Get Festive at These Twin Cities Holiday Bars

Call it the continuing Hallmark-Channelfication of the holiday, but the amount of tinsel in town seems amped this year. If you were despondent about the loss of the Lawless Miracle Bar and Mary’s Christmas Palace to help you get in the holiday spirit with some holiday spirits, just know there are many, many more festive bars who’ve stepped up their garland game. Go forth, raise a glass of cheer, be merry.  

Nico’s Navidad Holiday House at Nico’s Taco Bar // The WHOLE HOUSE on Hennepin Ave is draped with holiday cheer! The Christmas Casa features 5 themed rooms, Santa, Naughty/Nice cocktails, Christmas movies running in the Red Bar, and so many lights that Clark would be proud. Uptown.

The Grinch’s Lair at Hotel Emery // Gather your grumps for this Whobilation with special drinks, snacks, and all the trimmings. Bring a toy for the Twin Cities Toy Drive and get something nice in your stocking. Kicks off Dec. 1, open Th-Su. Reservations taken, but walk-ins accepted. Downtown Mpls.

Hell-a-dazzle at Hell’s Kitchen // Former owner, the late Mitch Omer, loved Christmas. So the team will be honoring him and running food and drink specials, handing out FREE photo booth tokens with any purchase, and giving you little surprises around every corner. It’s a well-lit Candy Wonderland down in the basement. Downtown Mpls.

Jingle Bar at Old Log Theater // The 125-year old cabin that sits near the Old Log Theater gets jammed with revelers, Santa Bears, and drinks from the adjacent Cast & Cru restaurant. Th-Sat, no rezzies. Excelsior.

Holiday Vacation in the Basement Bar at Travail // Nothing like cleaning up the fake blood from Haunted Basement to sprinkle tinsel and glitter everywhere! This is a ticketed dinner and drinks sitch, but there’s beachy vibes and a flippin’ luau involved so come hungry. Robbinsdale. 

Jingle Bar at Lola’s Lakehouse //  Tons of lights, of course, but the restaurant has really committed to the jingle with food items like Mistletoe Munchie Cheese Curds, Oh What Fun It Is To Eat Mussels, You’re A Mean One Mr. Goat Cheese Pizza. Waconia

Red Nose Room at Red Cow Uptown // This one Red Cow location is dripping with lights and red garland, plus there’s a great photo-op with a Christmas throne. Really good specialty drinks in special order glassware too, the Dirty Martini is a liquid charcuterie board. In a good way. Uptown.

Tinseltown at O’Donovan’s // This nationally traveling pop-up has a slightly different vibe with every bar they hit. Tickets are necessary for this experience, which starts Dec. 1, and some dates and times slots are already sold out. Your $15 ticket gets you into the space and one festive drink. It’s 21+ only here. Downtown Mpls.

Miracle on Pinz Street // The theme from Lawless has found a new home at Pinz, where you can take in the holiday cheer of a Christmas unicorn, and then bowl a little ten pin. Reservations encouraged, but walk-in hours during the day means you should just WFBowling. Oakdale.

If you’re looking for a bit more low-key festivity with a touch more subtlety, here are few more places that will get you in holiday spirit. 

Nicollet Island Inn is gorgeous this time of year. They have a Feast of St. Nic coming up on Dec 6., and a Holiday Luncheon Tea on Dec. 12. 

Meritage usually decks the bar and restaurant out in lights and greenery, and there’s nothing more festive than bubbs and a seafood tower. With chips. 

Baldamar, which is located conveniently next to Rosedale Mall, has all the chill holly jolly vibes and a smart Old Fashioned to help fuel your personal elf work for the season.