New York City Holiday Pop-Ups Making the Season Bright
There's just something a hot holiday cocktail that gets me in the mood to rock ‘round the Christmas tree and spread goodwill on earth. Don’t worry if you left your ugly Christmas sweater at home, these festive New York City pop-ups will have your feelin’ like Cindy Lou Who in no time. If you’re lucky enough to be in the city that never sleeps during the holiday season, you’re gonna wanna add these bars to your list of must-visits.
Rolf’s German Restaurant
Photo by rolfsny
This Gramercy restaurant is known for their over the top Christmas décor and, being a more is more kinda girl, I am absolutely here for it. Rolf’s halls are decked through May with nearly every centimeter of the place covered in tinsel, garlands, lights, ornaments and anything that screams Christmas. This place is the closest you can get to feeling like you’re in a European Christmas Market and/or the North Pole. Rolf’s isn’t just a German restaurant, it’s actually classified as Alsatian cuisine - which, if y’all don’t know, I was born in Strasbourg, France, the official “Capital of Nöel, a small French village off the Rhine River in the Alsace region - so, I’m super biased when it comes to this spot. This winter wonderland is crowded at all hours, so you can stop in for a heavy Alsatian meal or just drop by for a glass of mulled wine. Well, and an Instagram, because let’s be real…this place is what IG holiday content dreams are made of.
Open from 12 to 10 p.m. seven days a week at 281 Third Avenue in New York City.
Snowday in Brooklyn
Sunday in Brooklyn in Williamsburg transforms during the holidays into a cute ski chalet. There are delightfully over-the-top decorations, fires in the fire place, cozy blankets, Holiday Cocktails, Tableside Raclette, Stroopwafel, games for the table and more. They offer limited reservations on Resy with the majority of seats for walk ins. This place is one of my favorites and the winter menu doesn’t disappoint. This is a must for me…especially for brunch!
Open through February 2019 starting at 6:30 p.m. at 348 Wythe Avenue or 68 South 2nd Street.
Après Ski
Photo by treadwellpark
The lively neighborhood beer Mecca, Treadwell Park, will bring Apres Ski this winter to all three of its NYC locations (UES, West Side, Downtown). Expect elevated comfort dishes, mulled hot cocktails, and games galore in the comfort of a lively ski lodge at Treadwell Park’s Apres Ski. The pop-up will feature antler-inspired chandeliers, garlands and winter greenery, and glowing fireplaces on the TV screens. A variety of games and communal seating is prevalent throughout the space.
Enjoy a variety of shareable dishes including a Hefeweizen Beer Fondue, Short Rib Pumpkin Ravioli and a Gingerbread dessert with cream cheese frosting dips. Drinks will lean heavily towards all things mulled and warm: Bourbon Hot Cider in vintage thermoses, and of course…a shotski of mixed seasonal shots.
Open from December 1 through March 2019, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday at 510 West 42nd Street.
Donner and Blitzen's Reindeer Lounge
Photo by reindeerlounge
With four grand fireplaces, floor to ceiling Christmas trees, and a Candy Cane wall, your Instagram story will be LIT (seriously, there are so many lights).
Open from November 30 through December 30, from 4 p.m. to "late" and 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Christmas Eve (closed Christmas Day) at 224 Franklin Street.
Midwinter Night’s Dream
Photo by phdterraceny
Tis’ the season for hot cocktails on a rooftop! The stunning PHD Terrace features twinkling lights, mistletoe swathed bars, a floor-to-ceiling swing and winter floral installations. Seasonal drinks are also on the menu, like the S'mores Tini which includes crème de cacao, graham cracker crumbs, and tableside-roasted marshmallows.
Open through winter from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. at 210 West 55th Street.
Winter Room at the Roof
Photo by @Clairelarkins
Fondue (if you haven’t figured it out by now, YA GIRL LOVES CHEESE), spiked hot cocoa, and Central park views are just a few of the highlights at this rooftop bar. They’ve also got pillows and fuzzy blankets to keep you and BAE warm.
Open through March 2019 from 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. at 124 West 57th Street in Manhattan.
Clicquot Chalet at Mr. Purple
Photo by @charissa_fay
I mean, if you can’t go to Aspen, might as well sip Veuve Clicquot in a pop-up ski lodge while taking in views of the Manhattan skyline. Lower East Side’s Mr. Purple has collaborated with Veuve to create a après ski wonderland in New York City.
Open from the first week of December through February 2019, doors open at 4 p.m. during the week and 11 a.m. on weekends at Hotel Indigo Lower East Side, 180 Orchard Street.
Winter Chalet at Industry Kitchen
The waterside spot has decked it’s halls with all of the lights, life-sized nutcrackers, wreaths and garlands, and all the Christmas cocktails your Grinch heart could ever dream up. Whether you like to keep things chilly with the Frozen Peppermint Slide (a shareable drink made with Baileys, candy canes, peppermint bark and pretzel rods) or hot and cozy with the Spiked Hot Chocolate (Nutella and dark chocolate…mmmm), there’s something for the naughty and nice at this merry establishment.
Open through January 2019, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., 70 South Street.
Serra Alpina by Birreria
The glass-enclosed beer garden and restaurant that goes all out every season with over the top décor has transformed into an epic, snowy wintry wonderous land. They serve a full menu, but you can also stop by for their festive winter cocktails, including not one but two types of vin brulé (the Italian version of mulled wine)
Open through the winter, from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily at 200 Fifth Avenue.
Miracle
The pop-up Christmas bar that boasts over 80 worldwide locations this year (that actually started at the East Village’s Mace) is back in NYC with new locations. There’s the flagship Miracle at Mace, but also a Miracle on 12th Street that’s more accommodating to large groups (events too), as well as a location in Williamsburg.
Open from November 23 through December 31 from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday and 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at 649 East 9th Street, 505 East 12th Street, and the corner of Bedford Avenue and Grand Street in Brooklyn.
Boilermaker
Photo by @randypschmidt
Your tropical Santa dreams can come true at the Boilermaker’s island Santa-themed bar. Specialty holiday cocktails and boilermakers (a beer or cider plus a shot) are readily available to make you feel all the holiday cheer.
13 First Avenue.
Arlo-Arctica
Photo by arlohotels
Both of the Arlo Hotels New York City locations have transformed their bar spaces into wonderlands inspired by Ernest Shackleton's legendary 1907 expedition to The South Pole. In Nomad, you’ll find ice sculptures, a fireplace, and all the camping vibes plus these incredible heated igloo things (there are also epic views of the Empire State Building for all you tourists). In Soho, you’ll have the same igloo ice hut instagrammable thingamabobs, but you’ll also enjoy faux snowfall at the top of every hour.
Open from December 1 through March 2019, 5 m. to 12 a.m., at 11 East 31 Street (Nomad) and 231 Hudson Street (Soho).
Moxy’s Pink Holiday Pop-Up
The funky and fun Moxy Times Square has decked the halls in hot pink and I am so down with it. The space feels like Regina George’s living room, drenched in every shade of pink imaginable. An all-pink piano, grand fireplace, grandfather clock, holiday tree, menorah, pink hot cocoa, kitschy cocktails and a giant pink teddy bear are all some of the things you can expect.
Open through January 2 at 485 7th Avenue.
