Holiday pop-up bars, once a rare novelty, have now become a seasonal staple throughout Northeast Ohio. We’ve rounded up 19 of this year’s best places to rock around the Christmas tree, from dives to dance clubs to dark-and-moody craft cocktail bars.

The Christmas Corner Bar at Around the Corner Don your tackiest Christmas sweater, order a Raspberry Rudolph and make like Mariah at daily Christmas karaoke, all part of the fun at Cleveland’s original (and still its most classic) holiday pop-up bar. As always, it’s jam-packed with as much shiny, sparkly and otherwise-dazzling seasonal decor as you could possibly fit in a single room – but speaking of jam-packed, get there early to stake your claim to a standing-room-only spot, or risk being shut out entirely. Hours: Mon-Fri 3pm-2am; weekend hours vary. 18616 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-4413, facebook.com/TheChristmasCornerBar Credit: CraveCLE/IG
The Christmas Pop-Up Bar at Danny Boy’s This pizza joint isn’t so much running a popup as it’s completely converted into a holiday bar for the season! The entire, spacious restaurant is decked out in Christmas decorations, starting with the gigantic inflatables just outside the front door to welcome you. Though Danny Boy’s regular menu is still available, a special seasonal addition called The Naughty List brings holiday cheer with drinks like Elf on the Shelf, a fruity four-spirit mix served in a green boot mug, and Cousin Eddie’s Cocoa, spiked with peppermint schnapps and served in an adorable moose mug. Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm, Fri/Sat 11am to 10pm. 6207 Milan Road, Sandusky, 419-621-1000, dannyboyspizza.com Credit: Courtesy Photo
Foundation Room at the House of Blues Keep it classy in the House of Blues’ swanky VIP Room, where the venue’s exquisite architecture (that ceiling!) is highlighted by twinkling lights and classic, luxe holiday decor like literal boughs of holly and realistic-looking pine trees tipped with faux snow. Cozy up next to the roaring fireplace, its mantle adorned with dozens of nutcrackers, as you enjoy drink specials like smoked apple cider with Buffalo Trace bourbon and a bacon-and-fig rye whiskey cocktail. Oh, yeah, and it’s still the House of Blues – so live music is a must. Hours vary. 308 Euclid Ave, 216-274-3370, houseofblues.com/cleveland/fr Credit: Courtesy Photo
The Secret Cellar at Great Lakes Brewing Co. The secret is out: The city’s oldest brewery returns this year with its annual holiday pop-up in the brewpub’s basement bar, where twinkle lights galore lend festive flair to a dimly lit space. There’s classic Christmas Ale on the menu, course, but an all-new specialty cocktail menu also features drinks like the shimmery Snowglobe, made with edible-glitter-infused vodka. Want the best of both worlds? Try Ralphie’s Revenge, a pint of Christmas Ale with a shot of Fireball. (Psst: You’ll have to head upstairs for a food menu!) Hours vary. 2516 Market Ave., 216-771-4404, greatlakesbrewing.com Credit: Courtesy Photo
Blitzen’s at Hudson’s Restaurant Hudson’s only holiday pop-up bar promises “highly festive decor and extreme holiday revelry,” including countless leg lamps, a blinged-out ornament wall for seasonally aesthetic photos and the opportunity to decorate (and eat, obviously) your own gingerbread cookies. No space at the inn? Grab a DORA beverage like a cozy Frosty Toddy or Cousin Eddie’s Eggnog and check out the magical Christmas decorations set up around Hudson’s picturesque Village Green while you wait. Hours: Mon-Wed 11am-9pm, Thurs/Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 9am-10pm; closed Sunday. 80 N. Main Street, Hudson, 330-650-1955, hudsonspopupbar.com Credit: Courtesy Photo
Sleigh at JACK Casino You don’t need to be a high roller to take a gamble on this spacious and immaculately decorated pop-up, located in a VIP room on the third floor of the former Higbee Building (an iconic filming location for A Christmas Story). This year’s all-new holiday cocktail lineup includes stunners like the White Out, a chocolatey confection that sparkles with Goldschläger flakes, and the Winter Wonderland, a RumChata and Bailey’s blend with a salted caramel rim. Whether you’re dressed in kitchsy Christmas garb or your going-out-downtown finest, take time to pause for photo ops with rows of sparkling trees, a larger-than-life ornament and a jolly animatronic Santa. Hours: Thurs-Sat, 5pm-2am. 100 Public Square, 216- 297-4777, facebook.com/SleighAtJACK Credit: Courtesy Photo
Christmas Island at Margaritaville Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville, but make it Christmassy! It’s paradise meets the North Pole at the Flats’ laidback Jimmy Buffet bar, whose tropical twist on the pop-up trend will spirit you away to warmer weather in mind, if not in body. Take a break from the Cleveland cold Cleveland as you sip on seasonal cocktails like the Sleigh Ride, a which delivers the gift of both tequila and Fireball, or the red-and-green Beachside Grinch, a melon/coconut/cranberry concoction that looks as festive as it tastes. A full food menu is available to keep the booze at bay. Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm, Fri 11am-10pm, Sat 11am-1pm, 1150 Front Ave., 216-615-8855, margaritavillecleveland.com Credit: Photo credit: @localloveandwanderlust
Holiday Land at Nano Brew If you’ve ever wanted a photo with Buddy the Elf, now’s your chance. (“Santa? I know him!”) A life-sized cutout of the cult-classic Christmas character is just one of many pieces of kitschy, chaotic-in-a-good-way holiday decor at the brewpub’s first-ever seasonal popup. Yuletide vibes abound thanks to colorful twinkle lights strewn throughout the bar and ornaments the size of boulders dotting the ceiling. The “Christmas Turn-Up Menu” features specials like the Sea of The Swirly Twirly Gumdrops, a neon blue confection with a candy rim – but it’s still a brewery, so there are plenty of seasonal beers to choose from, too, including Nano Brew’s own XMas Wit. Hours: Mon-Wed 4-10pm, Thurs 4pm-12am, Fri 12pm-2:30am, Sat 11am-2:30am, Sun 11am-10pm. 1859 W 25th St, 216-862-6631, nanobrewcleveland.com Credit: Photo credit: @djstephfloss
Griswold’s Holiday Bar at Old School Pizza and Wings It’s 1989 again inside the banquet room at Old School Pizza and Wings’ Avon Lake location, which has been totally transformed into the Griswold family’s festive abode this holiday season – complete with all nine of Santa’s (inflatable) reindeer flying over the bar and a (stuffed animal) squirrel peeking out of the Christmas tree. True to form, you’ll be able to spot it from the street … because the restaurant itself is currently topped with an exact replica of the Griswold home, clocking in at a whopping 25 feet long and decorated with more than 3,000 lights. In other words? It’s a beaut, Clark. Hours: Mon-Thurs 4pm-11pm, Fri/Sat 4pm-12am, and Sun 4pm-10pm. 445 Avon Belden Rd., Avon Lake, 440-961-0892, instagram.com/griswoldsholidaybar Credit: Courtesy Photo
Chill at Etta at Poppy Can’t handle overcrowded pop-up spaces? Make yourself at home at Poppy’s intimate, elegant pop-up, nestled within the restaurant (which is itself located inside a cozy Craftsman-style house). Drinks only, no food – so pop in before or after dinner your dinner reservation, or simply because you want a holiday drink. Try one or all five, like a bright green Grinchy mimosa made with blue curaçáo, orange juice and cava and the Frosty, a shimmery take on a Gibson, topped with decorative white luster and a teeny-tiny cocktail onion. Hours: Tues-Sat 5-10pm, 12502 Larchmere Blvd., 216-415-5069, poppycleveland.com/chill-at-etta Credit: Photo credit: Lizzie Schlafer, @lizzieschlafer
Retro Christmas Bar at Re:bar Drink alongside the ghosts of Christmases past at this industrial-chic dive bar’s first holiday pop-up. Nostalgia abounds in decor like awkward Christmas family photos, a vintage living room installation with a tube TV and a VCR (yes, they both still work!) that play classic Christmas movies on a loop. Plus, forget Instagram for a minute and keep the old-school spirit alive in Polaroid photo-op areas. But the drinks are thoroughly modern, with specials like the Cookie Dough Cocktail, a creamy coconut rum coquito topped with an entire sugar cookie, and sparkly shots laden with whipped cream. Hour: Fri/Sat 3pm-2am. 2130 E. 9th St., Cleveland, rebarcleveland.com Credit: Photo credit: Jeremy K. Taylor, instagram.com/ewwjerm
The Christmas Bar at Seeing Double Christmas is twice as nice at this craft cocktail spot, which eagerly opened its popup just days after Halloween. They’ll be dropping not one but two holiday cocktail menus, featuring creative specials like The Chimney Sweep, made with chai-infused gin, and The Grinch, a playful, fruity sipper with rum, Midori and banana liquor… or you could just take a shot out of a plastic ornament and call it a (holi)day. Check their schedule for daily events like holiday-themed live music and trivia nights all season long. Hours: Tues-Thurs 4-11pm, Fri/Sat 4pm-1am. 26880 Brookpark Ext., North Olmsted, 440-641-1267, seeingdoublecle.com Credit: Photo credit: @cleveland.westside.eats
Jingle Mingle at Shake & Slide Tower City’s annual holiday bar installation has a new host this year in Shake and Slide, a ‘70s-style burger joint on its second level that’s serving up special seasonal cocktails and big, boozy milkshakes topped with candy canes, coconut flakes, star-shaped sprinkles and other festive accouterments. With the entire mall also outfitted in festive holiday decor, Jingle Mingle offers a quick spot to stop for a drink and, well, jingle and/or mingle with friends as you take it all in (and maybe finish up that holiday shopping). Hours: Fri/Sat, 7pm-12am. 230 W. Huron Road, 216-465-1011, shakeandslideoh.com Credit: Courtesy Photo
MiraCLE on Fourth St. at Society Lounge As the famous movie line goes, “Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind,” especially at this downtown cocktail lounge bedecked with hundreds of glittering ornaments. This year, other classic holiday movies join the party, too, with installations like the “Elf Room,” a life-sized Grinch, and a neon sign that reads “Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal.” The cocktail menu, of course, is impeccable, made all the more festive because it’s served in ceramic glassware shaped like Santa, Krampus and a T-Rex in a Santa hat. Want to take yours home with you? Mug sale proceeds benefit UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. Hours: Mon-Wed 4pm-12am, Thurs 4pm-1am, Fri/Sat 4pm-2am, Sun 12-10pm, 2063 E. 4th St. Credit: Photo credit: @joshdobayproductions
Mele Kalikimaka at Tiki Underground Head slightly south for a Polynesian-inspired paradise, with a holiday cocktail menu presented in partnership with Pusser’s Rum. From the land where palm trees sway comes tropical tiki tipples like the Sandy Claus, made with five types of juice and Fassionola (a fruity syrup rarely seen on menus in this century) and the Rum Rum Rudolph, sweetened with house vanilla and cinnamon syrups. And though tiki mugs are always fun, it’s a downright delight to drink out of holiday-themed version featuring bamboo snowmen with cowrie shells for eyes. Hours: Monday-Thursday 4-11pm, Friday 4pm-12am, Saturday 2pm-12am. 1832 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, 234-380-5398, tikiunderground.com Credit: Courtesy Photo
Holiday Hideaway at Velvet Tango Room One of the coziest bars in town has turned its Back Room into an even cozier spot for holiday-specific cocktails, small bites and charcuterie boards. With limited capacity, plush leather seating and classic pine decor, celebrating the holidays at this Duck Island craft cocktail spot feels more like being invited to a very fancy friend’s private party. A curated, festive menu creates an intimate holiday experience, with handcrafted speciality drinks to complement the upscale, vintage atmosphere. Hours: Open Mon-Thurs 4:30pm-12am, Fri 4:30pm-1am, Sat 5pm-1am, Sun 2-9pm. 2095 Columbus Rd., 216-241-8869, velvettangoroom.com Credit: Courtesy Photo
Winter Wonderland at Velvet Dog Who needs a disco ball when the whole place is tinsel-trimmed? Snow is glistening inside this Warehouse District dance club, where the second floor has morphed into a silver-and-white fever dream that sparkles from every angle. Dance ‘til dawn (or at least until closing) while you enjoy cocktails like the eponymous Winter Wonderland, a creamy dream made with Grey Goose and peppermint schnapps, and the Jack Frost Mimosa, a frosty blue drink with a snowflake candy rim. Grab a photo beneath the giant friendship bracelet wall in the style of Taylor Swift. It reads, “In our holiday era,” of course. Hours: Friday/Saturday, 9pm-2:30am. 1280 W 6th St, 216-664-1116 Credit: Photo credit: @cravecle
XMAS Bar at Hi 5 You might not expect a casual sports bar to be among the most sophisticated popups of the year, but the new kid in town has gone big with an over-the-top takeover that spans two floors. Opulent drink options include prosecco that sparkles with red-and-green-hued edible glitterbombs and creamy homemade coquito topped with a Danish butter cookie. For a more down-to-earth vibe, grab a gingerbread bourbon and head to the second floor, which has been styled like a cozy ski lodge – complete with comfy leather couches and a heated patio that overlooks the view. Hours: Wednesday 4-10pm, Friday 4pm-2am, Saturday 11am-2am, Sunday 11a-10pm. 1052 Old River Rd, 440-409-9158 Credit: Courtesy Photo
Deck the Vault at the Vault at the 9 This downtown speakeasy, hidden in bank vaults beneath the Cleveland Trust Rotunda, is the perfect place for a holiday hideaway, and this year’s annual pop-up is more lavishly decorated than ever. Nibble on upscale light bites like balsamic onion dip and goat cheese brûlée and choose from a full menu of year-round and seasonal cocktails, like festive martinis and spiced rums served with garnishes like candy canes and cinnamon sticks. Hours: Tues-Thurs 5pm-12am, Fri/Sat 5pm-2am. 2017 E. 9th Street, Level B1, 216-313-8810, vault9cle.com Credit: Courtesy Photo
Society on East 4th Credit: Courtesy Photo