It’s the most wonderful time of the year—for our bellies. Check out these winter- and holiday-themed pop-ups and bar/restaurant offerings around DC:
Calico
50 Blagden Alley, NW
Shaw’s “urban backyard” is leaning into its reputation this winter with cozy campfire vibes and a specialty cocktail menu featuring drinks made with Campstock whiskey. From 4 PM to closing time every Sunday through Thursday, groups of two to four can reserve a spot with a tabletop firepit. Reservations cost $25 per person and are capped at two hours—they include two build-your-own s’mores kits and a choice of Campstock cocktail for each guest.
From 1 to 9 PM on Sunday, December 8, Calico will host its fourth annual Winter Festival: Sip cookie shots, snack on topped tots and mugs of soup, and paint your own ornaments for $5 apiece. Wear your ugliest holiday sweater for the chance to win a prize.
Snowglow at The Dome
1309 Fifth St., NE
Union Market rooftop bar Hi-Lawn is gearing up to transform into “The Dome”—a 50-foot, heated sphere that will take over the space through the winter. Its grand opening event, Snowglow, will feature a 90-minute overhead projection show with views of the Swiss alps, Northern Lights, and other European-inspired seasonal scenes.
Small plates like raclette and smørrebrød add another Euro touch to the event, along with more substantial food options like a filet for two. The cocktail menu promises martini service, plus themed drinks like Cliffhangers—hot chocolate finished with coffee liquor and mezcal—and the Sled Driver’s Delight, made with hot ginger-turmeric tea and honey schnapps.
Snowglow will open on December 14 and is set to run through the end of February. Tickets can be purchased online for $35—guests must book in groups of two, four, or six.
Miracle at Death Punch
2321 18th St., NW
For the fifth consecutive holiday season, Death Punch will host a Christmas pop-up . The Adams Morgan billiard bar will be decked with colorful string lights and velvety stockings starting November 27. The cocktail menu is packed with festive libations like a Christmapolitan and Jingle Balls Nog. Collectable drinkware will be available for purchase, with 10 percent of proceeds from the sales of select mugs going to the Seva Foundation, a nonprofit working to prevent and treat blindness. Don’t worry about making a reservation this year—seating is first come, first served.
Sippin Santa at Black Whiskey
1410 14th St., NW
Death Punch’s Logan Circle sister bar will be taken over once again by the Sippin Santa pop-up this year. From November 29 through New Year’s Eve, patrons can soak up Green Christmas vibes with tropical decor and a cocktail menu offering beachy sips, like the Sugar Plum Mai Tai and Frosty the Merman—made with rye, vanilla-clove syrup, and a variety of fruity syrups.
Colada Shop
1405 T St., NW
This all-day Cuban cafe has decked the halls of its Logan Circle location with tropical holiday decor. Seven specialty drinks will be on the menu through New Year’s Eve. Highlights include festive twists on classic cocktails, like the Mo-Ho-Ho-Ho-ito—all the rum, mint, and lime of a typical mojito, plus pomegranate seeds and sparkling wine—and the Candy Cane Colada, a piña colada made with cranberry and Campari.
Ivy and Coney
The famous Shotnorah will return to this Shaw sports bar during the first week of December (for the uninitiated, this is literally a menorah you can take shots out of). Latkes and shots inspired by sufganiyah—a Jewish jelly donut—are also part of the Hanukkah festivities, which will run through the last day of the holiday (January 2). On Christmas Day, Ivy and Coney will celebrate “Chinese Food and a Movie Day” with a free Chinese food buffet and a movie marathon.
Antarctica at Kayu
1248 H St., NE
For one night only—Sunday, November 24—the dining room component of H Street Filipino cafe Hiraya will serve up cocktails with especially wintery inspiration. La Tejana’s José Cox and Masseria’s Jonathan Henriquez are teaming up to create a drink menu that channels the intensity of Antarctica’s climate, with the help of mixology techniques like liquid nitrogren, ostrich fat wash, and clarification. The event will run from 2 to 9 PM. Reservations are free and can be made via Eventbrite.
Lulu’s Winegarden
1940 11th St., NW
Starting November 22, “Lulu’s Wine(ter)garden” will transform the indoor-outdoor Shaw space into a holiday oasis, inspired by the southwestern hometowns of owners Paul and Brittany Carlson. Expect cactus Christmas trees, tortilla soup and drinks like the Chimayo—the official cocktail of New Mexico (imagine an apple-cider margarita). Visitors can also get some gift shopping done: Lulu’s will sell three-bottle wine packs inspired by holiday movies (think “Christmas Vine-cation,” which features wines from around the world). Boxes start at $75.
The Lodge at CUT Above
Rosewood DC, 1050 31st St., NW
Through January 5, the rooftop lounge of Georgetown’s Rosewood DC hotel will be furnished with all the makings of a wintery photo opp: String lights, cozy blankets, and even a red ski-lift chair. The event’s signature cocktail, the Winter Mule, puts a festive twist on the classic recipe with blood orange, cranberr, and rosemary. Guests can snack on soft pretzels, bratwurst with sauerkraut and raspberry mustard, and braised short-rib grilled cheeses.
Dirty Habit
Hotel Monaco, 555 Eighth St., NW
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The courtyard of this cocktail bar, located in the Kimpton Hotel Monaco, is officially in “Winter Chalet” mode—packed with heaters, cozy decor, and festive photo opps through the end of January. Themed cocktails ($19 each) include the Grape Reverie, made with mulled wine and masala chai, and hot buttered rum. Non-alcoholic hot chocolate and hot cider are available too, and snacks include a s’mores parfait and cheddar/potato croquettes.
Holly Jolly Bar at The Brighton
949 Wharf St., SW
An entry ticket to this waterfront pub’s holiday festivities starts at $15 and grants patrons a 90-minute reservation, plus one welcome cocktail—the Jingle All the Way, a wintery whiskey punch. Guests can choose from an array of a la carte drinks and snacks in keeping with the Christmas theme. For $45, a brunch ticket will cover a main entree and cocktail. The pop-up runs from November 22 to December 29.
Tiki TNT and Potomac Distilling Company
1130 Maine Ave., SW
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The Wharf’s rum emporium will pull out all the stops with its festive decor: Starting November 29, expect multicolor string lights, snow machines, Santas dressed for the beach, an upside-down Christmas tree, and a playlist loaded with Mariah Carey. Sip hot cider out of themed mugs and snack on a plate of s’mores fixings, accompanied by a mini roasting grill. As you indulge, Christmas movies will play from bar TVs—you’ll also find table games set up.
Tours and tastings will be available at the adjoining Potomac Distilling Company, where Thrasher’s Rum is made. Those looking to square some gift shopping away can stop by Thrasher’s Rum-Ron-Rhum Shoppe: Limited-time holiday releases include the new Bourbon-Barrel Aged Rum ($68), Whiskey Barrel-Aged Thrasher’s Spiced Rum ($48), and Bourbon Barrel Finished Thrasher’s Coconut Rum ($48). Or pick up a cocktail case, like the Thrasher’s Coconut Rum Espresso Martini Cocktail Kit for $60.
Holiday Candy Land at El Techo
606 Florida Ave., NW
Local event-planning small business Creations by Brenda is partnering with Shaw’s rooftop Mexican spot to create a festive Candy Land-inspired atmosphere, complete with holiday decor and themed drinks—highlights include the Candy Cane Martini and the Spiced Cranberry Spritz. The pop-up will open on December 3 at 5 PM and stick around until January 2.
Francis Hill at Hotel Heron
699 Prince St., Alexandria
Through December 26, this Old Town hotel bar will embrace the holiday season with its “Christmas Story” pop-up. Along with plenty of decor, guests will find themed drinks like the Triple Dog Dare You—a spicy margarita featuring chili-infused Espolon—and the Be Sure to Drink Your Ovaltini, an espresso-based cocktail made with white chocolate liquor.
