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Little Spirit in Inman Park is back again with its holiday bar.
Ryan Fleisher

It’s Holiday Bar Season: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

Ice skating with skyline views, festive cocktails full of cheer, kitschy holiday decor, and bartenders kitted out in tacky Christmas sweaters

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Little Spirit in Inman Park is back again with its holiday bar.
| Ryan Fleisher

Those over-the-top holiday bars and pop-ups are back again for another round to help get people into the spirit of the season. And this year’s crop of bars offering festive frivolity promise plenty of good cheer in themed cocktails and drinks, walls and ceilings decked out in kitschy holiday decor, igloo dining, and ice skating. Here’s the latest list of bars, restaurants, and menus transforming for the holidays around Atlanta this year.

Don’t see a holiday bar listed below? Send Eater Atlanta the details at atlanta@eater.com.

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Buddy’s Rooftop Christmas Bar @ Huey Luey's

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The Acworth Mexican restaurant decked out its rooftop for the holidays this year, complete with colorful lights and decor, mistletoe, and plenty of festive cocktails and shots.

Grinch pop-up @ Hamp & Harry's

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The Marietta restaurant is offering cocktails and seasonal decor inspired by “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Tinsel Tavern @ Live! at the Battery Atlanta

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Sports bar and entertainment venue Live at the Battery Atlanta becomes Tinsel Tavern on November 30. Expect plenty of tinsel and twinkling lights, holiday cocktails and snacks, and areas to take that crucial Instagram photo. Watch out for theme nights, too, including an ugly sweater party and a dancing elves silent disco. Reservations highly encouraged. Runs through December 23.

Mingle and Jingle Bar @ Best End Brewing Company

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The West End brewery is once again transforming part of its space into the Mingle and Jingle bar featuring a life-sized hugging bear, miles of garland and tinsel, a bow wall with a giant wreath for those Instagram photos ops, and holiday drinks. 

Dorry’s Tavern @ Holiday Bar

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Fans of the 1980s cult classic “Gremlins” should make it a point to stop by this holiday pop-up at the Interlock. Starting November 17, Holiday Bar is transforming its cocktails and vibe into a scene from Dorry’s Tavern for the season, complete with hot toddys and Irish coffees around the fire pit. It’s unclear if gremlins will be wreaking havoc here.

“A Christmas Story” @ Drawbar

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The Bellyard hotel restaurant is in full festive mode throughout December, styling the holiday decor and cocktail menu after beloved movies “A Christmas Story” and “Elf”.

ATL Yule @ Westside Motor Lounge

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The sprawling restaurant and bar complex at the corner of Echo Street and Northside Drive is decking its halls inside and out with holiday cheer this year. This includes offering merry cocktails and food specials and live music performances throughout the season.

Ice skating @ Atlantic Station

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Starting November 17, Skate the Station ice skating rink returns to Atlantic Station in Midtown. People can expect a giant Christmas tree lit up for the season, a holiday show on the central green featuring tree lights throughout, and animation on the jumbotron with snow shows every hour, beginning at 5 p.m. daily. Tickets are $17 per person.

Jingle Bar @ Tre Vele

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The Italian restaurant makes over its rooftop patio into a winter wonderland called the Jingle Bar for the holidays, complete with festive cocktails and appetizers.

Blind Elf @ the Blind Pig Parlour Bar

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The Buckhead bar transforms into the Blind Elf again for the holidays this year. Expect twinkle lights, festive decor, and holiday-themed snacks and cocktails on the menu. Look for boozy sips like hot apple cider infused with whiskey or a rye cocktail with peppermint syrup paired with eggnog shortbread, Mrs. Claus lemon squares, and roasted Bartlett pear and pancetta hand pies. Open November 10 through December. Reserve online. $70 per person for two cocktails and two appetizers.

Rooftop holiday bar @ 5Church Midtown

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Starting November 17, the rooftop at 5Church in Midtown becomes a holiday escape in Atlanta, featuring snacks, festive tunes, and themed cocktails. Opens at 5 p.m. for people 21+.

Waiting for Christmas @ The Waiting Room

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Throughout December, the cocktail bar above Bon Ton in Midtown will be decked out in holiday finery and serving festive drinks. Look for holiday events, too, like Christmas karaoke, Christmas trivia, a Christmas PJ party, and even Christmas bingo.

Feliz Navidad @ Pachengo's

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Look for a Mexican-inspired holiday pop-up at this Buckhead Village restaurant, starting November 17, complete with a playlist of festive tunes and cocktails like the Ho Ho Horchata and Abuelita Borracha spiked hot chocolate.

Apres Ski All Day @ Buckhead Village District

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Starting November 25, Buckhead Village will transform into a winter wonderland in the Alps complete with fire pits, ski-lift photo ops, warm beverages and food pop-ups, and live performances throughout the holiday season.

The Snow Globe @ District Atlanta

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A snow globe come to life, is how this holiday pop-up bar is described on Armour Drive, complete with a twinkling light show, local food vendors, and festive cocktails. Every inch of the holiday pop-up is meant for photo ops, too. Reservations highly encouraged.

Winter Wonderland @ Willow Bar

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The Winter Wonderland pop-up and its igloos are back in the garden at the Kimpton Sylvan Hotel in Buckhead for another holiday season. Expect festive cocktails and an apres ski food menu, including giant Alpine pretzels, cheese fondue, and chocolate mousse for dessert served family style. Inside, the bar has transformed into a Swiss chalet with food and cocktails that complement the decor. Igloos are by reservations only for up to 10 people, starting at $85 per person.

  

Christkindl Market @ Buckhead Village

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Partnering with the German American Cultural Foundation again this year, the Christkindl Market returns to Buckhead Village for the holidays. Opening November 24 and running through December 24, the German holiday market features over 50 retail, food, and beverage vendors. Expect mulled wine and hot chocolate paired with Bavarian pretzels, schnitzel, and brats while shopping for ornaments, wooden toys, and other handcrafted items for the holidays. The market is located on the corner of East Paces Ferry and Peachtree Road.

Miracle Bar Atlanta

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Miracle on Monroe is back at Tapa Tapa at Midtown Promenade, starting November 24. Atlanta’s original holiday bar includes floor-to-ceiling decorations and lights, seasonal and Christmas movie-themed cocktails, and celebratory light bites and cookies. Look for live music and drag shows here on Friday and Saturday evenings. This holiday bar is 21+. Two-hour table limit and 20-percent service charge added to each bill.

Rooftop ice skating and igloo dining @ Ponce City Market

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Igloo dining and ice skating are both back atop Ponce City Market, starting November 24. The Skate the Sky ice rink transforms the rooftop terrace into a skyline winter wonderland, complete with holiday decor, fire pits, and even igloo dining. Expect drinks like hot toddies, coffee juleps, and boozy hot apple cider here, along with champagne. Click here for reservations. Igloos 21+.

Blitzen Room @ Biltong Bar

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The Blitzen Room at Biltong Bar returns November 16 at Ponce City Market with vintage holiday decor and themed cocktails like chartreuse hot chocolate and frozen egg nog.

Apres Ski @ Ranger Station

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What better place in Atlanta to have a little apres ski action going on than at a bar centered on national parks, the great outdoors, and hunting lodge vibes? Ranger Station, located above Ladybird on the Beltline, is leaning way in this year with its holiday theme, which includes 1970s holiday decor, shotskis, fondue, festive cocktails, and even photo ops to create a holiday card. No reservations are necessary for this pop-up. Begins December 1.

Little Christmas Spirit

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Starting November 20, Little Spirit in Inman Park becomes Little Christmas Spirit once again for the holidays. The petite cocktail haunt with its musical patron saints, like David Bowie and Biggie Smalls, plans to serve festive drinks throughout the season, including hot toddies, boozy hot chocolate, and mulled wine. Runs through December.

Christmas at Dad's

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Beginning November 21, Dad’s in Virginia-Highland will be fulled decked out in kitschy holiday decor befitting the cozy dens and basement rumpus rooms of the 1980s and 1990s, along with festive cocktails. Make sure to tell the bartender your thoughts on whether “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie, too.

Tinsel Town Tavern @ Monks Meadery

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This festive pop-up at the Poncey-Highland mead bar comes complete with mulled mead and pub food like soft pretzels with honey beer mustard and meat and vegetable hand pies. Look for holiday events at Monks Meadery, too, including karaoke, ugly sweater trivia, a gingerbread house contest, and even a Yule Ball with a special guest appearance from Santa. Check Instagram for events.

Jar Jar Drinks @ ALCOHALL

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This drinks hall in Kirkwood is dialing up the Star Wars theme with Jar Jar Drinks, inspired by the burlesque parody show “Empire Strips Back” at the Pratt Pullman District. Cocktails mixing Star Wars characters with the holidays will be served at AlcoHall throughout the season.

 

Tiki Holiday @ The S.O.S. Tiki Bar

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Starting November 22, a tropical-themed holiday bar takes over S.O.S Tiki Bar again this year. Tiki Holiday includes plenty of rum-soaked holiday cocktails, Christmas tunes ranging from surfer rock to crooner Bing Crosby, and bartenders kitted out in tacky festive sweaters. This bar is covered ceiling to floor with colored string lights and gaudy garland, dancing Santas, and a few plastic reindeer pulling jolly old Saint Nick. Even the alleyway patio can’t escape the over-the-top holiday decor here.

Elf’d Up @ UP on the Roof

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Beginning November 24, the rooftop restaurant and bar in Alpharetta becomes all Elf’d Up for the season. Themed after the seasonal classic movie “Christmas Vacation”, expect Instagram photo-op areas, drinks like the Holly Jolly Spritzer and the hot chocolate and green chartreuse Rebel Without a Claus, and snacks, including deviled eggs, tiny tacos, nachos, and slices of praline pecan pie for dessert.

Whoville and Grinch pop-up bar @ Mercantile Social

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The Alpharetta restaurant on Main brings back its popular Whoville and Grinch-inspired pop-up throughout the holiday season, complete with movie-themed cocktails, food, and decor. Open now through December 31.

Whoville Brewville @ Cherry Street Brewpub at Halcyon

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Cherry Street Brewpub transforms again into Whoville Brewville this holiday season, complete with festive cocktails like the Mistletoe Mule, Rudolph Margarita, and egg nog, and merry and bright decor.

Ski chalet @ HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern

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Hobnob at Halcyon is transforming its High-Up Bar on the second floor into a ski chalet for the winter. This apres ski pop-up features hot toddies, peppermint martinis, and other cozy cocktails and drinks, along with festive food specials. Open now until February 29.

Buddy’s Rooftop Christmas Bar @ Huey Luey's

The Acworth Mexican restaurant decked out its rooftop for the holidays this year, complete with colorful lights and decor, mistletoe, and plenty of festive cocktails and shots.

Grinch pop-up @ Hamp & Harry's

The Marietta restaurant is offering cocktails and seasonal decor inspired by “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Tinsel Tavern @ Live! at the Battery Atlanta

Sports bar and entertainment venue Live at the Battery Atlanta becomes Tinsel Tavern on November 30. Expect plenty of tinsel and twinkling lights, holiday cocktails and snacks, and areas to take that crucial Instagram photo. Watch out for theme nights, too, including an ugly sweater party and a dancing elves silent disco. Reservations highly encouraged. Runs through December 23.

Mingle and Jingle Bar @ Best End Brewing Company

The West End brewery is once again transforming part of its space into the Mingle and Jingle bar featuring a life-sized hugging bear, miles of garland and tinsel, a bow wall with a giant wreath for those Instagram photos ops, and holiday drinks. 

Dorry’s Tavern @ Holiday Bar

Fans of the 1980s cult classic “Gremlins” should make it a point to stop by this holiday pop-up at the Interlock. Starting November 17, Holiday Bar is transforming its cocktails and vibe into a scene from Dorry’s Tavern for the season, complete with hot toddys and Irish coffees around the fire pit. It’s unclear if gremlins will be wreaking havoc here.

“A Christmas Story” @ Drawbar

The Bellyard hotel restaurant is in full festive mode throughout December, styling the holiday decor and cocktail menu after beloved movies “A Christmas Story” and “Elf”.

ATL Yule @ Westside Motor Lounge

The sprawling restaurant and bar complex at the corner of Echo Street and Northside Drive is decking its halls inside and out with holiday cheer this year. This includes offering merry cocktails and food specials and live music performances throughout the season.

Ice skating @ Atlantic Station

Starting November 17, Skate the Station ice skating rink returns to Atlantic Station in Midtown. People can expect a giant Christmas tree lit up for the season, a holiday show on the central green featuring tree lights throughout, and animation on the jumbotron with snow shows every hour, beginning at 5 p.m. daily. Tickets are $17 per person.

Jingle Bar @ Tre Vele

The Italian restaurant makes over its rooftop patio into a winter wonderland called the Jingle Bar for the holidays, complete with festive cocktails and appetizers.

Blind Elf @ the Blind Pig Parlour Bar

The Buckhead bar transforms into the Blind Elf again for the holidays this year. Expect twinkle lights, festive decor, and holiday-themed snacks and cocktails on the menu. Look for boozy sips like hot apple cider infused with whiskey or a rye cocktail with peppermint syrup paired with eggnog shortbread, Mrs. Claus lemon squares, and roasted Bartlett pear and pancetta hand pies. Open November 10 through December. Reserve online. $70 per person for two cocktails and two appetizers.

Rooftop holiday bar @ 5Church Midtown

Starting November 17, the rooftop at 5Church in Midtown becomes a holiday escape in Atlanta, featuring snacks, festive tunes, and themed cocktails. Opens at 5 p.m. for people 21+.

Waiting for Christmas @ The Waiting Room

Throughout December, the cocktail bar above Bon Ton in Midtown will be decked out in holiday finery and serving festive drinks. Look for holiday events, too, like Christmas karaoke, Christmas trivia, a Christmas PJ party, and even Christmas bingo.

Feliz Navidad @ Pachengo's

Look for a Mexican-inspired holiday pop-up at this Buckhead Village restaurant, starting November 17, complete with a playlist of festive tunes and cocktails like the Ho Ho Horchata and Abuelita Borracha spiked hot chocolate.

Apres Ski All Day @ Buckhead Village District

Starting November 25, Buckhead Village will transform into a winter wonderland in the Alps complete with fire pits, ski-lift photo ops, warm beverages and food pop-ups, and live performances throughout the holiday season.

The Snow Globe @ District Atlanta

A snow globe come to life, is how this holiday pop-up bar is described on Armour Drive, complete with a twinkling light show, local food vendors, and festive cocktails. Every inch of the holiday pop-up is meant for photo ops, too. Reservations highly encouraged.

Related Maps

Winter Wonderland @ Willow Bar

The Winter Wonderland pop-up and its igloos are back in the garden at the Kimpton Sylvan Hotel in Buckhead for another holiday season. Expect festive cocktails and an apres ski food menu, including giant Alpine pretzels, cheese fondue, and chocolate mousse for dessert served family style. Inside, the bar has transformed into a Swiss chalet with food and cocktails that complement the decor. Igloos are by reservations only for up to 10 people, starting at $85 per person.

  

Christkindl Market @ Buckhead Village

Partnering with the German American Cultural Foundation again this year, the Christkindl Market returns to Buckhead Village for the holidays. Opening November 24 and running through December 24, the German holiday market features over 50 retail, food, and beverage vendors. Expect mulled wine and hot chocolate paired with Bavarian pretzels, schnitzel, and brats while shopping for ornaments, wooden toys, and other handcrafted items for the holidays. The market is located on the corner of East Paces Ferry and Peachtree Road.

Miracle Bar Atlanta

Miracle on Monroe is back at Tapa Tapa at Midtown Promenade, starting November 24. Atlanta’s original holiday bar includes floor-to-ceiling decorations and lights, seasonal and Christmas movie-themed cocktails, and celebratory light bites and cookies. Look for live music and drag shows here on Friday and Saturday evenings. This holiday bar is 21+. Two-hour table limit and 20-percent service charge added to each bill.

Rooftop ice skating and igloo dining @ Ponce City Market

Igloo dining and ice skating are both back atop Ponce City Market, starting November 24. The Skate the Sky ice rink transforms the rooftop terrace into a skyline winter wonderland, complete with holiday decor, fire pits, and even igloo dining. Expect drinks like hot toddies, coffee juleps, and boozy hot apple cider here, along with champagne. Click here for reservations. Igloos 21+.

Blitzen Room @ Biltong Bar

The Blitzen Room at Biltong Bar returns November 16 at Ponce City Market with vintage holiday decor and themed cocktails like chartreuse hot chocolate and frozen egg nog.

Apres Ski @ Ranger Station

What better place in Atlanta to have a little apres ski action going on than at a bar centered on national parks, the great outdoors, and hunting lodge vibes? Ranger Station, located above Ladybird on the Beltline, is leaning way in this year with its holiday theme, which includes 1970s holiday decor, shotskis, fondue, festive cocktails, and even photo ops to create a holiday card. No reservations are necessary for this pop-up. Begins December 1.

Little Christmas Spirit

Starting November 20, Little Spirit in Inman Park becomes Little Christmas Spirit once again for the holidays. The petite cocktail haunt with its musical patron saints, like David Bowie and Biggie Smalls, plans to serve festive drinks throughout the season, including hot toddies, boozy hot chocolate, and mulled wine. Runs through December.

Christmas at Dad's

Beginning November 21, Dad’s in Virginia-Highland will be fulled decked out in kitschy holiday decor befitting the cozy dens and basement rumpus rooms of the 1980s and 1990s, along with festive cocktails. Make sure to tell the bartender your thoughts on whether “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie, too.

Tinsel Town Tavern @ Monks Meadery

This festive pop-up at the Poncey-Highland mead bar comes complete with mulled mead and pub food like soft pretzels with honey beer mustard and meat and vegetable hand pies. Look for holiday events at Monks Meadery, too, including karaoke, ugly sweater trivia, a gingerbread house contest, and even a Yule Ball with a special guest appearance from Santa. Check Instagram for events.

Jar Jar Drinks @ ALCOHALL

This drinks hall in Kirkwood is dialing up the Star Wars theme with Jar Jar Drinks, inspired by the burlesque parody show “Empire Strips Back” at the Pratt Pullman District. Cocktails mixing Star Wars characters with the holidays will be served at AlcoHall throughout the season.

 

Tiki Holiday @ The S.O.S. Tiki Bar

Starting November 22, a tropical-themed holiday bar takes over S.O.S Tiki Bar again this year. Tiki Holiday includes plenty of rum-soaked holiday cocktails, Christmas tunes ranging from surfer rock to crooner Bing Crosby, and bartenders kitted out in tacky festive sweaters. This bar is covered ceiling to floor with colored string lights and gaudy garland, dancing Santas, and a few plastic reindeer pulling jolly old Saint Nick. Even the alleyway patio can’t escape the over-the-top holiday decor here.

Elf’d Up @ UP on the Roof

Beginning November 24, the rooftop restaurant and bar in Alpharetta becomes all Elf’d Up for the season. Themed after the seasonal classic movie “Christmas Vacation”, expect Instagram photo-op areas, drinks like the Holly Jolly Spritzer and the hot chocolate and green chartreuse Rebel Without a Claus, and snacks, including deviled eggs, tiny tacos, nachos, and slices of praline pecan pie for dessert.

Whoville and Grinch pop-up bar @ Mercantile Social

The Alpharetta restaurant on Main brings back its popular Whoville and Grinch-inspired pop-up throughout the holiday season, complete with movie-themed cocktails, food, and decor. Open now through December 31.

Whoville Brewville @ Cherry Street Brewpub at Halcyon

Cherry Street Brewpub transforms again into Whoville Brewville this holiday season, complete with festive cocktails like the Mistletoe Mule, Rudolph Margarita, and egg nog, and merry and bright decor.

Ski chalet @ HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern

Hobnob at Halcyon is transforming its High-Up Bar on the second floor into a ski chalet for the winter. This apres ski pop-up features hot toddies, peppermint martinis, and other cozy cocktails and drinks, along with festive food specials. Open now until February 29.

Related Maps