The holidays have arrived in San Francisco and these seasonal pop-ups will be serving up festive cheer all winter long. Holiday and Christmas pop-up 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 8th 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 2023 menu hasn’t been released yet, but a sneak peek on Instagram tells us to expect the fan-favorite “Christmas Cricket” again, with Patron Blanco Tequila, Licor 43, Branca Menthe, pandan, coconut, and bitters.
🗓️ Nov. 24 – Dec. 30, 2023
📍Pacific Cocktail Haven, 550 Sutter Street
2. Thriller Social Club
Popular arcade bar Thriller Social Club has opened 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. According to a recent Instagram post, they recommend reserving a table on Yelp beforehand.
🗓️ Now open
📍Thriller Social Club, 508 4th Street
3. Winter Wonderland at The Vault Garden
The Vault Garden has revealed 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.
🗓️ Nov. 24, 2023 – Jan 10, 2024
📍The Vault Garden, 555 California St.
4. Deck The Halls
San Francisco’s beloved Deck the Halls pop-up bar has been a holiday favorite for the last 7 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.
🗓️ Nov. 24-Dec. 25, 2023
📍1787 Union St.
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.
🗓️Nov. 8 – Dec. 31, 2023
📍Kona’s Street Market Bar, 32 3rd Street
6. POP! Champagne Lounge at the Westin St. Francis
The Westin St. Francis is known for its enormous sugar castle on display during the holidays, an extravagant sweet creation measuring 12 feet tall. But visitors to the display don’t always know about the POP! Lounge tucked away off the lobby, an elegant champagne and caviar bar with great views of the Macy’s Holiday Tree and other Union Square decorations. Sip on a glass of exquisite Moët & Chandon Champagne while settling in to a plush velvet sofa in this upscale version of your typical holiday bar.
🗓️ Nov. 24 – Dec. 31, 2023
📍Westin St. Francis, 335 Powell St.
7. 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. Holiday cocktails will be served starting Nov. 24 from Thursday-Sunday and then daily beginning Dec. 14.
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.
🗓️Opens Nov. 24, 2023
📍Fairmont Hotel, 950 Mason St.
8. Tinsel in Tulum at Del Mar
Del Mar brings back its exciting holiday pop-up this year, known for creative themed cocktails and a lively party atmosphere. Enjoy a lineup of DJs spinning tunes late into the evening while immersed in an explosion of Christmas lights and tinsel. Some themed cocktails to try include Drink Up, Grinches!; Espresso Yourself; and Peppermint Painkiller. They all have a tropical theme to bring a little warmth to the holidays.
🗓️ Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 24 – Dec. 30, 2023
📍Del Mar, 2125 Lombard St.
9. Red Window
Red Window brings back its holiday pop-up bar beginning Thanksgiving weekend. They’ve hinted at 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.
🗓️ Opening Nov. 24, 2023
📍Red Window, 500 Columbus Ave.
10. Nikkei Navidad at KAIYŌ Rooftop
The gorgeous KAIYO Rooftop will soon be adorned with hundreds of glimmering lights to create a tropical holiday wonderland atop the Hyatt Place Hotel. Guests can get nice and cozy with the additions of complimentary blankets, heat lamps, and new wind-blocking window panels. Make sure to try their new seasonal cocktails including a hot drink served in a Christmas mug with Peruvian cacao and homemade orange flan marshmallow.
🗓️Opening Nov. 28, 2023
📍12th floor of Hyatt Place Hotel, 701 3rd Street
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.
🗓️Open now
📍679 3rd St