The Best Holiday Pop-Ups Around Dallas

Dallas has transformed into a glitzy, boozy, tinsel-covered dreamscape. From twinkle-lit rooftops to karaoke nights and cozy cocktail dens, holiday pop-ups and bar crawls are treating Dallasites and visitors alike to great food and cocktails.

Below are the holiday pop-ups and crawls we’re looking forward to this season.

Tiki Tidings at Easy Slider
3905 Eastside Ave.
Sunday, Dec. 14, 5-9 p.m.
The best holiday vibe of all time is a Christmas tiki bar. The crew from the beloved (and sadly closed) Swizzle from Lower Greenville is popping up at Easy Slider for island-inspired holiday cocktails and tiki-inspired nibbles. Check out Tiki Tidings Sunday, Dec. 14, from 5 to 9 p.m.

Italian Disco Night and Feast of Seven Fishes
Easy Slider, 3905 Eastside Ave.
Wednesday, Dec. 18, 5 – 9 p.m.
What exactly is an Italian disco night and feast of the seven fishes mash-up? Who knows — just let it happen. The folks at Easy Slider say guests can “enjoy a course-by-course seafood experience or choose items a la carte, served alongside Italian-inspired bar specials and Easy Slider’s signature laid-back style.” All the while, Italian cinema is on all the TVs and Italian disco music overhead. What a fantastic night.

Tinsel Tavern at AT&T Discovery District
211 S. Akard St., Downtown
Through Jan. 4, 4 to 11 p.m.
Tinsel Tavern is a holiday pop-up at AT&T Discovery District, a large square with multiple restaurants, bars and an esplanade in the middle of downtown. The holiday festivities, and bar Tinsel Tavern specifically, runs daily from 4 to 11 p.m. through Jan. 4. This is a great space to take in downtown with lots of room to hang out with the family or a date. Tinsel Tavern has several holiday cocktails, including a Peppermint Patty, a Gingerbread Martini and the Mistletoe Margarita. 

Tinsel Tavern is hosting several special events over the next couple of weeks, starting with an event from the singles platform Datey this Saturday, Dec. 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. for those 35 and over looking for a holiday boo.

Come back on Sunday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. to watch the Cowboys play the Vikings on the large media wall.

On Saturday, Dec. 20, come back to see the holiday favorite Elf with Will Ferrell on the big screen.

The Village Holiday Main Street Fest
5670 Village Glen Dr.
Dec. 5, 5 to 9 p.m.
The Village, a large residential and retail community, is transforming into a winter wonderland. Things kick off on Friday, Dec. 5, from 5 to 9 p.m. with cocktails and savory bites in the beer garden from several of the local restaurants. There will be a s’mores station at Anise. Buy some handmade crafts at the vendor market and get a photo with Santa.

While that event is just one night The Very Merry Village will be around through Dec. 27, located on the second floor of The Village Country Club. Sip holiday cocktails, bites and document it all with Insta-ready decor. It’s free. Find out more at The Very Merry Village.

Boxcar, Holiday Express
4509 Greenville Ave.
The train-car-themed speakeasy on Greenville Avenue, and one of our favorite spots in Dallas, has undergone a full seasonal transformation, blending cinematic décor, holiday cocktails and a winter wonderland to gaze upon in this immersive experience. Watch movies like Die Hard while sipping hot cocoa and watching a winderwonderland pass by outside. We can at least pretend hard here in Dallas.

Elf on the Top Shelf at The Mansion
2821 Turtle Creek Blvd. (Uptown)
Nov. 28 – Jan 1.
Elf on the Top Shelf is a luxurious twist on holiday cocktails, pairing The Mansion Bar’s luxe ambiance with crafted cocktails featuring rare spirits. We checked this out with veteran barman Gabe Sanchez last year to see if these high-dollar cocktails were worth it. For a special treat? Heck yeah. They’ve brought the menu back for this year. There are four cocktails for $75 each. Last year, we liked the Frost and Fern, a take on the classic Vesper Martini made with Monkey 47 Gin Distiller’s Cut, garnished with lemon and a pressed fern (yes, a fern is pressed into the ice block). The drink is “a nod to the forests of Poland and Germany, celebrating Mokey 47’s Black Forest origins.” Really, we don’t appreciate those forests enough.

The Evergreen and St. Nick’s Speakeasy at The Virgin Hotel
1445 Turtle Creek Blvd. (Design District)
December 3 – 25
The Commons Club at the Virgin Hotel near downtown Dallas will turn into a Christmas storybook, The Evergreen, with elevated seasonal dishes like seared foie gras with poached pears and roasted chestnuts in “rustic British-inspired luxury.” There are holiday cocktials and the Upside Down Hot Cocoa tableside experience with boozy hot chocolate served in seasonal posts with lots of over-the-top extras (available only during Saturday and Sunday brunch). Reservations are recommended.

St. Nick’s Speakeasy is Santa’s secret penthouse at The Virgin Hotel. For this yearly event, the Virgin books a suite for Santa and transforms it into a speakeasy with holiday cocktails, cozy corners and a “touch of holiday mischief.” Limited reservations are available Dec. 3 – 24 for 1.5-hour entry times at 6, 7:45 and 9:30 p.m., with a non-refundable cover charge of $10 Sunday –Thursday and $15 Friday – Saturday. Guests must be 21 and up to enter, and RSVPs can be purchased here.  

St. Henry’s Winter Wonderland, The Henry
2301 N. Akard St., #250 (Uptown)
Nov. 11 – Jan. 4
The Henry’s rooftop is once again going full-on Frosty with the return of St. Henry’s Winter Wonderland. Guests can cozy up by the fire pits, snap photos under twinkling lights, and sip holiday cocktails. Some of the signature drinks include the Whiskey & Doughnuts, made with Tincup Bourbon, sweet vermouth, and spiced apple; the Junior & Mrs. Mint, featuring vanilla-infused Belvedere Vodka, white chocolate, cream, and peppermint schnapps; and the Spiced Pear Cosmopolitan, crafted with Belvedere Vodka and St. George Pear Liqueur. As for food, guests can look forward to brie and prosciutto s’mores with graham crackers, spruce honey and sea salt, as well as bacon-wrapped shrimp with poblano and andouille stuffing. A $7 entry fee is required, with proceeds benefiting the North Texas Food Bank.

Ugly Sweater Pop-Up, Punch Bowl Social
2600 Main St. (Deep Ellum)
Nov. 18-Dec. 28
Deep Ellum’s Punch Bowl Social is teaming up with the locally loved Ugly Christmas Sweater Shop for a delightfully tacky pop-up. Guests can look forward to holiday cocktails and a free arcade card with their first drink purchase. From 9 p.m. to midnight each Friday, customers can sing their hearts out to Christmas classics as part of the Very Merry Karaoke series. During a grand opening party on Friday, Nov. 21, guests can enjoy $2 off all limited-edition holiday cocktails.

Tipsy Elf’s Tipsy Town, Bishop Arts
308 N Bishop Ave. (Bishop Arts)
Nov. 21-Dec. 21
Tipsy Elf’s Tipsy Town Texas returns for its sixth year in its biggest, jolliest iteration. Among the participating bars and restaurants are Bishop Lane, Casanova Karaoke, Casablanca and Tejas. Each bar will offer its own signature holiday cocktails, along with vibrant light fixtures and photo installations. Those with kids can also look forward to photo ops and meet-and-greets with Santa Claus. 

The Winter Bubble Experience at Three Empires Brewery
6990 Main St. No. 200, Frisco
Nov. 6-Feb. 15
Guests can reserve private, twinkle-lit domes decked with holiday décor and plush blankets — basically, Dallas’ answer to a snow globe. Couples packages ($150) include a charcuterie board and a bottle of wine or growler of beer, while groups of up to six can upgrade for $225. Each 90-minute session offers extra drinks for purchase, making it perfect for date nights or festive hangouts. Bubbles are available Thursday through Sunday at select evening slots; reservations must be booked at least 24 hours in advance. Reservations must be made over the phone at 972-742-2550.

Blitzen’s Bar at Omni PGA Frisco
4341 PGA Parkway, Frisco
Nov. 11-Jan. 9
Omni PGA Frisco is dialing up the holiday spirit with Blitzen’s Bar, a festive pop-up bar designed by Drink Masters judge and NYC mixologist Julie Reiner. The space is decked out in full holiday splendor, setting the scene for eight signature cocktails, a zero-proof mocktail and rich hot chocolate that can be spiked on request. Highlights include The Blitzen, the Espress-Ho Ho Martini and the Naughty or Spice. Guests can also snack on Reindeer Fuel, Miso Tinsel and Choco Sleigh Ride, all specially crafted to pair with your drink of choice. Equal parts swanky and nostalgic, Blitzen’s is where North Texas gets a taste of holiday glamour.