments and Santa hats, as are the boozy offerings! In fact, there’s an entire section of the beverage menu dedicated to holiday cocktails, including an Ugly Sweater Mulled Mule, the Ornamental Globe (yes, served in an actual ornament) and a rum-spiked coquito dubbed 100% That Grinch. This spot is also known for its over-the-top milkshakes, and has over ten on offer during December with all the jingle bells and whistles, like the Pumpkin’ to Talk About shake that’s garnished with an entire piece of pumpkin pie. There are food specials, as well, including a Christmas Dinner Burger with two smashed patties, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potato fries and cheese on Martin’s potato roll and a Parisian Holiday, fried chicken with brie, gruyere and cranberry aioli on a croissant bun. 112 S. 8th St., Philadelphia; (215) 923-0123.
White Elephant (Philadelphia)
White Elephant, right smack in the heart of Center City at 15th and Locust, is a self-described “pink disco Christmas bar” and indeed looks like a fever dream collab between Barbie and Mrs. Claus. The space is strung with miles of tinsel, adorned with multiple bubblegum-hued Christmas trees, shiny wrapped presents, gleaming ornaments and baubles and seemingly infinite twinkly lights; grab a seat at the bar or stake out one of the cozy booths and enjoy one of its 12 espresso martinis like Crème Brûlée Espresso Martini or other creative seasonals like a Santa-Gria or Banana Cream Pudding cocktail. The only food on offer is tomato pie, so plan accordingly. 1500 Locust St., no phone.
Uptown Beer Garden (Philadelphia)
What started as a premier outdoor hang in Center City Philly has now transitioned to a winter wonderland! Throughout November and December Uptown Beer Garden transforms into a highly-spirited Christmas bar, The Uptown Express, with holiday movie-inspired decor and cocktails. There are plenty of amazing photos ops with a glittering Christmas tree, Grinch-shaped neon, a light tunnel and more! This is an outdoor bar with heat, but it does get cold, so plan ahead and bundle up! This central location means that it’s right across from Love Park and City Hall, where there are plenty more Christmas festivities to be enjoyed. 1500 JFK Blvd., Philadelphia; (267) 639-4493.
Senor Grich’s at Taqueria Amour (Manayunk)
From November 17 through January 2, this popular Mexican restaurant on Main Street in Manayunk gets a holiday makeover to become Senor Grinch’s. The entire exterior of the building is decked out with lights, and in dining room and bar are all aglow with more lights, a video fireplace, hanging ornaments and candy canes, tinsel trees and plenty of nods to iconic holiday pop culture moments, like Home Alone, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and, of course, Dr. Seuss’s Grinch. Try one of the thematic cocktails from the special holiday menu, like the Bad Santa’s Blood Orange Crush (a vodka number with multiple kinds of OJ and sprite) and the Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel (an allspice pineapple marg with blue curacao). 4410 Main St., Philadelphia; (267) 331-5874.
Jingle on State at Sterling Pig (Media)
The charming town of Media in Delaware County plays host each year to Jingle on State, a holiday pop-up nestled inside Sterling Pig this year. The space has been holiday-ified inside and out with tons of lights and tinsel galore. Once you’ve snapped the requisite Instagram shot outside, head to the bar for a special cocktail or brewski, holiday fun and its famed barbecue. Jingle’s former host, State Street Pub, puts on Gingerbread Pub pop-up nearby, so make a merry night of it in Media. 609 W. State Street, Media; (484) 444-2526.
Sleigh Bar at Slow Hand (West Chester)
Sleigh Bar pops onto the scene in a blast of tinsel and merriment each year in downtown West Chester, taking over the upstairs of craft eatery Slow Hand. It’s wonderfully kitschy with next-level holiday drinks like Red Nosed Reindeer (strawberry-infused Aperol, Prosecco, club soda and orange) and Grandma’s Candy (Crown Royal Salted Caramel, fresh lemon, cola and Werther’s Original). Stop in any day from 4 p.m. to close, first come first served with small bites available, too. 30 N. Church St., West Chester; (484) 999-8638.
Misfits (Scranton)
Scranton’s hottest holiday pop-up, Misfits, takes over the student-run restaurant, 409 Adams for the season at Lackawanna College. It, too, is student-designed and operated, yielding opportunities for students in hospitality, culinary, architecture and business fields. It reimagines the the Island of Misfit toys through creative cocktails, small plates and wacky, wonderful decor. On the food menu, find snacks like cheeseburgers, gluten free Disco Chicken tenders with handmade sauces, and a Sweet Stack dessert of graham cracker, chocolate mousse and toasted Italian meringue and cocktails like Polka Dot (a vodka, white cranberry seltzer), The Dolly (an espresso martini), a Misfits Cosmo and a Charlie Margarita. It’s expansive with plenty of room to spread out and find your own nook or cranny. Open from November 14 until December 21, holding hours Wednesday, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. until midnight. 409 Adams Ave., Scranton; (570) 955-1548.
Nightmare in the Square and The Grinch That Stole Pittsburgh Pop-Up Bars at Barcadia (Pittsburgh)
This pop-up answers the question: how do you make an arcade bar even more fun? Barcadia, a double-decker bar filled to the brim with video games, pinball machines and skeeball, turns its second floor into a holiday pop-up every December. This year, the theme is inspired from the classic film, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and there are decorations galore, and specialty cocktails riffing on themes and details from the movie like Spooky Sangria and Christmas Town Mule. It’s open seven days a week with free arcade games and children are welcome before 6 p.m. Double your fun by heading upstairs to Barcadia’s speakeasy-turned-rotating-pop-up, The Grinch Who Stole Pittsburgh. Enjoy trivia, karaoke and DJ’d jams in Whoville while sipping on cocktails like The Grinch (vodka, blue curacao and pineapple juice) and You’re An Idiot (Fireball and apple cider) as The Grinch plays on repeat. 25 Market Square, Pittsburgh; (412) 586-7440.
Miracle on 7th (Pittsburgh)
For years, the international Miracle group of pop-up bars has been wowing guests in Pittsburgh, and this year it’s back with Miracle on 7th! This all-Christmas-everything pop-up is everything you could hope for from a holiday-themed drinking experience: shiny tinsel and lights everywhere, hundreds of ornaments, a wall of ugly sweaters, and cups of cheer (with cocktails like The Snowball and The Krampus) served in kitschy glassware. There is also a private party room where you can host the cocktail soiree of your dreams. A large portion of the proceeds go to local charities every year, making it an even greater place to toast the holidays. 130 7th St., Pittsburgh; no phone.
Where are your Christmas bars in Pennsylvania to enjoy holiday cheer with a drink in hand? Let us know here or on the PA Eats Facebook and Instagram pages.
- Feature photo: Kory Aversa
- Other photos: Courtesy of the respective businesses
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