The Absolute Best Christmas Bars & Pop-ups in Chicago, IL
There’s no city that can put you in the Christmas spirit quite like Chi-Town! After all, Chicago is the setting for a long list of Christmas movies that includes “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” and “The Christmas Chronicles.” When the holiday season rolls around, the streets of Chicago are all decked out in twinkling lights, silver bells, and festive trees. Even the bar scene in Chicago becomes a little merrier in December. These holiday-themed watering holes are so authentic that you just might expect to see Santa’s sleigh and reindeer parked outside! Check out the rundown of the best Christmas bars and pop-up bars in Chicago, IL.
Happy’s: A Holiday Bar
12 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
(312) 940-3552
Come get cozy with a hot chocolate with tequila! Happy’s holiday bar operates Wednesdays through Saturdays from Nov. 24 through Dec. 22. This pop-up bar has become a favorite on Chicago’s “happy hour” scene since popping up for the first time six years ago. Guests can look forward to an over-the-the-top holiday setup full of bright lights, holiday tunes, cocktails, wines, beer, and snacks. The festive cocktails at Happy’s are sprinkled with nutmeg, cinnamon, cranberry, and other Christmastime pleasers! Happy’s is open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. during its holiday run!
Mom’s Place
650 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 265-0768
Mom’s place is a karaoke bar that is decked out in Christmas lights year round, so it’s only right that it made the cut for this list. This fun neighborhood spot is open everyday of the week so you can always pop in for a good time and great bar bites like mozzarella sticks, wings, quesadillas, pizza and more. The cocktail list is loaded with fun drinks like the Thyme Out and the Grandma’s Coming to Live With us. If you’re looking for live music, a great time out with friends, and a spot with lights and tinsel spanning every corner, head to Mom’s Place.
Santa Baby Bar
3505 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL
(833) 967-2682
Santa Baby is a multi-room, multi-level Christmas experience in Wrigleyville that raises the roof all the way to the North Pole! This is seriously one of the most over-the-top holiday experiences in Chicago. Walk into a setting featuring wall-to-wall Christmas decorations that extend to the festive outdoor patio. Next, make your way through a maze of Christmas cheer that includes the Alpine Village, Winter Wonderland, Santa’s Workshop, and local elf dive bar called Rudolph’s. Santa, Rudolph, and many more holiday characters will be there to party with the crowd while posing for photos.
The drinks at Santa Baby are just as eccentric as the decor! We’re talking about huge mugs of spiked peppermint cocoa topped with marshmallows and whipped cream, a Yule Mule made with ginger and cranberry, yummy Jingle Juice, and a Red Nose Rudolph made with Grey Goose and peach schnapps. Pizza, skewers, wings, sliders, shakes, breakfast, and a giant pretzel are also on the menu. During its run, Santa Baby is open seven days a week. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays.
Frosty’s Christmas Bar
809 West Evergreen Avenue, Chicago, IL
(312) 850-8188
Established in 2017, Frosty’s Christmas Bar is the hottest spot for drinks and dancing during the holiday season in Chicago! This massive bar experience offers four bars, three levels, and two dance floors. Be warned that this is not your family’s Christmas gathering! The guest list at Frosty’s includes life-size nutcrackers, sexy Santas, and flirty elves. There are so many photo opportunities to enjoy in this bright, elegantly decorated pop-up bar that is considered by many in Chicago to be the best “Christmas bar” experience in the city. Like Santa, Frosty keeps a list of who has been naughty or nice. Make sure to grab your reservations ahead of time to get on the list! Frosty’s is open nightly until 2 a.m. beginning on Nov. 18.
Elf’d Up
3485 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL
This themed Christmas bar perfectly recreates many of the most unforgettable details from “Elf.” Elf’d Up opens in November every year at the Stretch Bar & Grill. Guests get to enjoy Christmas at a true Chicago neighborhood bar that never charges a cover fee. Once inside, you can nibble on complimentary homemade elf-shaped cookies! You’ll also mingle with Chi-Town locals, dance to the mixes of live DJs, and mingle with Buddy the Elf as he makes his way through the crowd nightly. Elf’d Up is decorated from floor to ceiling with more than 1,000 elves of all sizes. There’s also a 10-foot Christmas tree, lush wreath chandeliers, dangling snowflakes, and many more festive touches.
Of course, the most amazing thing about this pop-up bar is that it has a menu inspired by the movie’s very memorable cuisine. Yes, you can feast on spaghetti topped with maple syrup, fudge, and marshmallows when you order the Buddy’s Breakfast Pasta! There’s also a hot chocolate bar. Elf’d Up is open seven days a week starting on Nov. 17. During its run, Elf’d Up stays open nightly until 2 a.m. There’s also a Buddy’s Brunch experience from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends.
For more recommendations on where to eat and drink in the city, check out our Chicago page, here!
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