The holiday season is already taking off in San Francisco and these seasonal pop-ups will be serving up festive cheer all winter long. Holiday and Christmas bars in San Francisco capture the joy, nostalgia, and celebratory atmosphere of the season, plus lots of tasty cocktails. Don your most festive attire, round up your friends, and belt out Mariah Carey to your heart’s desire.
1. Miracle at Pacific Cocktail Haven
Miracle at PCH is returning to SF for its 9th year. This sparkling holiday pop-up bar is a San Francisco favorite this time of year, as it offers up the best in seasonal cocktails, festive photo ops, and holiday cheer. Make sure to check out our Union Square holiday guide to make a day of it downtown.
Drinks include warm rum, almond milk eggnog, eggnog with peanut butter cognac, cranberry cosmos, mulled wine, and more. The official 2024 menu hasn’t been released yet, but we’re hoping for the return of the fan-favorite “Christmas Cricket” with Patron Blanco Tequila, Licor 43, Branca Menthe, pandan, coconut, and bitters.
Miracle doesn’t only pop up at SF’s PCH — in fact, it comes to dozens of bars around the country. Here in the Bay Area, you can find more Miracle pop-ups at The Fat Pigeon in Livermore, The Double Standard in Oakland, Miniboss and Paper Plane in San Jose, and Front & Cooper in Santa Cruz.
🗓️ Dates: Open now through Dec. 31, 2024
📍 Location: Union Square – Pacific Cocktail Haven, 550 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108
2. Thriller Social Club
Popular arcade bar Thriller Social Club is bringing back Grinchville, an exciting Grinch-themed holiday pop-up on their second floor. Their floor-to-ceiling decorations help to create one of the most unique holiday bars in SF. Grab a glass of their bright green Christmas Eggnog before heading to their ground-floor arcade for fun and games. They recommend reserving a table on Yelp beforehand.
🗓️ Dates: Open now
📍 Location: Yerba Buena – 508 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94107
3. Winter Wonderland at The Vault Garden
The Vault Garden hosts a glittering holiday escape on their tented outdoor patio, where all is calm and all is bright. This place is a must-visit for seasonal cocktails, dazzling decorations, and bountiful holiday cheer. Enjoy an unparalleled view of the 80-foot Christmas tree right next door, plus hundreds of holiday lights, greenery and decorations adorning the restaurant’s fully tented and heated patio.
🗓️ Dates: Nov. 29 – Dec. 31, 2024
📍 Location: Downtown – The Vault Garden, 555 California St, San Francisco, CA 94104
4. The Jingle Bar
The most festive Christmas bar in San Francisco is back with non-stop cheer! Step into a dazzling over-the-top environment where every surface is decked out in tinsel and baubles, and holiday tunes are playing all night long. Sip on creative seasonal cocktails and don’t forget to snap some truly iconic pictures.
🗓️ Dates: Nov. 26, 2024 – Jan. 5, 2025
📍 Location: Swiss Louis Italian & Seafood Restaurant, Pier 39 204 Concourse, San Francisco, 94133
5. Sippin’ Santa at Kona Street Market
Sippin’ Santa puts a tropical twist on the classic Christmas pop-up bar at Kona’s Street Market. Expect lots of rum, incredible drinkware, and fantastic holiday decor at this walk-up experience lasting nearly two whole months. Sippin’ Santa isn’t just an SF staple — it pop ups at over 50 locations across North America. In the Bay Area, you can also find it at 55 South in San Jose and Flamingo Lazeaway Club in Santa Rosa.
🗓️ Dates: Nov. 8-Dec. 31, 2024
📍 Location: Yerba Buena – Kona’s Street Market Bar, 32 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94103
6. Deck The Halls
San Francisco’s beloved Deck the Halls pop-up bar has been a holiday favorite for the last 8 years and will soon return to Union Street. Don’t miss out on their flaming Krampus shots with tequila, ginger, and citrus, which are a hit every single year. We also have our eye on the s’mores old fashioned with graham cracker whiskey, mescal, cocoa, and marshmallow sweetener.
🗓️ Dates: Dec. 1-25, 2024
📍 Location: Pacific Heights – 1787 Union St, San Francisco, CA 94123
7. Nochebuena at Cavaña
LUMA Hotel’s gorgeous cocktail bar is serving an exciting new menu of seasonal food and drinks through the end of the year. Try the “Sweet Baby Jesús,” a tequila-based cocktail with banana, cream sherry, and cinnamon; or the “Chingón Bells” with a zippy blend of mezcal, rum, bell pepper, habanero, and aloe liqueur. Alternatively, bring a group to share the “Feliz Navi Daddy,” a Santa-shaped punch bowl that serves up to 10 people. We can’t wait to check out the restaurant’s festive new Christmas lights and decor.
🗓️ Dates: Dec. 1 – 30, 2024
📍 Location: Mission Bay – 17th floor of LUMA Hotel, 100 Channel St, San Francisco, CA 94158
8. Cirque Holiday Bar at the Fairmont Hotel
The Fairmont Hotel’s Cirque Bar will transform into a heartwarming winter hideaway after the sun goes down. Sip on delicious festive cocktails and champagne while enjoying refreshing light bites and caviar.
If you’re going to see the Fairmont Hotel’s famous gingerbread house, you can also stop by the lobby champagne bar and sip on some bubbly while you take in the extravagantly decorated lobby area. The gingerbread house itself is available to reserve for afternoon teas and dining experiences.
🗓️ Dates: Open now
📍 Location: Downtown – 950 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94108
9. Red Window
Red Window presents a holiday pop-up bar in San Francisco every year. Past renditions have featured a nice lineup of low-ABV holiday cocktails including gingerbread milk punch and seasonal spritzes. See the beloved funky restaurant decked out in tinsel and Christmas decor while toasting the holidays.
🗓️ Dates: Open now
📍 Location: North Beach – 500 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
10. Nikkei Navidad at KAIYŌ Rooftop
The gorgeous KAIYŌ Rooftop is adorned with hundreds of glimmering lights to create a tropical holiday wonderland on the roof of the Hyatt Place Hotel. Guests can get nice and cozy with the addition of complimentary blankets, heat lamps, and new wind-blocking window panels. Make sure to try their seasonal cocktails including a hot drink served in a Christmas mug with Peruvian cacao and homemade orange flan marshmallow.
🗓️ Dates: Nov. 30 – Dec. 30, 2024
📍 Location: Mission Bay – 701 3rd St 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94107
11. Alchemist Wonderland Christmas Bar
The Alchemist offers a more low-key holiday pop-up experience with elevated holiday decor including giant Nutcrackers, glittering Christmas lights, and periodic snow flurries. Sip on delicious seasonal cocktails in a less in-your-face festive environment, and consider visiting Thrive City’s nearby winter wonderland while you’re on that side of town.
🗓️ Dates: Open now
📍 Location: Mission Bay – 679 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107
12. The Harlequin
This new Art Deco bar just opened in Downtown SF a few summers ago, and they decorate the space beautifully for the holidays. The bar is an ode to the Roaring ’20s with ornate crystal chandeliers and black-and-white tiled floor, and this classic styling is even more beautiful with subtle Christmas decor illuminating everything in a seasonal glow.
🗓️ Dates: Open now
📍 Location: Yerba Buena – 68 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
13. The Sequoia Holiday Speakeasy at Wayfare Tavern
Wayfare Tavern’s elegant pop-up holiday bar is open for just over a week this December. They’re asking guests to dress to impress and reserve a table in advance, so you can bet on an especially elevated Christmas experience without the usual crowds. Enjoy fun seasonal snacks and cocktails in their gorgeous Sequoia Room.
🗓️ Dates: Dec. 22-30, 2024
📍 Location: Chinatown – 558 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94111
14. Causwells
Causwells presents a new lineup of creative holiday cocktails and cozy seasonal food this December. Guests will be clamoring for photos of the vibrant ube eggnog, a frozen whiskey cocktail, piping hot drinks served in adorable Santa mugs, and some fun “naughty” and “nice” tall pours.
🗓️ Dates: Nov. 29, 2024 – Jan. 2, 2025
📍 Location: Presidio Theatre – 2346 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123
15. Horsefeather Holidays
Horsefeather always hosts a casual and welcoming environment, and their holiday pop-up makes for a lovely escape in Alamo Square. Choose from twelve unique seasonal cocktails, three delicious holiday desserts, and of course a festive atmosphere. The Jingle & Jammin eggnog cocktail is turning heads with the addition of smooth pistachio cream, California brandy, and Mt. Gay Black Barrel rum.
🗓️ Dates: Nov. 14 – Dec. 31, 2024
📍 Location: Horsefeather – 528 Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117