Christmas Pop-Up Bars in Detroit
Sippin’ Santa at The Skip
Visit Santa’s tropical vacationland when you step into the Sippin’ Santa pop-up bar at The Skip!
Hibiscus flower garlands, shiny tinsel, white lights, and Christmas stockings hang around the bar, while tiki holiday cocktails are served in surfing Santa tiki glasses and other festive drinkware.
This nationwide holiday pop-up bar features 10 Christmas-themed tiki cocktails created by mixologist Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, author of Beachbum Berry’s Sippin’ Safari.
You can sip a bubbly Merry Spritzmas, shoot a Ginger Snapper from a lei-donning Rudolph shot glass, or share the rum-based North Pole Bowl for two!
To ensure your spot at Sippin’ Santa at The Skip, you can book a weekday reservation for any size party. On the weekends, the only way to guarantee a spot is by booking the Sippin Santa Party Table.
Designed for groups of 6-8, the semi-private Sippin Santa Party Table includes two Sippin’ Santa cocktails, a communal punch and plate of Christmas cookies for the table, and a gift bag for each guest.
Location: The Skip (located in The Belt), 1234 The Belt, Detroit, MI 48226
Hours: 4 p.m. – Midnight Tuesday – Thursday, 4 p.m. – 2 a.m. Friday & Saturday, 4 p.m. – Midnight Sunday
Closed: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day
Reservations: Highly recommended!
Reserve Your Spot at Sippin’ Santa at The Skip
Cadillac Lodge
One of the festive holiday pop-up bars in Detroit that the whole family can visit is Cadillac Lodge.
Located at Cadillac Square Park, this holiday pop-up is also in the heart of Detroit’s holiday festivities. Pair your visit with ice skating at the outdoor Campus Martius rink and/or shopping at the Downtown Detroit Markets!
Inside the heated tent is a rustic ski-lodge-like space with flickering fireplaces, cozy seating, and trees trimmed in sparkling white lights.
As you warm up with hot cup of cider, coffee, or cocoa of the spiked or non-alcoholic variety, play board games, listen to live jazz music on Sunday mornings, or watch classic Christmas flicks during movie nights at Cadillac Lodge.
In addition to hot cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages, the Cadillac Lodge drink menu includes a Mistletoe Margarita and three other specialty cocktails, four holiday-themed shooters, and a selection of wine and beer, including local craft beer.
The Cadillac Lodge also serves snack foods, including buttery popcorn, soft pretzels served with beer cheese and mustard, and Detroit-style chili.
Location: Cadillac Square Park, 60 Cadillac Square, Detroit, MI 48226
Hours: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Wednesday & Thursday; 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sunday
Holiday Hours: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Christmas Eve, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. New Year’s Eve, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. New Year’s Day
Closed: Christmas Day
Reservations: Walk-in only
Blitzen’s on Bagley
Also returning for the 2023 holiday season is Southwest Detroit’s festively decorated holiday tavern Blitzen’s on Bagley.
Through early January stop into this Detroit holiday pop-up bar for green Grinch Punch, a Very Merry Marg, spiked egg nog, or hot cocoa with Bailey’s, Rumchata, or Fireball.
Blitzen’s on Bagley also offers festive non-alcoholic drinks, including spiritless Grinch Juice, eggnog sprinkled with nutmeg, and whip-cream-topped hot cocoa.
Location: 2545 Bagley St, Detroit, MI 48216
Hours: 5 – 11p.m. Sunday – Tuesday, 5 p.m. – Midnight Wednesday & Thursday, 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. Friday & Saturday
Closed: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve
Reservations: Walk-in only
225 Sleigh Ride by Atwater Brewery
New in 2023, 225 Sleigh Ride is a speakeasy holiday pop-up bar presented by Atwater Brewery.
The local craft brewery has transformed its neighboring space in Detroit’s Rivertown District into a festive holiday hideaway.
With plush seating complete with Christmas-themed buffalo check throw pillows, you’ll feel the holiday spirit as you cozy up with one the speakeasy’s craft yuletide cocktails.
Location: 225 Joseph Campau Street, Detroit, MI 48207 (Next to Atwater Brewery & Taphouse)
Hours: 4 – 10 p.m. Wednesday – Friday, Noon – 10 p.m. Saturday, Noon – 9 p.m. Sunday
Reservations: Highly recommended!
Reserve Your Spot at 225 Sleigh Ride
Miracle at Dragonfly
This international Christmas cocktail pop-up bar returns to the Detroit area at two locations this holiday season.
Through Dec. 30, you can sip holiday-themed cocktails in a festive setting decorated in kitschy Christmas décor at Dragonfly in Milwaukee Junction.
Try the cognac-spiked Jingle Balls Nog, a warm Hot Buttered Rum, or the Christmapolitan, a Cosmo made with spiced cranberry sauce for a holiday spin!
Dragonfly also offers festive holiday desserts. Pair your holiday cocktail with a peppermint white chocolate crème brûlée or sticky toffee cake!
Location: Dragonfly, 2929 E Grand Blvd, Detroit, MI 48202 (Entrance on Beaubien Boulevard)
Hours: 5 – 11 p.m. Sunday & Tuesday – Thursday, 5 p.m. – Midnight Friday & Saturday
Reservations: Recommended (Reservations are available for parties of four or fewer guests and require a non-refundable $10/person deposit.)
Reserve Your Spot at Miracle at Dragonfly
Grinchmas on Griswold at Eatóri Market
Maybe your heart won’t grow three full sizes, but I bet you’ll get into the holiday spirit during Grinchmas on Griswold at Eatóri Market in Downtown Detroit!
This special holiday menu features cocktails inspired by the beloved Dr. Seuss Christmas tale. Sip a Grinchoni, an eggnogy Mount Crumpit, a hot Cindy Lou Who Cider spiked with spiced rum, or a green Plane to Whoville!
Rounding out this holiday drink menu are a holiday sangria, a cranberry-flavored Mistletoe Mule, and more festive cocktails.
Location: Eatóri Market, 1215 Griswold St, Detroit, MI 48226
Hours: 4 p.m. – Midnight Tuesday – Friday, 11 a.m. – Midnight Saturday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday
Reservations: Available
Reserve your spot at Eatóri Market
Cocktails & Cable Knits at Union Assembly’s “Loungey Second Floor”
You’ll be rockin’ around the Christmas tree at this retro holiday pop-up bar at Union Assembly in Downtown Detroit’s Foxtown neighborhood!
Of course, those Christmas trees will be pink and hanging upside down from the ceiling! Through Dec. 31, you can sip swanky holiday cocktails in a festively retro space filled with pink disco balls and pink Christmas trees dripping in silver tinsel.
Among the holiday-themed drinks on the Cocktails & Cable Knits menu is the Lights Out. Served in a pink holiday-light-shaped cup, this is a merry-and-bright Christmas cocktail of vodka, pomegranate, rosemary, and ginger beer.
Location: Union Assembly (Second Floor), 2131 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Hours: Subject to change, so call 313-636-6000 ahead of your visit to confirm
Reservations: No, walk-in only
Whiskey Wonderland at Detroit City Distillery
If it’s an elegant handcrafted holiday cocktail in a festive setting that you seek, Whiskey Wonderland at Detroit City Distillery is the Detroit Christmas pop-up bar for you!
This Eastern Market distillery’s tasting room has been transformed into a wondrous space aglow in neon signs of Christmas sayings, Santa and reindeer blow-ups, and colorful holiday lights.
Amid the glow of those Christmas lights, it’s the distillery’s own spirits that truly shine in two dozen seasonal cocktails.
On the menu are traditional Christmas beverages — like a frozen Coquito — and unique holiday cocktails such as the Fizzions of Sugar Plums crafted with the distillery’s Shopkeeper Gin, Aperol, lemon, honey-plum tea jelly, and bubbly Cava.
Additionally, this seasonal menu features three non-alcoholic holiday drinks, including a Mexican-style hot chocolate.
Location: Detroit City Distillery, 2462 Riopelle St, Detroit, MI 48207
Hours: 4 – 10 p.m. Wednesday & Thursday, 4 – 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m. Saturday, Noon – 6 p.m. Sunday
JoJo’s Winter Wonderland at JoJo’s ShakeBAR
Another family-friendly holiday pop-up bar in Detroit is JoJo’s Winter Wonderland at JoJo’s ShakeBAR.
Known for its over-the-top milkshakes, JoJo’s ShakeBAR has rolled out a special Winter Wonderland Shake. This peppermint milkshake is topped with a Christmas tree cookie, a marshmallow present, a snowman made of donut holes, a mini candy cane, and whipped cream.
Too chilly for ice cream? JoJo’s Winter Wonderland menu features four holiday-themed hot chocolates, too. Try the salted caramel hot chocolate topped with a toasted marshmallow, toffee pretzel, white toffee donut hole, and gold star marshmallow!
For the over 21 crowd, both the Winter Wonderland Shake and hot chocolate drinks have options for boozy upgrades, or you can drink one of the festive holiday cocktails. Sip Santa’s Sangria from a Santa boot cup or an espresso martini rimmed with peppermint pieces!
In addition to the holiday-themed beverages, this milkshake bar on the pedestrian-only Columbia Street in The District Detroit also offers festive experiences including gingerbread house decorating, ornament painting, and holiday mixology classes.
Location: JoJo’s ShakeBAR, 88 W. Columbia St., Detroit, MI 48201
Hours: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – Midnight Friday & Saturday
