My memories of Brooklyn cocktail programs in the early 2000s are a blur of mustachioed men in leather-strapped aprons and bow-ties, tapping their bitters out like a lab technician as they murmur words like “orgeat” and “creme de violette.” Cocktails at that level can be a gravely serious business, but luckily, every December, we can rejoice in the antithesis: the big, bombastic utter absurdity that is the winter holiday bar.
For Sother Teague, owner of Amor y Amargo, a bitters-focused bar in New York’s East Village that hosts an annual holiday pop-up, these settings offer a break from business as usual and a bonding moment in a tough city.
“Year-round we do this serious thing, but the point of holiday bars is taking the piss out of yourself,” he says. “It’s an opportunity for us all to step out of our own lives, take a break and relax and join with other people at bars, which are places of community.”
Whether a pop-up or, in rarer cases, a permanent year-round fixture, these holiday-themed bars lean toward Christmas more than Kwanzaa or Hanukkah (though there are tributes to those two holidays, too), but aim to be inclusive.
You might be treated to a live piano singalong, A Christmas Story on the telly, a cozy fireplace and games to play, plus a bartender in a Santa hat. You’re part of the fun, too—come in your holiday best, whether that’s your ugliest Rudolph sweater or your most festive red dress.
“It’s an opportunity to step out of your norm, dress outrageously, drink new themed cocktails, sing songs and make new friends,” Teague says.
From intricate ingredients to over-the-top decor, these are the most festive holiday bars around the U.S. and beyond.
