Is the stress of the season making you feel a little less than festive? These 10 Fort Worth-area bars are sure to get even the grouchiest Grinch in the Christmas spirit stat. Beyond just offering a seasonal sip or two, these places are decked out in over-the-top yuletide décor and shaking up entire menus of elaborate holiday drinks. (Some even come in nostalgic glassware that’s available for purchase – great for last minute gifts.) So, grab a barstool and sip your Christmas blues away - it’s the most wonderful time of year, after all.
Birdie’s Social Club
Birdie’s is back for year two of its elaborate holiday pop-up, and this time there’s a new space to enjoy while there. Bourbon & Shine is Birdie’s sister concept, a bourbon and moonshine lounge located right on site that has its own holiday drink menu. It’s also decked out for the season with wrapping paper-covered walls, stacked presents, and more twinkling Christmas trees than one can count. At Birdie’s, the faux fireplace, hanging tinsel, holiday lawn décor, and giant blow-up Santa have all returned, along with a themed cocktail menu. Try the Chestnuts Roastin’ hazelnut Manhattan, or the Fort Worth Jingling spiked hot chocolate finished with fire-torched marshmallows. Both libations are available at both bars.
Brewed
Add this West Magnolia Avenue restaurant, bar, and coffee shop to the list of festive pop-up destinations, because Brewed is now hosting them on a regular basis. (Their purple pop-up this fall was popular during TCU football games.) Inside find life-size nutcrackers, jumbo gumdrops, hanging candy canes, and twinkling trees. Patrons can pair a boozy breakfast or nighttime bites (Thursday through Saturday only) with Christmas cocktails like the Peppermint Mocha Espressotini or the Christmas Cookies Martini. There’s also a holiday beer flight that can come paired with Christmas treats.
Nickel City
It’s a “Miracle on South Main” at Nickel City, where holiday cheer is oozing from every nook, cranny, and ceiling tile. Originating in New York City, the Christmas-themed pop-up is currently active in bars across more than 100 cities, each featuring the same professionally developed cocktail menu and big dose of holiday nostalgia. Returning fan favorite drinks include the Christmaspolitan and the Snowball Old-Fashioned, served with a snowball-shaped ice sphere. New this year is the Koala Cooler made with AppleJack brandy, lime, mint, and eucalyptus bitters; and Marshmallows & Unicorns, a gin and vanilla liqueur concoction spiced with cardamom and black pepper and shaken with egg whites, lemon, and tiki bitters. The ornate cocktail glassware is also available for sale, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Seva Foundation, a global nonprofit eyecare organization.
Miller Tavern at Texas Live
The Arlington entertainment complex is hosting its own Miracle pop-up inside the Miller Tavern sports bar, where fans can root for their favorite team amid loads of Christmas cheer. Inside find a ceiling dripping with lights, garland, and tinsel along with a faux fire, tree display, and Christmas-wrapped everything. Patrons can expect familiar favorites from the Miracle cocktail menu, including the hilarious (and potent) Yippee Ki Ya Mother F****r made with three kinds of rum. Note that on Mondays all Miracle cocktails are $2 off. Check the event calendar for dates when the tavern is closed for private parties.
The Kimpton Harper
Refinery 714, the 24th-floor bar at The Kimpton Harper hotel downtown, has launched a winter-themed pop-up that’s bringing ski lodge vibes to Cowtown. Called Après-Cowboy: Where the Boots Meet the Slopes, the festive activation invites guests to wear their best Western-inspired ski gear to experience alpine elegance with chalet décor. Wintery drinks on the themed cocktail menu include Ski Trip, made with gin, pine liqueur, and cinnamon simple syrup; and the Sazzy Cider, made with Sazerac rye whiskey and hot apple cider. The pop-up will carry on clear through Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo season, all the way until the end of February.
Proper
An early pioneer in the holiday pop-up trend, Proper is no stranger to crafting creative Christmas cocktails. This year’s theme is “Holly-Daze,” featuring lots of lights, cozy pillows, classic Christmas movies, and a lengthy menu of 12 very merry libations. Funny standouts include the Cotton-Headed Ninny-Noggin, made with reposado tequila, sherry, and eggnog; the Holly Jolly Sh*t Show shaken with orange-spiced vodka and maple marmalade; and a Bad Shot, Santa shooter of spiced honey and whiskey. Glassware is also available for sale in popular pop-up fashion.
Third Rail
Grapevine’s Harvest Hall (which is connected to the Hotel Vin) has transformed its Third Rail bar and live music venue into the Holly Jolly Bar, a Christmas-y spectacle complete with matching cocktails. Find Santa suit-covered barstools, twinkling reindeer, glitzy wreaths, and ornaments aplenty inside the intimate space. Seasonal libations the pretty Peppermint Bark Martini, Kris Kringle Cosmo, and tequila-spiked Reindeer Games infused with pomegranate, lime, ginger beer, and rosemary. Check the event calendar for live music and events.
The Down ‘n Out
From the folks behind the nationwide Miracle pop-ups comes Sippin’ Santa, an island-theme cocktail bar activation currently happening at The Down ‘n Out on West Rosedale Street. (This year the bar is the only venue in DFW to host the concept.) Just like Miracle, there’s a professionally-crafted set cocktail menu – this one tiki-inspired. Try the Surf Nut made with Puerto Rican rum, Caribbean-spiced coconut water, and apricot brandy, and the shareable North Pole Bowl featuring two kinds of rum, black tea, spiced honey, lime, and vanilla syrup. Need a last-minute gift or white elephant exchange item? All glassware is for sale, including the adorable “Mersanta” mug.
Curfew
Head below street level for an underground yuletide experience backlit by dozens of disco balls, sparkling lights, and the Grinch himself. Curfew is located underneath The Tower building downtown, where a fortune teller guides guests downstairs to a dance floor, DJ music, booth seating, a faux fireplace, and festive cocktails. Try the Hot Buttered St. Nick, made with butter-washed dark rum and spices; Santa’s Hard Tea, shaken with gin, orange liqueur, mint, and star anise; or the Frozen Hot Chocolate, made with coconut rum and horchata. Note that Curfew also serves tasty stone-fired pizzas.
Campo Verde
While not technically a bar, this Tex-Mex institution in Dalworthington Gardens draws hundreds daily for its Griswold-inspired Christmas interior light display that starts to take shape way back in August. (Word is there’s one full-time employee solely dedicated to the decorating task.) Some call Campo Verde the most festive eatery in Texas, and the long lines to get in back this declaration. There is a small bar (don’t miss the toy train that runs right above it), where folks can order beer on tap, cocktails, and an array of margaritas. There’s not a seasonal holiday cocktail menu, but a crimson and lime green frozen sangria swirl surely counts as a suitable Christmas drink.
Facebook/Nickel City
Christmas has arrived at Nickel City.
