NYC’s top holiday pop-up bars for 2023 festivities

Famed for its pizza near and far, Roberta’s is hosting its second annual holiday pop-up this season. From December 1 through January 10, Roberta’s will host Grinchy’s at its Bushwick Tiki Bar. Christmas lights, and titular imagery will ornament the space and topical tipples will join the menu for the occasion. 

Although many holiday pop-ups can skew goofy, Leyenda (more on the decorated end of the spectrum than the "immersive") is the real deal, year round. The Smith Street staple will deck its walls with darling garland varieties and fill glassware fashioned after Santas and other timely icons from November 25 to December 30. The season’s sippings include minty, frozen cachaça-based Candy Stripers and tequila-twisted Coquito Ho Ho Hos. 

“The most awarded pub in the world,” The Dead Rabbit is festive across seasons, and its Jingle Jangle decor’s been installed across its three floors downtown. Expect Christmas tunes, novel cocktails and more holiday decor than you’d have ever thought they could fit in the already overstuffed space. One dollar from each drink sold for the duration of the installation will benefit Goliath Trust, which aims to improve education in underserved areas of Northern Ireland. 

This Hanukkah pop-up is set to return to NYC for 2023. It will run once more at Ollie in the West Village from November 28 through December 31. Previous iterations have served cocktails like the Latke Sour (apple brandy, potato, lemon, tobacco bitters) and the Hebrew Hammer (vodka, "leavened" sugar, lemon, raspberry), plus lox, chicken liver and actual latkes. 

See and be seen with illuminated reindeer, snowmen and oodles of other holiday accoutrement at Loreley Beer Garden’s Winter Wonderland installation. It’s decorated inside and out from now through January 7, with drink specials across its heated spaces like festive spiked eggnog, boozy black and white hot chocolate and gluhwein. 

One of the classics of the genre, Miracle on 9th Street has returned to The Cabinet with Christmapolitans, nogs, “naughty” shots and other seasonally-titled libations. The Brooklyn Branch, Miracle on Union, operates at Thief in Williamsburg. Expect string lights, faux snow and events like ugly sweater parties across locales.