The Best Holiday Pop-Up Bars Around Boston

Noir

Boston’s annual Hanukkah-themed pop-up bar, the Maccabee Bar, is back in action this year at Noir, the bar inside the Charles Hotel in Cambridge. Celebrate the holiday with themed cocktails (both alcoholic and nonalcoholic), latkes, and other small bites. The pop-up runs through New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31. The pop-up is open on Sundays from 5 p.m. to midnight, Mondays and Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to midnight, and Wednesdays through Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Reservations can be made online; walk-ins are welcome.

Kimpton Marlowe Hotel

The sparkly, jolly festivities are underway at Miracle at Marlowe, the hotel’s annual holiday pop-up cocktail bar. Get pictures with the six-foot Santa figure while sipping festive cocktails like the Christmapolitan and the Snowball Old Fashioned and downing naughty or nice shots. Light bites from the on-site restaurant Bambara Kitchen and Bar will also be available. The pop-up doesn’t take reservations, but it’s open seven days a week, starting at 5 p.m. Sundays through Fridays, and 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

Deck 12

No skiing experience is required to enjoy the Après…@ Deck 12 experience at the Seaport rooftop restaurant inside Yotel. From heated gondolas and chair lift swings, guests can enjoy warm, cozy cocktails while overlooking the Boston skyline. The food menu, which focuses on chili this year with one sweet fondue option, is available after 5 p.m. on weekdays and after 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Mandarin Oriental

In partnership with the Boston Ballet, the Mandarin Oriental lobby will transform into a Nutcracker-inspired holiday pop-up through New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1. Cozy up by the fireplace, listen to live music, and order festive cocktails, champagne, and caviar. On Fridays and Saturdays, live music and the Nutcracker evening menu will be available from 4 to 7 p.m. On Sundays, December 4, 14, and 21, from 2 to 5 p.m., order a holiday tea complete with a mini cake inspired by the snow scene in the ballet.

Loco Taqueria

Loco’s Fenway outpost is transforming into Santa’s Cantina for the holiday season. Running through Saturday, January 31, Loco is launching a holiday-themed bar menu featuring drinks like the Naughty List with grapefruit vodka, lemon, rosemary syrup, and strawberry puree served in an ornament that you can pour into your glass, and the frozen Glen Coco with vodka, chocolate liqueur, whipped cream, and mini marshmallows.

Shore Leave

The national holiday pop-up bar bonanza known as Sippin’ Santa is back at Shore Leave through New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31. Sip on festive cocktails like the Coco Ho Ho Ho with gold Jamaican rum, lime, coconut, pineapple, pandan syrup, and banana liqueur; or the Frost Bite with tequila, sage, pineapple, lime, cranberry syrup, and spiced cranberry bitters. Pair it all with some bites from Shore Leave’s sushi menu. The pop-up takes place on Sundays through Thursdays, 5 p.m. until midnight, and Fridays through Saturdays, 5 p.m. until 1 a.m. Reservations are available online.

Publico Street Bistro & Garden

Publico’s interior courtyard (covered by a retractable roof) is transformed into its annual winter-themed pop-up, Publico’s Winter Market Holiday. The space is decked out to resemble European winter markets, complete with a 16-foot-tall lit Christmas tree. A festive food and drink menu will also be available for lunch, dinner, and brunch. The pop-up is open on Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to midnight; Fridays, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. through New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31.

The Venetian

On the South Shore, Italian restaurant the Venetian (owned by Eric Papachristos, who is also behind Boston restaurants Trade, Porto, and Saloniki) has decked out its dining room with thousands of sparkly holiday ornaments and festive greenery. Grab a drink, eat, and hang out amid the holiday cheer any night of the week — it’s open for dinner nightly, plus lunch on weekends, and the decor will stay up through Saturday, January 31.

The Greatest Bar

Through New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31, the Greatest Bar in Boston’s West End transforms into the Greatest Winter Wonderland, a two-story festive pop-up decked out in holiday decorations. The decor is available daily for patrons to enjoy, and through Christmas, Thursday, December 25, the space is hosting special events like movie screenings, wreath-making, and brunches that will feature holiday-themed cocktails and a special comfort food menu. Make reservations for the events online.