Metro Detroit bars decked out with holiday pop-ups: 12 spots to visit
Jingle Balls Nog. Spiked eggnog in Moose mugs. Giant shakes topped with Christmas-themed cookies and sweets.
If you’re looking for holiday cheer, head for one of the many holiday-themed pop-ups around metro Detroit. They're open now through the end of the year, and a few will keep the fun going into 2024.
Metro Detroit bars got as busy as Santa’s workshop outfitting places with glittery holiday décor — some even kitschy. It's much more elaborate than simply stringing lights around the bar. Rather, these places are creating themes along with a menu of festive drinks.
Some have specific holiday themes like Griswold’s Hideaway below the recently opened Bandit Tavern in Royal Oak. There, you'll finds drinks inspired by 1989 movie hit "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation."
More: Holiday Market at Troy Italian eatery features handmade cookies, cakes and specialty items
Returning to several bars in metro Detroit are the Miracle and Sippin’ Santa pop-ups. Miracle, a nationwide and global effort, started nearly a decade ago at a New York bar that transformed into a holiday theme between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, according to the Miracle website. Sippin’ Santa, its tropical companion with surfin’ Santas, and a tiki bar vibe followed a year later.
More than 200 bars participate in the annual Miracle and Sippin' Santa pop-ups, including three in metro Detroit. The pop-ups have a set menu of festive drinks, many in collector and limited-edition mugs and glassware available for purchase. At the end of the season, 10% of all proceeds of the sales of its signature Santa's Head, Santa Pants, and Christmas Carol Barrel mugs will be donated to the Seva Foundation, this year’s charity partner.
As in years past, Miracle and Sippin’ Santa will debut a new menu of holiday-themed cocktails. This year, Rudolph’s Replacement, The Krampus, and Marshmallows and Unicorns join regulars of Christmapolitan and Christmas Cricket, served in Miracle’s signature kitschy glassware.
Though not comprehensive, here's a sampling of metro Detroit holiday pop-ups.
Blitzen’s on Bagley
This southwest Detroit holiday pop-up is back for the second year with double the space and more seating. Blitzen’s on Bagely is located at 2545 Bagley St. and billed as “Detroit’s Holiday Tavern,” Blitzen’s will feature a selection of festive holiday drinks, including red and green jello shots, Grinch Punch, a Very Merry Marg (margarita), and spiked eggnog along with hot cocoa several ways, including with Rumchata, Bailey’s or Fireball.
Blitzen's on Bagley is from InLaws Hospitality, the group behind Green Dot Stables, Johnny Noodle King, Yellow Light Coffee and Donuts.
Hours for the tavern are 5 p.m.-midnight Wednesday-Sunday, For more information, visit onbagley.com.
Cocktails & Cable Knits
This holiday pop-up is featured at four Union Joints restaurants in metro Detroit. Cocktails & Cable Knits offers a throwback to the ’50s and '60s with retro cocktails and appetizers. Spaces at the restaurants have been transformed with a holiday theme. At Fenton Fire Hall, the pop-up is in the bottom bar and on the second floors of Union Assembly in downtown Detroit and Union Woodshop in Clarkston.
The pop-ups run through New Year’s Eve and groups can rent spaces.
Griswold’s Hideaway
The Hideaway Bar at the recently opened Bandit Tavern in Royal Oak pop-up features Griswold’s Hideaway based on the classic Christmas movie "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."
Griswold’s Hideaway features lots of holiday lights and “gaudy décor” along with music inspired by the classic movie starring Chevy Chase and a cast of other characters, according to a news release.
There will be Instagrammable moments, Jelly of the Month Club giveaways each week, and more, according to Bandit Tavern.
Among the classic seasonal cocktails created for the pop-up, there’s Cousin Eddie’s Eggnog with the option to purchase a Wally World moose mug, Ellen’s Mistletoe, Hallelujah! Where’s The Tylenol?, Exterior Illumination, and Uncle Lewis’ Old Fashioned. Food will be available from Bandit Tavern.
Griswold’s Hideaway runs 5 p.m.-10 p.m. and 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday through Jan. 6.
Hideaway Bar is on the lower level of Bandit Tavern, 419 S. Main St. in Royal Oak. For info 248-544-6250 or hideawayro.com.
Iron Gate
This downriver spot is on Biddle Avenue in Wyandotte. Decorated and outfitted for the holiday, Iron Gate offers more than a dozen crafted holiday cocktails. There’s the Polar Vortex featuring Patron, mezcal, hibiscus, and pomegranate to the Red Ryder BB Gun with Haku vodka, fig, elderflower, cranberry, and lime. On the food menu is Jack Frost Nippin’ Agnolotti, a "Lovely Cheese Pizza" and Scrooged First Date spicy noodles.
Hours are 4 p.m.-midnight Monday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday and noon-midnight Sunday.
The Iron Gate, 3019 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte; irongatebarwyandotte.com.
Jingle at Ale Mary’s
Ale Mary’s Beer Hall in downtown Royal Oak is back with Jingle, its holiday-themed pop-up. The place is loaded with lights and decorations and offers a menu of holiday-themed crafted cocktails. There's the Mele Kaliki Maki, Mistletoe Muleand, and the Love Actually cocktail.
Ale Mary's Beer Hall, 316 S. Main, Royal Oak; alemarysbeer.com.
JoJo's Shakebar Winter Wonderland
Known for its over-the-top shakes, JoJo’s Shakebar in District Detroit restaurant is dedicated to its Winter Wonderland pop-up and filled holiday décor. Expect an eight-foot-tall nutcracker, giant ornaments, and thousands of string lights, according to a news release. There are holiday drinks, including mega margaritas from its signature Patron tree, the Winter Wonderland Biggie Shake featuring a peppermint shake topped with Christmas-themed treats such as a marshmallow present and mini candy cane. You can opt to make the shake boozy or go for JoJo’s giant Polar Espresso Martinis garnished with a peppermint rim.
Along with the pop-up, JoJo’s offers workshops, including its Holly Jolly mixology classes, ornament painting workshops, wreath-making workshops, and gingerbread house workshops. JoJo’s is the ultimate destination this holiday season. Dates, times, and prices for workshops vary.
JoJo’s Shakebar pop-up runs through Jan. 14; 88 W Columbia St., Detroit; jojosshakebar.com.
Legendary Lodge
Legendary Lodge in Westland is a ski lodge-themed bar with holiday-themed food and drinks amid artificial snowstorms and axe throwing.
The holiday pop-up is from the folks behind Hush Haunted Attraction. Inside, the space is adorned with twinkling lights, decorations holiday-themed music.
A dozen festive cocktails are offered including non-alcoholic versions. There’s also a selection of small bites and sharables. Wear your ugliest Christmas sweater on Thursdays and receive 15% discount on food and drinks. Food options include a loaded German Pretzel and smoked Salmon latkes.
The Legendary Lodge, 37550 Cherry Hill Road in Westland, is open 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Thursday, 5 p.m.-midnight Friday, 4 p.m.-midnight Saturday and 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 30; legendarypopup.com.
Miracle at the Oakland and Dragonfly
Miracle is back at the Oakland in Ferndale for a fourth year and the first year at Dragonfly in Detroit. Popular drinks on the menu at both places are the Snowball Old Fashioned, Christmapolitan, Jingle Balls Nog, and the Naughty and Nice shots. The pop-up runs through Dec. 30 at both places. Reservations are best on weekends as they fill up fast, weeknights are a little easier according to the Oakland.
Dragonfly hours are 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, Sunday and 5 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday; 2929 E. Grand Blvd.; dragonflydetroit.com.
The Oakland hours are 5 p.m.-1 a.m. Tuesday-Sunday; 201 West 9 Mile, Ferndale; theoaklandferndale.
Royal Park Hotel
Open evenings Thursday-Saturday, the Rochester hotel's holiday pop-up bar is back through New Year's Eve. The pop-up is decked out with their upside-down Christmas tree, thousands of lights, ornaments, and garland. Its cocktail menu features Santas Sipper, the Jack Frost, and Jingle Juice. You can pair the cocktails with a shareable menu of hot smoked gouda dip, hot honey garlic chicken wings, and holiday sweet and spicy nut mix.
Hours are 5 p.m.-11 p.m. Thursday, 5 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, 600 E. University Dr., Rochester; royalparkhotelmi.com.
Sippin’ Santa at the Skip
In the Belt Alley in downtown Detroit, the Skip is known as an open-air bar with island vibes. But it cools down and lights up for Sippin’ Santa and its holiday-themed cocktails. You can book one of their Sippin’ Santa party tables or reserve private space for 20 to 30 people.
The Skip in the Belt is open 4 p.m.-midnight, Sunday, Tuesday-Thursday and Sunday, 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.; theskipdetroit.com.
Sylvan Table
At this Sylvan Lake farm-to-table restaurant, they've transformed their heated and enclosed patio into a Christmas holiday theme with lights, ornaments, music, and holiday cheer. In the background are favorite Christmas movies playing along with providing table games. There's food and festive drinks.
The pop-up, first come, first served, takes place Dec. 8-10, Dec. 14-23, and Dec. 26-28, during Sylvan Table's regular dining hours.
Sylvan Table, 1819 Inverness, Sylvan Lake; sylvantable.com.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Holiday pop-ups return to metro Detroit bars: 12 must-visit spots
