Best Christmas Pop-up Bars
Long Beach is famous for spreading holiday cheer across the city. A growing and beloved trend is the rise of seasonal pop-ups in neighborhood bars, restaurants and even on an iconic ship. These temporary venues turn ordinary spaces into extravagant winter wonderlands, complete with kitschy decorations and inventive cocktails poured into playful, eye-catching mugs—SanTaRex! Do yourself a favor this season and visit these pop-ups for a blend of cozy charm, quirky fun and unabashed festive joy.
1) Miracle at The Ordinaire
Each year, Miracle at The Ordinarie (210 The Promenade N) turns the cozy Downtown tavern into an over-the-top holiday spectacle complete with twinkling lights, tinsel-draped walls and nostalgic touches like a Bunny Pajama’d nod to A Christmas Story. Signature cocktails include the Snowball Old Fashioned–yes, an old fashioned poured over an actual snowbal–and the iconic SanTaRex served in a Santa-hat-wearing dinosaur mug. Make sense? Of course not! That’s the messy, kitschy, Christmas magic-y fun of it all!
3) Tinsel Club at Bamboo Club
The Tinsel Club is back at the Bamboo Club (3522 E Anaheim St), delivering a tiki‑holiday mashup that turns the venue into a kitschy wonderland of twinkling lights and extravagant decor, plus a new seasonal cocktail list. Choose from hot or cold drinks to warm up or cool down as you enjoy the atmosphere. It’s an ideal reason for a cozy, festive night out in Long Beach. Reservations aren’t required but are strongly recommended.
5) Christmas Time at Baby Gee
This just-off Retro Row treasure will once again host Christmas Time at Baby Gee (1227 E 4th St), offering a whimsical snowy setting with plenty of playful decor and snacky comfort–pizza too! Cozy up with a Hot Pineapple Cider, with or without booze, or enjoy a classic Hot Buttered Rum. And what Christmas at the Gee would be complete with Jello-O shots, then again, maybe make it a Neato, Banana Coquito with Diplomatico Reserva Rum, Banana, Vanilla, Coconut Milk, Cinnamon, and Nutmeg.
2) Nauti or Nice at Port City Tavern
Nauti or Nice at Port City Tavern is a nautical-themed holiday pop-up that blends maritime style with seasonal cheer. Festive drinks arrive in souvenir elf boots, Santa-hat shells and other playful mugs, while the space is decorated with sailor-Santa motifs and plenty of tinsel. Standout cocktails include the Espresso Martini Tree (four espresso martinis presented on a tiny tree), The Naughty Elf (vodka, spiced cranberry, pomegranate and black tea) and Cookies for Santa (vanilla vodka, cookie butter, espresso liqueur and RumChata, finished with a dippable Biscoff).
4) The Sleigh Bar at Beachwood Brewing
Beachwood Brewing & Distilling (3630 Atlantic Ave) brings back its Sleigh Bar to Long Beach from Dec. 2 through Jan. 4, turning the taproom into a holiday-themed wonderland. Guests can enjoy seasonal cocktails poured in festive mugs, all made with Beachwood’s house-distilled spirits — from the cherry-bright Cherry Christmas served in Santa’s boot to the tree-shaped Tree Me Right and the marshmallow-forward Cotton-Headed Ninny-Muggins. On Dec. 11, a special Cocktail & Dessert Pairing features a pop-up from Long Beach bakery Just a Pinch Sweet Treats.
6) Peppermint Lounge at The Queen Mary
From Dec. 4–24, the all‑new Peppermint Lounge converts the Queen Mary’s Embarkation Room into an adult holiday retreat. As part of the ship’s Holly Days Aboard the Queen Mary, this Christmas‑themed bar offers seasonal cocktails that evoke the flavors of the holidays and live music on select nights. Whether you’re raising a glass to the season or enjoying the ship’s artful glamour, the Peppermint Lounge is the perfect place to be merry and bright.