5 Holiday Pop-Up Bars to Visit in NYC

'Tis the season for festive sips.

By: Bridget Mallon

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Photo By: Brendan Burke

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The Holiday Cocktail Factory at NYLO Hotel

The LOCL Bar at the NYLO Hotel on Manhattan's Upper West Side has transformed into a whimsical holiday wonderland inspired by Roald Dahl's timeless tome: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The space is decked out in bright colors and accented with giant candy that make you feel like you stepped right into Willy Wonka's world. And the cocktails keep that fantasy alive, with names like "Snozberries Taste Like Snozberries" and "Violet, You're Turning Violet."

Sippin’ Santa's Surf Shack at Boilermaker

The weather in New York City this time of year is more likely to be frightful than tropical, but this beach-themed pop-up just may make you forget that. Aptly called Sippin' Santa's Surf Shack, and located at Boilermaker on the Lower East Side, this bar serves up tropical cocktails and elevated bar food in an environment that perfectly blends holiday kitsch with beachy relaxation. If you're really looking to escape the winter, order up a "Son of a Nutcracker," which comes served in a coconut.

Sleyenda at Leyenda

For the first time, Leyenda, a Latin cocktail bar in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, has transformed into Sleyenda for the holiday season. The pop-up pays homage to the many "Queens" and "Ladies that Sleigh" who inspire the female owners, including, but not limited to the Queen Bey herself, Beyoncé. Visitors can sip on a "We Three Queens" cocktail and enjoy the glittery atmosphere that owners Ivy Mix and Julie Reiner describe as "a little more hip-hop than ho-ho-ho."

Miracle on 9th Street at Mace

Every year around this time, Mace Cocktail Bar is completely transformed into a holiday oasis, complete with presents hanging from the ceiling, a lifesize Santa greeting guests at the door and a cozy corner dedicated to Hanukkah. But that's only part of the draw: The seasonal drinks, including the "Bad Santa" and "You'll Shoot Your Rye Out" are worth the trip on their own.

The Lodge at Gallow Green

Is any roundup of NYC bars complete without at least one rooftop? Absolutely not (at least in my humble opinion). Enter: Gallow Green, a beautiful space atop the McKittrick Hotel, and its wintry iteration, The Lodge at Gallow Green. Decorated more like a cabin upstate than a hip cocktail bar, The Lodge offers a variety of hot drinks, imaginative cocktails and light bites that visitors can enjoy by an outdoor fire or nestled atop a plaid-covered bed.

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5 Holiday Pop-Up Bars to Visit in NYC

Related To:

Shop This Look

The Holiday Cocktail Factory at NYLO Hotel

Sippin’ Santa's Surf Shack at Boilermaker

Sleyenda at Leyenda

Miracle on 9th Street at Mace

The Lodge at Gallow Green

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