28 November 2023
Miracle pop-up at Barrel Proof. | Cory Fontenot/Miracle
‘Tis the season for Miracle, Sippin’ Santa, and more
It’s time for the oh-so-festive return of New Orleans’s highly sought-out holiday pop-up bars (not including Snake and Jake’s of course, where it’s Christmas every day). This year’s crop of bars features punnily-named cocktails, over-the-top decorations, and themed snacks, promising plenty of good cheer to help get into the spirit of the season. Here’s the current list of New Orleans bars, restaurants, and menus transforming for the holidays in 2023. If we missed one, let us know.
Bah Humbug Bar Takeover at the Bower Bar
Where: 1320 Magazine Street, LGD
When: Now through December 30
The stylish Lower Garden District bar connected to the Bower is getting decked out for the holidays with Christmas décor and holiday cocktails in special glassware. Among the themed drinks are the ultra-festive Scrooge’s Cider, served in a holiday mug with apple vodka, spiced rum, and warm apple cider; a Nightmare Before Christmas with Fernet Menta, peppermint hot cocoa, and mini marshmallows; a classic eggnog daiquiri with spiced rum, amaro, vegan soft serve, and winter spice; or a Hallmark Christmas Classic, a frozen bourbon pumpkin spice latte. The bar is open Monday through Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Jingle & Jester at The Eliza Jane
Where: 315 Magazine Street, CBD
When: November 29 through January 6
Following on the heels of its Ghost Yard pop-up for Halloween, the chic Eliza Jane hotel is creating an over-the-top Christmas vibe with holiday decor, live music, and food and drink specials inside at the library and outside on the courtyard. There’s a Boozy Hot Cocoa Bar where you can create your own cocoa drink, a menu of festive cocktails, tabletop s’mores, and live music every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Miracle at Barrel Proof
Cory Fontenot/Miracle
Miracle at Barrel Proof.
Where: 1201 Magazine Street, LGD
When: Now through December 28
For the fifth year, enduringly popular Christmas pop-up bar Miracle is taking up residency at hip LGD bourbon dive Barrel Proof, transforming it into a holiday oasis. In addition to a slew of familiar over-the-top cocktails, there are a handful of new drinks like the Carol Barrel (whiskey, banana liqueur, rum, Guinness punch, lime, chocolate bitters, nutmeg); Marshmallows & Unicorns (gin, vanilla liqueur, velvet falernum, cherry liqueur, cardamom, black pepper, marshmallow, lemon, egg white, tiki bitters, soda); and the Elfing Around (cognac, mulled wine reduction, champagne, lemon, aromatic bitters, absinthe). Barrel Proof is open from 4 p.m. to midnight daily.
Sippin’ Santa at Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29
Randy Schmidt/Miracle
Sippin’ Santa’s Ho Ho Hot Buttered Rum.
Where: 321 N Peters Street, French Quarter
When: Now through December 25
It’s Sippin’ Santa time at Beachbum Berry’s, the essential French Quarter bar whose legendary founder, Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, is responsible for the Miracle bar spin-off that’s in its seventh year. New cocktails for 2023 include the Surf Nut (rum, apricot brandy, lime, Caribbean-spiced coconut water, cream of coconut); the Ho Ho Hot Buttered Rum (rum, spiced honey-butter, vanilla, passion fruit); and the North Pole Bowl (Martinique and Jamaican rums, black tea, thrice-spiced honey, lime, vanilla syrup), among others. It’s open Monday through Thursday from 3 to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday until midnight, and Sunday until 10 p.m.
L’Chaim Lounge at Saba
Where: 5757 Magazine Street, Uptown
When: December 7 through 15
Saba’s adjacent cocktail lounge will transform into the L’Chaim Lounge for Hanukkah once again, serving holiday-inspired food like latke boards and specialty salatim, and festive cocktails (loosely) inspired by Jewish pop culture icons. Visitors will find a setting with themed decorations and games of dreidel on top of seasonal food and drink.
Red Hot Holiday at the Pool Club
Virgin Hotels New Orleans
Red Hot Holiday Pop-Up at the Pool Club.
Where: Virgin Hotels New Orleans, 550 Baronne Street, CBD
When: Now through January 2024
This year’s Virgin Hotels New Orleans winter pop-up is themed as a Red Hot Holiday, transforming the rooftop into a crimson-themed wonderland with a winter red rose installation, holiday lights, festive cocktails, and red-themed food menu items. The rooftop is also offering a fireside igloo experience, which customers can reserve for up to six guests. The Pool Club is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. — ‘til Friday and Saturday.