Drink trends come and go, but holiday pop-up bars are here to stay – and they’re arriving earlier every year. As consumers continue to crave Christmas nostalgia – with elaborate visuals perfect for the all-important photo op – these temporary experiences fill the void with over-the-top themed decorations and seasonal cocktails – often served in glassware that is just as fun as the drink itself. Here are all the bars that are making spirits bright around Fort Worth this holiday season. (Note: All information has been verified by the bars for 2025. We'll keep updating the list as more plans are announced.)

Blitzen’s Bar at Omni Fort Worth Hotel, through January 2
The cocktails “sleigh” at this new holiday pop-up that's taken over the Omni Fort Worth Hotel's Wine Thief bar. The space is decked out in shimmering tinsel, string lights, hanging ornaments, Christmas trees, and framed reindeer portraits. The pop-up features a special menu of eight Christmasy cocktails designed by Netflix’s Drink Masters judge Julie Reiner, including the coconut-rimmed Frost Bite made with two kinds of rum; the Sleigh Ride made with bergamot, cranberry, lime, and vodka; and the Espress-Ho Ho martini shaken with reposado tequila and garnished with a cute little mini MoonPie. Seasonal snacks include a smoked maple-chili nut and pretzel crunch called Reindeer Fuel. Limited hours are 3-10 pm Monday-Thursday and 3 pm-midnight Saturday. (Tip: Call ahead to check if the space is booked for private parties.)

Harper Winter Chalet at The Kimpton Harper, November 24-December 31
Refinery 714, the 24th floor bar atop The Kimpton Harper Hotel in downtown Fort Worth, has brought back its winter chalet-themed pop-up, this year with updated cocktails and food offerings. Visit daily starting at 3 pm for holiday drinks like Hard Candy Christmas made with Tito’s Vodka, peppermint schnapps, and a crushed peppermint rim; the Sundance Spice Margarita shake with Lalo Tequila, cinnamon syrup, and apple cider; and the Winter Warmer tinged with chocolate bitters and Luxardo maraschino cherries.

Holly Daze at Proper, through December 31
In its ninth year, Proper’s Christmas pop-up bar is one of the longest running in Fort Worth. “Holly Daze” transforms the cozy West Magnolia Avenue space into a wonderland of tinsel, twinkling lights, and wrapped presents. There are nine festive cocktails on the menu for 2025, including the return of a fan-favorite called Milk & Cookies, shaken with vodka, white chocolate, and cold brew coffee, and served with a chocolate chip cookie. (Cuteness alert: Many of the cookies will be made by the 12-year-old granddaughter of Proper owner Lisa Little Adams.) Other sips on the list include the popular tequila and spiced hot chocolate-based Reindeer Games and the Buon Natale, made with limoncello, raspberry cinnamon clove syrup, and sparkling wine.

Miracle at Nickel City, November 24-December 27
The only Fort Worth bar officially designated as a “Miracle” Christmas-themed pop-up (out of 250 in the worldwide), Nickel City will explode with holiday cheer that's expected to draw big crowds again this year. The professionally developed cocktail menu will feature favorites like the Christmaspolitan and the Snowball Old-Fashioned, which is served with a snowball-shaped ice sphere. But there are 10 new additions to the menu this year, including Candy Cane Lane made with white rum; Cheery Cherry Chocosaurus made with brandy and tart cherry; and Coconut Hot Chocolate made with Jamaican rum and topped with coconut whipped cream.

Sippin’ Santa at The Down 'n Out, November 24-December 29
“Aloha” and “Mele Kalikimake” from this South Main Street dive, which is once again an official “Sippin’ Santa” location – a sister experience to the “Miracle” bar. The tropical-themed pop-up features a beach-inspired spin on Christmas cheer with tiki drinks and even a hula-dancing Santa. Cocktails come from tiki connoisseur Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, one of Imbibe magazine’s “25 most influential Cocktail Personalities of the Past Century. A half dozen new cocktails on the menu this year include Pineapple Upside-Down Cask, made with pineapple upside down mix and two kinds of Jamaican rum; the Coco Ho Ho Ho with gold rum, lime, coconut, pineapple syrup, and banana liqueur; and Wreck the Halls made with Caribbean rum, maple and vanilla syrups, and figgy bitters.

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The Miracle Mouse cocktail is new this year at Nickel City and Texas Live!

Holly Jolly Bar & Winter Wonderland Bubbles at Hotel Vin
Grapevine's Hotel Vin is brimming with cheer and bursting with holiday bar options befitting of its location in the "Christmas Capital of Texas." Let's break this down with bullet points:

• The hotel's annual igloo-inspired private bubbles are now open in the Wine Yard. Patrons can keep warm with wool Pendleton blankets while sipping bubbly and Swiss Alps-inspired fondue. The experience is $260 through December, plus tax and gratuity, for up to five people.
• A new “Texas Tini” pop-up martini bar (with its own traveling “martini butler”) features handcrafted martinis like the Blonde Chestnut, Gingerbread Latte, and the classic, all made with Belvedere Vodka. Open now through mid-February.
• Also new is the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Yurt, located outside Bacchus Kitchen + Bar and boasting branded skis and chalet décor, plus plenty of Veuve for cheers-ing. Open now through mid-February.
• The Holly Jolly Bar will open inside Third Rail music venue at Harvest Hall, November 21-January 11. A festive spectacle of over-the-top décor complements a lineup of five Christmas cocktails, including Peppermint Bark martinis made with vodka, RumChata, and peppermint Schnapps; and flutes of Jingle Juice made with tequila blanco, pomegranate syrup, prosecco, and rosemary sprigs.

Bad Santa’s Boathouse on Lake Grapevine, through December 30
This one’s for those on the naughty list. Bad Santa’s Boathouse is new this year on Lake Grapevine, taking over Scott’s Landing Marina with cheeky cocktails, festive dishes, shareable apps, private dockside bubbles, fake snow, and one cigar-smoking, whiskey-drinking Santa Claus. The menu of 10 cocktails and shots includes Drunken Elf Coffee garnished with house-made Kahlua-infused marshmallows; The Grinch’s Punch made with Malibu Rum; and Bad Santa’s Spiced Pomegranate Margarita. Pair with house-made dishes like cranberry brie pastry tarts and pomegranate glazed ham sliders. Tickets are required for entry: $15 includes a cocktail, and arrival times are based on availability.

Miracle at Texas Live!, through December 24
Arlington has its own “Miracle” pop-up bar, open now inside the Texas Live! Miller Tavern sports bar. A Christmas paper-wrapped 360-degree bar anchors the space, which is adorned with colorful tinsel and trees galore. Guests will find past favorites from the “Miracle” cocktail menu, like the potent Yippee Ki Ya Mother F****r made with three kinds of rum; and the Christmaspolitan made with vodka and spiced cranberry. There are three new mocktails this year, including the Snow Day Sipper served hot with chocolate hazelnut, coconut syrup, coconut whipped cream, and cacao dust.

On the Blocks at the Gaylord Texan, through January 4
This adults-only ice bar at the Gaylord Texan is a part of the resort’s annual ICE! Experience. It serves up seasonal cocktails from a bar made entirely of ice. The $16 admission ticket includes one drink, but note that guests also must have an ICE! Ticket (this year featuring the whimsical world of Elf) to get in; they start at $33. Also note that drinks aren’t allowed in the exhibit itself, only in On the Blocks.

Birdie's Annual Christmas Vacation at Birdie’s Social Club, November 28-December 31
Birdie's is back for its fourth annual holiday shindig themed after the Christmas cult classic movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Visit for an elaborate display of wrapped walls, yard décor, fire pits (both real and on TVs), Christmas tree scenes with presents, and décor throughout Birdie’s neighboring sister bar, The Post, as well. Drinks this year include the Bad Santa old fashioned, the peppermint mocha Fort Worth Jingling, the Manhattan-inspired Chestnuts Roasting, to name a few. Don’t miss the live music and event calendar, too.

Honky Tonk Holidays at Rodeo Exchange, November 29-December 24
After a successful first run in 2024, this Stockyards pop-up will ride again at Rodeo Exchange bar and live music dancehall. This year features three Western-themed bar areas, including “Gumdrop Saloon,” “Rudolph’s Rodeo,” and “Mistletoe Depot.” Each bar offers its own lineup of Cowtown Christmas cocktails, including the Boot Scoot’n Blitzen made with Deep Eddy lime vodka, cranberry, and Sprite served in a glass boot and mini Christmas tree; the Dirty Santa made with Bacardi coconut cream, lime, and cola served with a souvenir light-up holiday ring; and the Jolly Nuthouse hot chocolate with salted caramel Bailey’s Irish cream served in a gingerbread house mug with candy and a chocolate swirl. Cover charges are $5 Sunday-Wednesday, $10 on Thursday-Friday, and $15 on Saturday.

Holiday Pop-Up at Blackland Distillery, through December 27
The Fort Worth distillery and cocktail bar has transformed into a chic Christmasy scene to match its newly launched menu of holiday drinks. Visit now for Pecan Prairie ‘Nog made with Blackland’s bourbon whiskey, rum, brown sugar, and spiced nutmeg; and the Cowtown Cocoa featuring peppermint-infused Texpresso Whiskey. The cocktails will be available through December 27, but the new winter menu, with drinks like the Holiday Gin and Tonic and the Currant Crush, is there to stay through February.

The Holiday Hideaway at Chicken N Pickle, through December 31
Back for a second year is Chicken N Pickle’s lodge-inspired pop-up with outdoor firepits, ski-themed décor, and “summit” views. There are 12 fun cocktails to choose from, including the Angels with Filthy Souls served hot with Angel’s Envy bourbon, coffee, horchata, and Licor 43, and the Sticky Bandit Sour made with Maker’s Mark, lemon juice, egg whites, cinnamon syrup, and cabernet. (Both drinks are references to the Home Alone movies.) Note that the 21-and-up experience requires reservations to enter, which are $10 per person and sold by parties of two, four, and six. Chicken N Pickle also has two igloos available to reserve for parties of up to eight.

Christmas Pop-up Bar at River's Cocktail & Wine Bar, through the holidays
The new cocktail and wine bar in the River District (at 4850 White Settlement Rd.) is going all out for the holidays with decor and Christmas-themed cocktails including the Jack Frost peppermint martini; the Lil Debbie with vanilla vodka and Rum Chata; the North Pole Old Fashioned with marshmallow syrup; the White Christmas martini with Smirnoff vanilla, amaretto, and Bailey's; the Mrs. Claus' Holiday Spritz with Deep Eddy cranberry, prosecco, and Lillet Rose; and a spiked hot chocolate, priced from $14 to $17. They also serve pizza from the acclaimed Son Of A Baker Pizzeria.

Christmas at The Winchester Tavern, through December 28
The underground English-inspired pub downtown has 10 holly jolly cocktails along with a few festive shots to keep things lit this holiday season. Sip them by the faux fireplace that’s decked out with wrapped presents, stockings, and glitzy garland. Standout libations include Not the Gum Drop Buttons made with whiskey and gingerbread cookie cider and garnished with gum drops, and the Santa’s Gone Bananas banana pudding martini finished with a vanilla wafer. Bartender Autumn Allen is the mastermind behind both the drinks and the over-the-top décor.

Christmas at Tannahill’s Tavern and Music Hall, through December 31
The Mule Alley restaurant, bar, and live music venue in the Fort Worth Stockyards has turned into a twinkling display of Christmas cheer with a lengthy new Christmas cocktail list to match. The lineup includes an Aperol Santa’s Spritz made with cranberry juice, the Winter Warmer made with hot apple cider, cinnamon whiskey, and vanilla vodka, and the Gingerbread Espresso infused with chai tea-tinged vodka. All Christmas cocktails are $15 each and come in cute glassware perfect for photo ops.

Holly Jolly Hideaway at Crystal Springs Hideaway, through December 30
The Texas beer garden and bar in the River District has launched its first Christmas pop-up perfect for a cozy night out. Fun cocktails include the Sugar Plum Cowgirl Martini made with vanilla vodka, Bailey’s, and white chocolate liqueur, the Partridge in a Pear Tree Old Fashioned made with spiced pear liqueur, and the Dirty Elf’s Gluhwein, a warm mulled wine spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and orange. The trees are lit, there’s festive décor, and warm fire pits add to the jolly scene.