12 Holiday Pop-Up Bars That Bring the Joy

Wildly extravagant, outrageously cheerful, marvelously kitschy and oh-so fun – St. Louis’ holiday pop-up bars bring the joy!

With floor-to-ceiling decorations, limited-edition craft cocktails and festive surprises at every turn, these destinations should be on your itinerary this season.

Looking for more things to do during the holidays in St. Louis? We’ve got endless inspiration!

The Chalet

November 8 to December 27

Enjoy cozy luxury at The Chalet perched on the sky-high deck of Le Méridien St. Louis Clayton. With exclusive indoor-outdoor experiences, it serves as the ultimate winter escape. At the outdoor pop-up bar, try your hand at curling, gather around a fire pit and savor seasonal bites and sips such as goat cheese truffles, barbecue pork sliders, warm mulled wine and smoky hot chocolate. Wooden pergolas, twinkling lights, heat lamps and blankets add to the allure.

Moose Mug Lounge

November 8 to December 29

“I don’t know what to say except it’s Christmas and we’re all in misery.” The Griswolds have taken over Art Bar at Angad Arts Hotel! Renamed Moose Mug Lounge for the holiday season, the rooftop popup dazzles and delights guests with National Lampoon-themed décor such as an inflatable RV, a lotta sap Christmas tree, a namesake family fireplace, an immersive light display and movie-inspired cutouts for comical photos. Open to those 21 and older, Moose Mug Lounge has also gone all out with its seasonal cocktail menu, with drinks such as Uncle Lewis’ Old Fashioned (Bulleit bourbon, cranberry juice, cinnamon simple syrup and club soda) and The Blessing…THE BLESSING (vanilla vodka, white chocolate liqueur and a splash of heavy cream) sure to give you a buzz.

Up On The Rooftop

November 8 to December 30

Decked out in glittering decorations, Up On The Rooftop will make you feel merry and bright. The holiday pop-up bars at 360 St. Louis and 360 Westport offer seasonal drinks and small plates among the extravagant décor. Spoiler alert: You’ll find everything from presents to reindeer hanging from the ceiling! While you’re here, enjoy mushroom arancini, smoked salmon chips and birria tacos, and wash it all down with a festive cocktail befitting the scene. Our top choices include Cotton-Headed Ninny-Muggins (Maker’s Mark straight bourbon whiskey, Combier orange liqueur, Amaro Averna, hot chocolate, whipped cream, Angostura bitters and burnt cinnamon) and Seasick Crocodile (1220 vodka, cranberry, génépy, allspice, ginger, sparkling Lambrusco, lime and rosemary).

The Sleigh Shed

November 8 to December 31

The Train Shed at St. Louis Union Station has been transformed into a glittering holiday retreat. With wall-to-wall bling, The Sleigh Shed puts the excess of the holidays on full display. During your visit, enjoy creative cocktails such as Sleighcation (double-aged dark rum, coconut rum, hazelnut liqueur, allspice dram, cream of coconut, lime and Angostura bitters) and Just Beclaus (vanilla vodka, Aperol, Abricot du Roussillon liqueur, cream, simple syrup, lemon and egg white), alongside appetizers and desserts. Don’t wait – gather a group, secure a table and lose yourself in this wonderland of whimsy.

Christmas Pop-Up Bar

November 14 to December 20

“Holiday who-be what-ee?” The Grinch will leave his mark on Super Smokers BBQ + Cajun this holiday season. At the Eureka restaurant’s Christmas popup, treat yourself to a boozy white chocolate Christmas tree shake, a peppermint White Russian or the Green Grinch Punch with vodka, Sprite, pineapple juice and lime sherbet. The indulgent drinks pair well with irresistible shareables such as creamy spinach dip and pita, buffalo chicken dip and chips, hot chicken strips and cornbread cakes and Louisianna barbecue shrimp and bread. From Nov. 14 to Dec. 20, the pop-up bar will also host a variety of special events, including Dinner with the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who, Grinchy Mama’s Night Out and Brunch with Santa.

Miracle STL

November 19 to December 29

Drink for a good cause at Miracle STL. The Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar donates its reservation fees to Santa’s Helpers, which has been giving the gift of happiness to children in the St. Louis region since 1968. Boasting kitschy holiday décor and strong holiday cocktails, Miracle STL will transport you to the best office party ever, putting even the grouchiest grinch in the holiday spirit!

Polar Patio Pop-Up

November 27 to December 31

Named the No. 2 brewer in the world by RateBeer, Side Project Cellar will transform its Maplewood location at 2657 Lyle Ave. into the Polar Patio Pop-Up this holiday season. Tented, heated and decorated to the nines, the patio is the perfect place to gather around winter beers, specialty cocktails and gooey slices from Side Project’s next-door neighbor, Pizza Champ. The family-friendly pop-up will keep kids entertained with snowflake-decorating, card-making and photo stations full of holiday props – plus, Santa Claus plans to stop by on Dec. 14 from 3 to 6 p.m.

LIT A Christmas Pop-Up Experience

November 29 to December 23

Outrageous décor, Christmas costumes, themed menus and holiday tunes – this is LIT, a seasonal pop-up experience at Molly’s in Soulard.

Tinsel Tavern

November 29 to December 29

’Tis the season to get blitzened, and Shark Bar at Ballpark Village has a holiday pop-up bar that yule love. The unforgettable experience includes brilliant décor, spruced-up photo ops, festive food, cheerful cocktails and themed events.

Yippie Pie Yay

November 29 to December 31

Embrace the holiday spirit with pizza and cocktails inspired by the greatest Christmas movie of all time! Hot Pizza Cold Beer, a spinoff concept from the masterminds behind Sugarfire Smoke House, will debut Yippie Pie Yay, its inaugural popup complete with Bruce Willis cutouts, on Nov. 29. Infiltrating the action-packed evening at the 1988 Nakatomi Corporation’s holiday party, guests can feast on nostalgic menu items, including Welcome to the Pizza Party, Pal (an 18-inch pepperoni and burrata pie), Yippie Pie Yay Pizza (slices of cheese, veggie, pepperoni and sausage), Nakatomi Plaza Lobby Lasagna (lasagna Bolognese with ragù and béchamel), Karl’s Killer SpaghettiOs (a housemade twist on a childhood classic) and, of course, the 1,000-Year-Old Twinkie. Hot Pizza Cold Beer will also serve cocktails influenced by beloved characters and iconic catchphrases such as Happy Trails, Hans (a white chocolate-peppermint Martini), Argyle’s Limo of Love (a cranberry gin fizz) and So Light ‘Em If You’ve Got ‘Em (a smoked rosemary Old Fashioned). The cowboy chaos continues through the end of the year, giving you plenty of time to assemble a group – and your best 80s outfit – for this delicious experience.

Avalanche

December 3 to 31

This thrilling holiday pop-up bar transports guests from downtown St. Louis to the Lodge & Leisure Ski Resort. While the cozy atmosphere, dedicated staff and stiff drinks at Avalanche set the scene, news of an impending avalanche causes the excitement to build. Before disaster strikes, make the most of your final hours with delicious dishes, craft cocktails, specialty ice cream, engaging games and photo booths. To celebrate the final night of Avalanche, Work & Leisure, in conjunction with chef Liz Schuster of Tenacious Eats, will host a New Year’s Eve pajama party from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Bling

December 5 to 28

Tucked into The Wolf Cafe in Ballwin, Bling offers an intimate setting to embrace the magic of the holidays. Boasting one of the best craft beer menus in St. Louis, Bling will also serve seasonal cocktails such as Last Christmas (brown butter-infused bourbon, apple brandy, housemade chai bitters and chai syrup), Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (gin, plum wine, sweet vermouth, cane sugar and citrus) and Christmas Island (dark rum, silver rum, allspice dram, passion fruit, pineapple, dragon fruit, coconut, citrus, cane sugar and seasonal spices). Cheers!