Akron-area bars, restaurants go merry and bright with holiday pop-ups

Kerry Clawson, Akron Beacon Journal
Updated ·5 min read
Over-the-top decorations are throughout Blitzen's holiday pop-up at Hudson's Restaurant in Hudson.
Over-the-top decorations are throughout Blitzen's holiday pop-up at Hudson's Restaurant in Hudson.

The holiday pop-up bar trend continues for the Christmas season in the Akron area, where, at most spots, the glitzier the better. That means tons of tinsels, garlands, lights and more.

At pop-up Christmas bars, the concept is go big or go home. So there surely isn't any such thing as an ugly sweater for guests who want to enjoy a jolly good time amid the holiday dazzle.

The key word is festive when it comes to the holiday décor and specialty drinks that local restaurants and bars have created. Here are some merry and bright spots to check out over the holidays.

Miracle on Main

A Christmas mojito is featured at Miracle on Main at The Daily Pressed in Downtown Akron.
A Christmas mojito is featured at Miracle on Main at The Daily Pressed in Downtown Akron.

The Daily Pressed is getting into the Christmas spirit for its first Christmas in downtown Akron with the holiday pop-up bar Miracle on Main, which will run through mid-January. The bistro and cocktail lounge at 323 S. Main St. is decked out for the holidays and is also offering special holiday drinks and events.

Shaunna Read shows off a spiked peppermint hot chocolate at The Daily Pressed in Akron.
Shaunna Read shows off a spiked peppermint hot chocolate at The Daily Pressed in Akron.

Cocktails include a spiked peppermint hot chocolate with peppermint liqueur and vanilla vodka, a Christmas cookie martini and a Christmas mojito.

Special events include a Christmas dance-off party 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Breakfast with Santa 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. See The Daily Pressed on Facebook or call 330-535-4000 for more information.

The Christmas cookie martini at Miracle on Main Christmas pop-up in downtown Akron.
The Christmas cookie martini at Miracle on Main Christmas pop-up in downtown Akron.

Blitzen's pop-up bar at Hudson's Restaurant in Hudson

Kevin Altomare makes a "Frosted Pole Licker" with cinnamon-infused Evans Williams B.I.B. White Label Bourbon and apple cider over ice and dry ice last year at Blitzen's holiday pop-up at Hudson's Restaurant.
Kevin Altomare makes a "Frosted Pole Licker" with cinnamon-infused Evans Williams B.I.B. White Label Bourbon and apple cider over ice and dry ice last year at Blitzen's holiday pop-up at Hudson's Restaurant.

At Hudson's Restaurant in Hudson, every inch of the bar and eatery becomes a holiday pop-up Blitzen's each year. Brothers Kevin and J.J. Altomare keep expanding on the holiday décor, which covers every wall of the restaurant, including individually decorated booths and tons of lights.

This is Hudson's Restaurant's fifth year creating the Blitzen's holiday wonderland in Hudson's historic downtown Main Street walking district.

Diners take in the decorations in the front window of Blitzen's Wednesday at Hudson's Restaurant.
Diners take in the decorations in the front window of Blitzen's Wednesday at Hudson's Restaurant.

Blitzen's specialty drinks can be ordered 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

Among the festive cocktails is the cute Santa Boot Warmer, made with gin and cold-pressed pear juice, garnished with a rosemary sprig and served in a souvenir Santa boot mug. Other holiday drink specialties include Frosty's Toddy, a Melted Snowman, Frosted Pole Licker and Verry Berry Merry.

Santa's Boot Warmer, left, is made with Western Reserve Distillery Gin, cold-pressed pear juice, fresh rosemary and cranberries, served in a Santa boot mug. Chocolate Candy Cane, with Tito's handmade vodka, peppermint liqueur, chocolate liqueur and vanilla cream, is shown served in a 20-inch "Fragile (FRA-GEE-LAY) It's a Major Award!" leg lamp glass at Blitzen's in Hudson.

Souvenir mugs include a Ralphie Bunny tiki mug, Leg Lamp Crate tiki mug and Leg Lamp glasses. Blitzen's Bites appetizers include Pink Bunny Spinach Artichoke Dip and Fra-Gee-Lay Pretzels.

Customers can also choose from five Blitzen's mixers to make cocktails at home.

Blitzen's pop-up, at 80 N. Main St., runs through Dec. 30. Special Christmas Eve hours will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. See hudsonspopupbar.com or call 330-650-1955.

Mele Kalikimaka Holiday Pop Up at Tiki Underground in Cuyahoga Falls

At the kitschy Tiki Underground in Cuyahoga Falls, the Mele Kalikimaka Holiday Pop Up is the Hawaiian way to say "Merry Christmas." At this cozy, Polynesian-style watering hole, which moved to the Falls last year, you feel like you're enclosed in a ship — Christmas style.

The skulls at Tiki Underground wear Santa Claus hats at the holiday pop-up Mele Kalikimaka in Cuyahoga Falls.
The skulls at Tiki Underground wear Santa Claus hats at the holiday pop-up Mele Kalikimaka in Cuyahoga Falls.

The décor includes skulls wearing Santa caps, white wreaths on portholes, garlands and lights from the ceiling beams and a thatched-roof bar glowing with '60s-style Christmas lights.

Six specialty holiday cocktails at Mele Kalimimaka feature Pusser's and Papa Pilar rums. They include the Reinkiller, a spin on the Painkiller cocktail with Pusser's rum, eggnog, pineapple and orange juices and cinnamon.

Other concoctions include the North Pole Bunker Buster, with four spirits that include the Nux Alpina walnut liqueur and the sweet holiday hint of rich sherry. The Nativity Strength cocktail is made with Pusser's Gunpowder rum, Allspice Dram, lime, cranberry and orange juices and house cinnamon syrup.

Bartender Tim Harnett created the "Nativity Strength" cocktail, made with Pusser's Gunpowder rum, lime, cinnamon syrup and cranberry and orange juices at the Tiki Underground holiday pop-up in Cuyahoga Falls.
Bartender Tim Harnett created the "Nativity Strength" cocktail, made with Pusser's Gunpowder rum, lime, cinnamon syrup and cranberry and orange juices at the Tiki Underground holiday pop-up in Cuyahoga Falls.

Tiki Underground also offers holiday gifts online at tiki-underground.myshopify.com, including Krampus and Frosty the Snowman tiki mugs, wooden holiday ornaments and Tonga Tim's second cocktail book, "No Pants Required: More Craft Cocktails for the Couch."

The Mele Kalimimaka holiday pop-up continues through Dec. 30 at 1832 Front St. Hours are 4 to 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight Friday and noon to midnight Saturday. Call 330-234-5318.

Customers enjoy Christmas-themed decorations at the Tiki Underground's Mele Kalikimaka holiday pop-up in Cuyahoga Falls last year.
Customers enjoy Christmas-themed decorations at the Tiki Underground's Mele Kalikimaka holiday pop-up in Cuyahoga Falls last year.

Winter Wonderland PLX Pop Up Bar in New Franklin

The Winter Wonderland PLX Pop Up Bar, at the Upper Deck for the third year, features eight specialty drinks for the holidays. Four are "naughty" and four are "nice."

They "nice" concoctions are the Muletide, featuring mandarin vodka; Candy Cane Cocoa with horchata and creme de cacao; Elftastic Eggnog with spiced rum and hazelnut liqueur and Santa's Sleigh with gin and raspberry liqueur.

"Naughty" drinks are Cherry Cheermeister with cherry vodka; Grinch Punch with rum and melon liqueur; Mount Crumpit Climber with tequila, cranberry juice, blood orange syrup and Red Bull; and Toasted Elf featuring Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey and peach schnapps.

Winter Wonderland runs through New Year's Eve, with holiday décor featured throughout both of the establishment's bars at 357 W. Turkeyfoot Lake Road, New Franklin. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday through Sunday. See upperdecklakes.com or call 234-706-5958.

The Reindeer Room at The President's Lounge in Ellet

The holiday drink You Filthy Animal!, which has eggnog and a double shot of rum, is served with a Christmas cookie at The President's Lounge. The Akron bar has transformed into the Reindeer Room for the holiday season. (Photo: Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)
The holiday drink You Filthy Animal!, which has eggnog and a double shot of rum, is served with a Christmas cookie at The President's Lounge. The Akron bar has transformed into the Reindeer Room for the holiday season. (Photo: Mike Cardew, Akron Beacon Journal)

The Reindeer Room Holiday pop-up returns to The President's Lounge for the second year in Ellet, where guests are encouraged to don their gay apparel.

The Reindeer Room is open 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday-Saturday and select Sundays, through New Year's Day. Check out drinks including Die Hard; Merry Christmas, You Filthy Animal; Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer; The Snow Miser and The Grinch's Pelt. The bar is located at 341 Darrow Road.

See The President's Lounge on Facebook or call 330-784-6800.

That Christmas Bar pop-up in Canton

That Christmas Bar is running through Saturday at That Pop Up Bar. Located at at 1649 N. Main St., it's dubbed Canton's only pop-up theme bar.

Hours are 4 to 11 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday and 4 p.m. to midnight Friday-Saturday. Specialty Christmas drinks include the Melted Snowman Martini, appearing for the sixth year; the Peppermint Party Martini; Run, Run Rudolph; SnowGlobe Sparkler and Mistletoe Margarita.

For more information, call 330-305-9680 or see thatpopupbar.com or That Pop Up Bar on Facebook.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Christmas pop-up bars in Akron: Here are 6 on our list