Cheer up with these holiday pop-ups
Moe’s Cantina Wrigleyville
The legendary Grinch takes center stage at Moe’s Wrigleyville as the venue gets a dose of Whoville with a How the Grinch Stole Christmas theme. The Grinch welcomes guests in, while inside, bright Christmas balls, bold holiday patterns, Christmas trees and colorful lights pair with menu items like birria tacos as well as buñelos — a crispy fried dessert coated with cinnamon sugar. The pop-up also features a roster of six different fun, festive specialty drinks including Christmas Tree Patron Towers. Special guests and photo ops include several different Grinches — including a live one! — and a few familiar faces from Whoville. Make sure to check out Moe’s Cantina in River North as well.
Santa Baby Bar
This over-the-top bar is an environment like no other with over 1,000 ornaments and vivid lights that transport you to the North Pole. Santa Baby’s menu has been modified to fit their extra-vibrant aesthetic: from the Jack Frost cocktail to Reindeer Wings, red and green Christmas sliders to 12 Shots for Christmas!
The Dandy Crown, a cocktail-focused bar and restaurant, has earned accolades for its cocktail program since its opening in December 2019. A Very Dandy Holiday will get everyone in the holiday spirits. The cocktails, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, will be served in cheerful glassware with seasonally tinged ingredients that evoke wintertime flavor and nostalgia. A Very Dandy Holiday will debut at The Dandy Crown on December 1 and run through December 31. For more information, please visit DandyHoliday.com
Rudolph’s Bar
Known as “Chicago’s Favorite Pop-Up,” the creators of Santa Baby Bar have created Rudolph’s Bar. Also located in Wrigleyville, Rudolph’s has all-new holiday decorations for 2022. Similar to Santa Baby, Rudolph’s Bar is where all the reindeer go to destress after a long day of sleighing. Try The Grinch cocktail but keep an eye out for Santa!
JoJo’s Shake Bar
Festive year-round, JoJo’s Shake Bar becomes Winter Wonderland Pop-Up. JoJo’s heated outside patio is bedecked with animated decorations and Christmas lights. Jojo’s is known for their nostalgic diner food and creative beverage options, many of which are boozed-up drinks…perfect for cozying up to the Christmas tree.
Christmas Club
Wrigleyville bars have gone out of their way to morph into festive spectacles. Like Santa Baby, Wrigleyville’s huge Christmas Club is a holiday-themed venue with three bars and three party rooms. Guaranteed to elevate your Chicago winter experience!
Frosty’s Bar
Located on Goose Island, Frosty’s is a 21+ holiday-themed pop-up extravaganza. With three decorated halls and four bars, guests are surrounded by the Christmas spirit. Experience a night with singing Santa and his dancing elves amidst the lavish decorations, lights, and costumes. Frosty’s specialty holiday drink menu is irresistible!
Jack Frost Winter Walk and Christmas Tree Farm
Jack’s Winter Walk is located on Goose Island on over two acres of land. The tree farm will have the perfect fresh tree for your home and there are a variety of activities to try, including axe throwing, bumper cars, a fortune teller, and unlimited photo ops. Seasonal drinks complete the experience.
8 Crazy Nights
The only Hanukkah-themed pop-up bar in Chicago, the popular annual 8 Crazy Nights at The Graystone Tavern in Wrigleyville is a one-of-a-kind experience. Instead of red and green, 8 Crazy Nights is awash in blue lights and ball lanterns, dreidels, and menorahs. Food and drink are just as special: matzo ball soup, grilled cheese on challah, and latkes go well with the Masel Tov cocktail, Mensch Mule, and Hanukkah Harry’s Hot Chocolate. Don’t forget the vodka-infused jelly donuts! Board and card games plus a dreidel spinning competition promise an unforgettable time.
Elf’d Up
Stretch Bar & Grill in Wrigleyville becomes the Elf’d Up pop-up bar, a whimsical tribute to Buddy and the movie, Elf. You’ll be surrounded by 1,000 elves, cut-outs of Buddy the Elf and Miles Finch, Christmas trees, snowflakes, and colored lights. Holiday-themed cocktails share the menu with such delights as Buddy’s Breakfast Pasta (spaghetti, maple syrup, chocolate fudge, and marshmallows)! No cover charge and every night at 10 PM guests receive on-the-house elf-shaped cookies.
Holly Jolly Holiday Bar at Electric Garden
Enjoy yet another over-the-top holiday pop-up bar with the Holly Holly Holiday Bar at Electric Garden. Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit as Elictic Garden decks out in tinsel, ornaments, lights, trimmings and so much more! General admission starts at $15 and includes a 90-minute reservation with a signature mocktail/cocktail. Additional drinks will be available for purchase! Electric Garden is also hosting Saturday and Sunday brunches! Join Santa as he hosts Santa’s Boozy Brunch Brunch. This brunch will include one entre plus bottomless mimosas! Brunches start at $49.50. Grab family and friends to enjoy some holiday cheer with incredible phot-ops! Get your tickets here!
By Paulina Czupryna
