Get your holiday spirits on at one of a number of Christmas pop-up bars, which will be decked out to the nines with holiday décor and slinging next-level drinks with seasonal inspiration.
Miracle will return to locations in Freehold, Nutley, Jersey City, New Brunswick, Verona, Long Branch and Morristown. Miracle started in the East Village of NYC in 2014 and quickly expanded to other U.S. locations, plus Canada, Australia, Panama, Norway, the Cayman Islands and Costa Rica, for a total of 160 participating locations worldwide this year.
While the decor is Instaworthy on its own, the true star of the show is the cocktail menu. Noteworthy drinks at Miracle locations include the Christmapolitan, a twist on the classic made with vodka, elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, rosemary, lime and absinthe mist and for those who have been naughty, there’s the Hot Buttered Rum, served hot. Other deliciously merry cocktails such as Carol Barrell, Snowball Old Fashioned, Koala Kooler and Christmas Cricket are sold in mugs and glasses you can purchase for your at-home Christmas parties.
And the restaurants serve holiday food specials, too, so if you can’t find a babysitter, you can take the kids out with you.
Miracle on Centre at Cowan’s Public
229 Centre St., Nutley
Miracle on Mercer at Franklin Social
292 Barrow St., Jersey City
Miracle on George Street at Catherine Lombardi’s
3 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick
Miracle on Bloomfield at The Parkside Social
706 Bloomfield Ave., Verona
Miracle at The Bistro
Inside iPlay America, 108 Schanck Rd., Freehold
Miracle at Avenue
Avenue, Pier Village, 23 Ocean Ave. N., Long Branch
Miracle at Parkside Tavern
Parkside Tavern, 9 Speedwell Ave., Morristown
Crystal Springs Resort in Sussex County has its own share of holiday pop-up bars. Previously known as The Schnapps Shack, the Jacques Torres Cocoa Cabin is located adjacent to the Glice skating rink in front of the Crystal Springs Clubhouse at 1 Wild Turkey Way in Hamburg, has toasty fire pits where you can enjoy your hot signature cocktails or snacks like chili con carne, pretzels with warm cheese, and churros with warm cocoa sauce. The opening date is November 28.
Or, let the spirit of the season take you to Frosty’s Cantina & Winter Workshop, located at Minerals Hotel, 2 Chamonix Dr., Vernon Twp. Order a spiked hot chocolate or a vanilla latte to wash down a beef hot dog or chili. The Winter Workshop is fun for all ages and includes marshmallow roasting, fire pits and axe throwing. Hours of operation are 3-8 pm Fridays and Saturdays, starting November 28.
The exterior and interior of The Waiting Room in Hoboken have a “Home for the Holidays” winter wonderland theme, with an array of lights, ornaments, garland, Christmas trees and assorted decorations, which dazzle through January 31. Festive cocktails include White Christmas )Tequila, Triple Sec, Coconut Purée, Lime Juice, Simple Syrup), Sugar Cookie (Vanilla Vodka, Amaretto, Bailey’s, Sweet Cream), Maple Old Fashioned (5 Springs Maple Bourbon, Simple Syrup, Orange Bitters) and Peppermint Espresso (Vodka, Kahlua, Espresso, Peppermint Purée).
Sinner’s Steakhouse in Point Pleasant Beach is transforming into a jolly ol’ sinful Christmas extravaganza – but for the whole family.
Try a signature cocktail like Reif Rum Coquito, Cousin Eddie’s Egg Nog or Scrooge’s Usual; or you can make your own hot chocolate. Desserts will get a festive twist. And the full menu will be available. You can sit inside or on the heated terrace. Dates are November 4 to January 4.
Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille in Cape May transforms the Jersey Shore establishment into a winter wonderland for Jingle Bar. The décor is top-notch, with people lining up down the avenue to see all the Instagram-worthy decorations. The specialty cocktails include festive drinks like Mistletoe Margarita, Blue Christmas, Snowflake Eggnog, Peppermint Tini and The Grinch. The pop-up is open Thursdays to Sundays from November 14 to December 31.
Jingle Bell Bar returns as a pop-up at 1927 Lounge at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City.
Located off the casino floor, this adults-only party has festive cocktails and themed entertainment.
Cucina Calandra in Fairfield is bringing back the Grinch’s Grotto, through January 4. Your heart will grow three sizes during lunch, happy hour or dinner when you come to this Grinch-themed pop-up. Specialty cocktails will be made with flavors like cranberry, cinnamon and peppermint. The Holly Jolly Lounge at Calandra’s sister location, Il Vecchio Cafe in Caldwell, is all about holiday cheer, with twinkling lights, tinsel, holiday-inspired cocktails like St. Nick’s Old Fashioned or Mistletoe Mule.
BarBacoa’s Christmas Cantina is open in Summit from December 1 to 31, with a festive lineup of Christmas Cantina cocktails served in holiday-themed glassware. Highlights include Down the Chimney, a smoky-meets-bright blend of mezcal, cranberry, lemon, and ginger beer; Santa’s Milk & Churros, a dessert-inspired mix of dark rum, Baileys, churros, and coffee liqueur; Christmas in Cabo, a tropical-leaning combination of añejo tequila, coconut, pineapple, lime, and mint; the bourbon-forward Comet’s Cup with spiced demerara and angostura; and Mama Coco’s Hot Cocoa, a warming reposado tequila hot chocolate topped with marshmallow foam.
Candy Cane Land at Agave Maria in Belleville is a Christmas candyland, found only by going through a secret door inside the Xaman Room to this holiday speakeasy pop-up. Once inside, you’ll see decorations in every corner of the room, plus holiday menu items like Bad Santa, Don’t Steal My Reindeer, Santa Strawberry Surprise, salmon a la pina, and skirt steak.
And don’t miss out on a trip to NYC to see The Queen of Christmas-inspired bar at Mariah Carey’s Black Irish Holiday Pop-Up. Located this year at the Untitled Hotel, there are festive photo ops, martinis named after Mariah (and featuring the Black Irish brand), and lots of Christmas music and decor from November 14 to December 28. The Elf Bar Christmas Pop-Up Experience at Continental Sports Bar and Lounge will have hundreds of elf figurines are set up around the bar from December 4 to 24; plus elf cocktails and elf-themed games, and lots of photo ops against a magical Christmas backdrop.
Check each restaurant’s or bar’s site for opening dates, operational dates, hours and menus.
We’re giving away a $100 gift card to the Miracle Bar Pop-Up at The Bistro at iPlay America in Freehold. Click here to enter.
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