The holiday season has turned into an arms race for Chicago bars who are loading up on wreaths, Christmas trees and lights, queuing up playlists filled with holiday tunes, and serving up all the cheer you can stomach in the form of spiked eggnog, chocolate Santa shots and festive food. There are places that let you spread the joy through charitable donations, indulge your inner kid with cookie or gingerbread house decorating, or share some cheer with your Instagram followers by taking the perfect photo. Why limit yourself to Dec. 25 when you can celebrate Christmas all December long and into the new year at these over-the-top seasonal pop-ups.
Cerise. If you’re less than excited about a white Christmas and are dreaming of getting away somewhere warm, head to Mele Kalikimaka, Cerise’s rooftop bar Hawaiian-themed pop-up. Grab a seat in a heated dome while snacking on pineapple upside down cake ($6) or ahi tuna nachos ($17) and sipping a pisco sour served in a coconut ($16) or the signature Mele Kalikimaka cocktail, a blend of rum, caramelized pineapple, Mandarin tea and Meyer lemon served in a pineapple. 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Thursday, 5 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday and 5 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Saturday through Dec. 31. 203 N. Wabash Ave., 312-940-4774, virginhotels.com
Chicago Athletic Association. For the third year in a row, the first floor of the hotel becomes Happy’s, decked out with lights and playing holiday tunes. A festive menu includes eggnog shots, frozen Irish coffee, veggie egg rolls with spicy mustard mayo and warm chocolate chip cookies. The space also hosts special events including a gingerbread house decorating competition and bingo, with awards of wrapped stocking stuffers. 5-10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 5 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday through Dec. 28. 12 S. Michigan Ave., 844-312-2221, chicagoathleticevents.com
Chit Chat Lounge. The River West basement bar transforms into Reindeer’s, a dive bar Santa might visit after a hard day at the North Pole. A menu of $13 seasonal sippers includes frozen eggnog spiked with bourbon and rum, and ginger-spiced mulled wine spiked with tequila. You can also enjoy the flavors of holiday leftovers in the Next Day Pub Pizza topped with turkey, stuffing, dried cranberries, gravy aioli and mozzarella ($12). 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Friday, noon to 3 a.m. Saturday and noon to 2 a.m. Sunday through Dec. 31. 416 N. Desplaines St., thechitchatlounge.com
Country Club. The long-running Wrigleyville pop-up Christmas Club is spread across two floors and three bars serving $8-$12 special cocktails in souvenir cups, such as Jameson-spiked eggnog or Santa Claws, a blend of White Claw and apple spice. Listen to DJs spin classic Christmas and party tunes while snacking on powdered sugar covered doughnut holes ($8) or spicy saltines with pimento cheese spread ($10). 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 2 a.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday through Jan. 5. 3462 N. Clark St., 773-975-2010, christmasclubchicago.com
Houndstooth Saloon. Griswold’s, a tribute to “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” features a mix of ’80s and Tiki decor and the chance to take a photo with Cousin Eddie’s RV on the patio. Santa will serve up hot chocolate and cider on the weekends and the bar will serve a themed TV dinner with a turkey leg and Jell-O. 4 p.m. to 2 am. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Sunday through Feb. 8. 3369 N. Clark St., 773-244-1166, houndstoothchicago.com
Hush Money. The Wrigleyville cocktail bar gets decked out to transform into Mistletoe, serving such drinks as Santa’s Munchies, a blend of tequila, horchata, cinnamon and CBD oil served with a snickerdoodle cookie ($17), and Santaclaw’s Basic Reindeer made with vodka, ginger and peppermint soda ($13). 5 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Sunday through Jan. 12. 3632 N. Clark St., 773-269-5410, mordecaichicago.com
Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods. Celebrate the holidays Hogwarts-style with the Witchcraft and Wizardry on Wood Street pop-up, which features $8 butter beer and other themed cocktails plus special events, including Harry Potter trivia, movie screenings and a Yule Ball dinner. The Wicker Park restaurant will be decorated with flying brooms, floating candles and flags representing the four houses. 5 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday Dec. 9-15. 1415 N. Wood St., 773-360-8320, inamaetavern.com
La Bodega. The River North market is re-concepting next year, but for the holidays it’s becoming Santa’s Bodega, a bar where you can drink festive cocktails and shots while surrounded by lights, ornaments, tinsel and snowflakes. 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Dec. 6-28. 355 N. Clark St., 312-561-4666, bodegaimports.com
Sable Kitchen & Bar. The River North lounge teams up with New York’s Cocktail Kingdom for the annual Miracle pop-up, serving a menu of 10 themed drinks and three shots in ornate glassware (which is also available for purchase). Drinks include the Snowball Old-Fashioned made with caramelized pecan bourbon and spiced molasses syrup ($14) and shots of gingerbread-spiced rye ($6). An equally festive food menu features holiday stuffing fritters with cream of mushroom aioli ($13) and bourbon pecan pie with candy cane marshmallow and caramel sauce ($9). The space will be covered in holiday decor and will donate a portion of the proceeds to Hope for the Day. 4 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Wednesday and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday through Dec. 24. 505 N. State St., 312-755-9704, sablechicago.com
The Sixth. Taking a firm stand on the debate over whether “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie, the Lincoln Square bar’s Yipee Ki-Yay pop-up features photos, props and artwork inspired by the Bruce Willis flick, alongside garland, Christmas trees and lights. A menu of 15 themed cocktails includes the Nakatomi Plaza, a flaming drink made with bourbon, curry-infused shochu, lime juice and cinnamon bitters ($13). 5 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday and 4-10 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 31. 2202 W. Lawrence Ave., 773-433-5959, thesixthbar.com
Swissotel Chicago. The hotel transforms its presidential suite into a Santa Suite filled with 16 Christmas trees and ski lodge decor. The space hosts family friendly activities by day, but by night transforms into the Apres Ski After Dark Holiday Bar, where you can still visit with Santa but also enjoy DJ sets, cocktails and shot skis. Tickets are $30 and include one drink. 6-9 p.m. Dec. 13 and 20. 323 E. Wacker Drive, 312-268-8110, swissotelchicagosantasuite.com
Woodie’s Flat. Spread across the Old Town bar’s three floors, the new Last Christmas pop-up features a special menu including Yule Logs, egg rolls made with pulled turkey, sage stuffing and cheddar, with gravy and cranberry sauce for dipping ($14.95), and Bad Santa, a shot of vodka, creme de menthe and chocolate cherry cream served in a chocolate Santa ($13). Special events include Christmas cookie decorating and a pajama brunch. 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through early January. 1535 N. Wells St., 312-643-0093, lastchristmaspopup.com
