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For the past few years, more and more bars have been decking their halls with snowflakes, twinkly lights, and tinsel, and it doesn’t look like the trend is going anywhere. Call them kitschy, call them gimmicky, but call them what they are: festive goldmines that cash in on our desire for a holly jolly escape through drinks christened with punny holiday names.
Whether you’re looking for eggnog served out of a Santa head, fake-snow-dusted visuals for your TikTok, or just a heavily spiked hot cocoa, these are the 30 Denver-area Christmas bars you need to know about.
The Miracle Pop-Ups
- Locations: Miracle at Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St.; Miracle at the Eddy, 1640 Eighth St., Golden; Miracle at Jax Fish House, 11 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs
- Dates: Union Station, now–Dec. 24; The Eddy, now–Dec. 31; Jax Fish House, now–Jan. 5
The OG Christmas bar franchise returns to Colorado this year with three light-bedecked locations. This is where you’ll drink a cognac- and sherry-boosted Jingle Balls Nog out of a mug of Santa’s pants or a white Russian–esque Rudolph’s Replacement out of a T-Rex wearing a Santa hat. While some of the pop-ups create their own wintry concoctions, the drink menu tends to be standardized across the almost 250 Miracle franchises, and it’s up to each spot to go big on the fake snow and inflatable reindeer.
NOEL at the Bluegrass Lounge
- Location: 7415 Grandview Ave., Arvada
- Dates: Now–Dec. 31
For six years, Olde Town Arvada’s Bluegrass Lounge has been decking its halls with nearly half a million lights and tons of decorations to create NOEL, a family-friendly Christmas bar. (Or at least as family-friendly as a spot featuring a When I Think About You I Touch My Elf cocktail can be.) It will host community events all month long, from holiday karaoke to bingo to visits from Santa himself each Wednesday.
Avantiki
- Location: 3200 Pecos St.
- Dates: Now–Dec. 28
Avantiki returns with an island-style holiday celebration. This means fewer snowflakes and more surfing Santas, plus a menu full of tropical cocktails like boozy punch bowls decorated with paper umbrellas. Stop into the rooftop Wolf Bar to see it for yourself, and BYOSHS (bring your own Santa Hawaiian shirt).
Los Chingones XXXmas Pop-Up Bar
- Location: 2463 Larimer St.
- Dates: Now–Dec. 28
Los Chingones RiNo is celebrating a decade in business and their newly renovated rooftop the only way they know how: with cheeky holiday decor and cocktails. Leave the kiddos at home if you choose to hit up this naughty spot; you probably don’t want to explain the joke behind your Wanna Scrooge? cocktail.
The Electric Cure’s Krampus Room
- Location: 5350 W. 25th Ave., Edgewater
- Dates: Now–Dec. 31
Sometimes you just need to trade jolly old St. Nick for a child-eating, half-demon monster. This satanic tiki bar is not for everyone, but if a Back Door Santa cocktail sounds pretty good and you’re open to using a photo with Krampus for your annual Christmas card, this could be the holiday bar for you.
My Neighbor Felix’s Felix Navidad
- Locations: 1801 Central St.; 901 Pearl St., Boulder; 7209 S. Clinton St., Centennial; 1645 Briargate Parkway Suite 203, Colorado Springs
- Dates: Now–Jan. 15
Christmas dreams do come true, if your Christmas dream is to take a shot of Rumchata, peppermint schnapps, and tequila out of a cookie. My Neighbor Felix is bringing the cookie shots and mistletoe margaritas to all four of its outrageously overdressed locations this year.
Call to Arms Brewing’s Big Holiday Energy
- Location: 4526 Tennyson St.
- Dates: Now–Dec. 31
We love that a brewery is entrepreneurial enough to get in on the lucrative Christmas bar market. The taproom will be hosting a daily advent calendar, a scavenger duck hunt, and pop-up surprises leading up to the holidays, not to mention a full-on light show in their outdoor heated tent and dangling Christmas trees from the ceiling.
Pindustry on Ice
- Location: 7939 E. Arapahoe Road
- Dates: Now–March 17
Pindustry sets its Christmas pop-up bar apart from the others with a rooftop ice rink. The Greenwood Village spot’s Pindustry on Ice combines snowy mountain views, open-air rooftop skating, and toasted marshmallow martinis for a hard-to-beat holiday drinking experience. If the weather’s a little rough or you’re not so swift on skates, head next door to the Rouge’s indoor holiday bar.
Hilton Denver Inverness’ Blazing Bright
- Location: 200 Inverness Drive West, Englewood
- Dates: Dec. 6–Jan. 4
Down sleigh shots in the Hilton’s Fireside Bar & Grill, which has been transformed into the winter wonderland that is Blazing Bright. Make sure to try the boozy hot chocolate bar stocked with donut holes, homemade marshmallows, and crushed peppermint to gussy up your mug of cocoa.
Cherry Creek Holiday Market’s Mistletoe Lounge
- Location: 105 Fillmore St.
- Dates: Now–Dec. 24
If a day of gift-buying in Cherry Creek makes you thirsty, take a break at the Mistletoe Lounge. Grab a s’mores-in-a-glass North Pole Nightcap or a glass of plum mulled wine and then get back to those capitalist pursuits.
Sheraton Denver Downtown’s Bezel Lodge
- Location: 1550 Court Place
- Dates: Now–March
More wintry than Christmassy, Bezel Lodge on the 16th Street Mall is a classier alternative to the Santas and snowmen that populate your typical holiday watering hole (that’s assuming you consider a fake ski lift photo-op classy). The ski-lodge-themed decor includes fuzzy blankets, heat lamps, and that chairlift prop, plus hot cocktails to keep you warm.
Honor Farm’s Home Alone & Hell or High Water’s How the Grinch Stole Tiki
- Location: 1526 Blake St.
- Dates: Now–Dec. 31
These two bars housed in the same LoDo building will appeal to those looking for an offbeat take on the holidays. The first floor’s Honor Farm is going full-on booby-trapped Christmas nostalgia with its Home Alone theme, while the mezzanine-level Hell or High Water Tiki will pay homage to The Grinch. Soak up all those tasty drinks with the Samosa Shop’s equally tasty kitchen takeover.
Adrift’s Snowdrift
- Location: 218 S. Broadway
- Dates: Now–Dec. 31
If “Mele Kalikimaka” is more your Christmas vibe, there’s no better spot than Snowdrift, where you’ll find fire-torched cocktails, an icicle-bedecked bar, and snow-capped palm trees. Because nothing says tropical Christmas more than sipping on a Snowdrift Coquito while sitting in Adrift’s heated patio.
Death & Co.’s Season’s Greetings Holiday Bar
- Location: 1280 25th St.
- Dates: Dec. 5–Jan. 5
For those who are a little more discerning with their holiday-themed cocktails, head to Suite 6A inside the Ramble Hotel, where Death & Co.’s Season’s Greetings Holiday Bar brings a ’50s and ’60s theme. Wintry drinks, festive bites, tinsel, and merriment will ensue.
Winter Lodge at Peaks Lounge
- Location: 650 15th St.
- Dates: Now–Jan. 26
In what might be Denver’s highest holiday bar (not that kind of high), the Hyatt Regency Denver’s 27th-floor Peaks Lounge has transformed into Winter Lodge, an alpine-inspired experience loaded with furs and cozy cabin decor. Bonus: It’s the perfect perch to catch the new Mile High Drone Show.
Lady Justice’s Ski Jorts City
- Location: 3242 S. Acoma St., Englewood
- Dates: Now–Dec. 31
Call to Arms isn’t the only brewery that’s feeling festive this year. Inspired by Lady Justice’s Ski Jorts Pale Lager, the brewery is ditching the Santas and snowmen in favor of ’70s queer après ski decor. What does that mean? Think denim garland, a Dolly Parton tree topper, frosted windows, and a faux fireplace.
Retrograde’s Holiday Starlight Lounge
- Location: 530 E. 19th Ave.
- Dates: Now–Jan. 5
If it isn’t cool enough already that this bar is located in an ice cream shop, Sweet Action’s Retrograde will be breaking out the twinkling lights and shimmering decor for their Holiday Starlight Lounge. Even better? Cocktails are inspired by pies, like the Pecan Pie Old Fashioned and Pumpkin Pie Flip.
Zeppelin Station’s Disco Wonderland
- Location: 3501 Wazee St.
- Dates: Now–Dec. 31
Shake your groove thing at Zeppelin Station’s Disco Wonderland pop-up. Because if there’s not a mirrored ball reflecting all that holiday magic, did it even happen?
Kimpton Claret Hotel’s Moët Chalet
- Location: 6985 E. Chenango Ave.
- Dates: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from Dec. 12–Jan. 31
The second floor of Belleview Station’s newest hotel will be pouring the bubbly in a winter wonderland this season. Grab a glass of Moët and pose for a ski goggle selfie in front of a hedge wall or on a chairlift bench.
Blind Tiger’s Santa’s Secret Speakeasy
- Location: 3040 Blake St., Suite 131
- Dates: Now–Dec. 31
Your favorite hard kombucha lounge is getting in on the Christmas bar action with Santa’s Secret Speakeasy. Flip a coin to reveal whether you’re drinking off the Naughty or Nice menu. (Fingers crossed you get the Sleigh My Name.)
Omni Interlocken Hotel’s Jolly
- Location: 500 Interlocken Blvd., Broomfield
- Dates: Now–Dec. 31
Broomfield Christmas bar lovers can sip Sugar Plum Sparklers and Milk and Cookies Martinis closer to home this year. The Omni Interlocken’s Jolly brings snow-day vibes to its Living Room, complete with holiday-themed games, a letters-to-Santa station, and a hot cocoa bar.
Wonderyard Garden + Table’s Winter Wonderyard
- Location: 2200 Larimer St.
- Dates: Now–Jan. 15
It’s the holidays—why wouldn’t you take a shot out of an ornament and drink from a “shotski” in front of an eight-foot reindeer? Wonderyard is going big, literally. Its 2,000-square-foot tented patio will include Instagram-worthy moments aplenty, from a life-size sleigh to a 15-foot Christmas tree.
Lila B.’s Elfie’s Enchanted Lounge
- Location: 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village
- Dates: Now–Dec. 31
There’s nothing funny about this Comedy Works South holiday pop-up. (Unless you find a ceiling of giant, hanging ornaments funny, in which case it’s hilarious.) Sip on a holiday cocktail or mocktail and be made merry by all the festive decking of their halls.
Santa’s Layover Lounge at Denver International Airport
- Location: Concourse B, mezzanine level
- Dates: Now–Jan. 5
Santa knows that nothing drives you to drink like long TSA lines, forgetting your AirPods on the plane, and missing your flight. That’s why he was kind enough to set up the very first airport holiday pop-up bar at DIA. Whether you hit the hot cocoa bar or opt for something stronger like the Polar Expresso Martini, this whimsical lounge makes delays and long layovers a delight—or at least, less dreadful.
