The holidays are here, and South Florida is home to a host of themed pop-ups offering festive drinks, twinkling lights, and plenty of Christmas music.
Most of the bars revolve around the Miracle and Sippin' Santa pop-up series. Now in its sixth year, Miracle was created by Cocktail Kingdom's Greg Boehm. Today, 95 Miracle bars — from Milwaukee to Bucharest — are spreading holiday cheer, and an additional 23 bars around the world are hosting Sippin' Santa pop-ups. Sippin' Santa is Miracle Bar's tiki-inspired cousin with a Santa-goes-island theme.
In addition to those two series, there are several other holiday pop-ups around town, so break out that ugly sweater, don those reindeer antlers, and gather friends for a cup of cheer at these South Florida Christmas pop-up bars.
Miracle at Death or Glory
116 NE Sixth Ave., Delray Beach561-808-8814
deathorglorybar.com
The Miracle pop-up returns to Death or Glory, offering festive holiday lights and Christmas-themed libations. Open daily through December 31.
Miracle on Las Olas at Java and Jam
301 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale954-353-3250
java-jam.com
Enjoy festive cocktails and food by the Restaurant People at this Las Olas pop-up that offers Miracle Bar's lineup of holiday drinks paired with classic diner fare. Open daily through January 2.
Miracle on Rosemary by Death or Glory
550 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beachrosemarysquarewpb.com
Miracle's cocktails and decorations come to West Palm Beach. Open daily through January 2.
Miracle at Wynwood at Shirley’s at Gramps
176 NW 24th St., Miami305-699-2669
gramps.com
Miracle at Wynwood returns with holiday cocktails, Christmas karaoke on Tuesdays, a barbershop quartet on Thursdays, and holiday workshops. Open daily through December 27.
North Pole Beach Club at Bayfront Holiday Village
Bayfront Park301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami
bayfrontholidayvillage.com
Have a festive holiday cocktail at the North Pole Beach Club at downtown's Bayfront Holiday Village — a cocktail-themed oasis with traditional beverages such as Irish coffee and spiked eggnog plus new concoctions such as peppermint mojitos, mistletoe martinis, and glacier iced tea. Enjoy daily happy-hour specials from 4 to 6 p.m., DJs, and surprises. Open daily through December 25.
Reindeer Room at Rumbar
The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne455 Grand Bay Dr., Key Biscayne
305-365-4500
ritzcarlton.com
Rumbar at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne has morphed into the Reindeer Room for the holidays. The Christmas pop-up offers themed cocktails such as the Campfire Porter, made with bourbon, Godiva chocolate liqueur, La Colada coffee porter, marshmallow fluff, and a graham cracker rim; the Baby It's Cold Outside, made with tequila, Ancho Reyes liqueur, muddled ginger, lime juice, and ginger beer; and the Let Me Take an #Elfie, with vodka, passionfruit liqueur, creme de cacao, lemon juice, and prosecco ($15). Enjoy snacks such as ho ho hummus ($12), Prancer's pizza ($15), and reindeer bites ($18). Open daily through January 1.
Riverside Holiday Village at the Wharf Fort Lauderdale
20 W Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale954-372-7606
wharfftl.com
The Wharf Fort Lauderdale has transformed into a holiday wonderland. The entire venue is decked out in more than 500,000 holiday lights, oversize inflatable snowmen, ten-foot nutcrackers soldiers, and other festive decorations. Enjoy happy-hour specials from 4 to 7 p.m. including $1 Wharf lager pints and $3 wine by the glass. Special events include a Jack & Jill toy drive on December 13, when you can donate a new, unwrapped toy for a drink ticket (one per donation); the dog-friendly event Bark the Halls on December 14, when dogs can take pictures with Santa and enjoy swag such as tennis balls and bandannas; and an ugly sweater party on December 14 from 4 to 8 p.m. Open daily through December 22.
Sippin' Santa on Las Olas at Flight 19
1103 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale954-451-5128
flight19ftl.com
Saint Nick goes tiki at Sippin' Santa. This tropical-themed Christmas pop-up bar offers a blend of island- and holiday-themed decorations and unique cocktails such as the Kris Kringle colada. Open daily through January 2.
Sippin' Santa at Minnow Bar
660 Washington Ave., Miami Beach305-534-9600
anglershotelmiami.com
Think of this bar as Rudolph the Reindeer goes tiki. Enjoy eight signature cocktails, including standouts such as the Jingle Bowl, served in a sharable rum punch bowl resembling a hot tub, complete with a miniature Santa and a reindeer taking a boozy soak. Open daily through December 25.
Westchester Winter Wonderland at Dos Croquetas
10505 Bird Rd., Miami786-464-0299
doscroquetas.com
Croqueta Bar at Dos Croquetas turns into Westchester Winter Wonderland complete with icicles, snow lights, and special food and drinks. Items available through Christmas include a gingerbread-man shake and a peppermint chocolate chip shake ($7.99 each); an extra-thick hot chocolate ($3.99); churros with Nutella, guava, or condensed milk ($4.99); and a medianoche croqueta, filled with roast pork, sweet ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard and coated in toasted medianoche breadcrumbs ($1.99 each). Croqueta Bar also offers two boozy slushies: The Jack Frost and the Jingle Juice are made with vodka and cost $9 each. Beginning Thursday, December 12, Croqueta Bar will count down the 12 Days of Croquetas by offering a treat, freebie, or discount to each customer. Open daily through December 25.
