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A Christmas-decorated bar.
Gibston Street Bar’s holiday pop-up.
FBR Management

The Best Holiday Pop-Up Bars in Austin

Where to find festive cocktails and cheer

by Nadia Chaudhury Updated
View as Map
Gibston Street Bar’s holiday pop-up.
| FBR Management
by Nadia Chaudhury Updated

Though Austin holidays are typically less snow-topped and muggier than other cities, there are still plenty of places to order spiked eggnog and hot toddies. In recent years, Christmas celebrations around the city have gotten more elaborate with pop-ups and specials galore.

Eater put together this handy map of the best bars and restaurants embracing the holiday spirit in their spaces through pop-ups. This year still includes the kitschy national pop-up bar Miracle at downtown cocktail bar the Eleanor (sibling to the essential the Roosevelt Room) and its tiki offshoot Sippin’ Santa at east side favorite Nickel City. Of course, the season is not complete without a visit to the original Austin Christmas bar, Lala’s, which has had colored lights up since 1972.

Keep an eye out for updated holiday guides — holiday dine-in meals, holiday takeout meals, holiday dessert preorders, and tamales — to be updated later this month.

This map was originally written by Erin Russell.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Lala's Little Nugget

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It’s always Christmas at this Crestview dive bar, which has holiday decorations up all year. The holiday season is a perfect time to revisit Lala’s for boozy eggnog. Find similar vibes at its second location in South Austin’s Cherry Creek neighborhood, Lala’s South Pole. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

2207 Justin Ln (Burnet Ln), Austin, TX 78757
(512) 487-5297
(512) 487-5297
A wall with Christmas ornaments and letters reading Lala’s.
Lala’s.
FBR Management

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Mozart's Coffee

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The Lake Austin coffee shop will be hosting its annual holiday light show — now with installations on land and water (with boats!). It starts on Friday, November 29, and runs through Saturday, January 4. The cafe revamped its ticketing style so that people can book time slots (as opposed to the previous table reservations) from 5 to 7:30 p.m. or 7:30 to 10 p.m.; tickets are $5 with service fees for adults and it’s free for children 11 years old and younger. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

3825 Lake Austin Blvd (at Enfield Rd.), Austin, TX 78703
(512) 477-2900
(512) 477-2900

Also featured in:

Donn's Depot

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The Old West Austin dive bar’s first-holiday phase is here with lots of festive details. The second portion begins on Monday, December 2 with its holiday menu and way more decorations. There are indoor areas.

1600 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 478-0336
(512) 478-0336

Also featured in:

Stephen F's Bar & Terrace

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The downtown hotel’s second-floor bar is embracing the holiday film A Christmas Story for its pop-up this year. This means lots of decor stemming from the film as well as drinks such as a boozy Ovaltine and the Oh Fudge (a take on the espresso martini). It runs from Thursday, December 5 through New Year’s Eve on Tuesday, December 31. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

701 Congress Ave (at E 7th St), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 457-8800
(512) 457-8800

Nickel City

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The favorite Central East Austin bar will transform again for the holidays into Sippin’ Santa, a tiki spinoff of Miracle, starting on Monday, November 25. Expect tropical festive decor and themed drinks. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

1133 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78702
(512) 987-4294
(512) 987-4294

Also featured in:

The Dead Rabbit [Austin]

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The New York City Irish bar import brought along its annual Christmas pop-up Jingle Jangle to Austin for the first time. The bar is playing Irish Christmas music and the bar’s cocktail list includes drinks like the Figgy Pudding with Irish whiskey, Guinness beer, fig, cassis, baking spices, and lemon. It runs through Sunday, January 5. There are indoor dine-in areas.

204 East Sixth Street, Austin, Texas 78701
A white plastic cup with the word Jingle Jangle on it.
A Jingle Jangle cocktail at Dead Rabbit.
Nicholas Ruiz

Also featured in:

The Eleanor

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National pop-up bar Miracle on Fifth Street returned to esteemed cocktail bar Roosevelt Room’s next-door sibling again in downtown, bringing kitschy decor and festive cocktails. Look for drinks like the mulled wine drink and the Christmapolitan. It runs through through Thursday, December 28. Advanced tickets are $12.50 and come with (though entry is still subject to capacity), and there are other types of entry passes. There are indoor services.

307 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-4094
(512) 494-4094
A dinosaur-shaped mug with a drink in it.
The Christmasaurus drink at Miracle on Fifth at Eleanor.
Miracle on Fifth Street

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Uptown Sports Club

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The East Austin New Orleans-ish cocktail bar is decking out with holiday decor and drinks inspired by National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Drinks include the Bar 5 cider toddy with bourbon, apple brandy, apple cider, bitters, and lemon, and the frozen Moose-shine with rye, white and spiced rums, coquito, and whipped cream. It starts on Wednesday, December 4, and runs through the end of the month. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1200 East 6th Street, TX 78702
(512) 551-2013
(512) 551-2013
A Christmas tree inside a restaurant.
A Christmas tree at Uptown Sports Club.
Kim Light Pearson

Also featured in:

Cosmic Saltillo

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The East Austin location of the coffee shop/bar/beer garden is embracing its first holidays with its Candy Land-themed pop-up. Expect decor inspired by the board game and gingerbread houses; cocktails like the Honey Pear Cottage with aged tequila, honey, spiced pear, lemon, and bitters and the Mudslide Mountains with vodka, Irish cream, Tia Maria cold-brew coffee liqueur, cream, cocoa, and mole drizzle. It runs through Friday, December 27. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

1300 East 4th Street, Austin, Texas 78702
(512) 763-7216
(512) 763-7216

Also featured in:

The Cavalier

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The East Austin bar’s holiday pop-up this year takes its cues from Krampus, the spooky-scary Christmas figure. This means morbid and festive decor and themed cocktails. There’s a kickoff party on Thursday, December 12 at 8 p.m.; and then it runs through Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

2400 Webberville Rd (Swenson Ave), Austin, TX 78702
(512) 696-4318
(512) 696-4318

Also featured in:

Daydreamer

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The East Austin cocktail bar is getting into the holiday spirit with its first themed pop-up inspired by The Nutcracker. This means, yes, lots of festive food tools, along with decorations, themed drinks, and even a ballet performance by Ventana Ballet on Sunday, December 8. It runs from Friday, November 29 through Monday, December 30. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

1708 East Sixth Street, Austin, Texas 78702
Someone holding up a drink in front of a giant nutcracker.
A drink at Daydreamer’s Nutcracker pop-up.
Daydreamer

Also featured in:

Fairmont Austin

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The downtown hotel’s seventh-floor rooftop is bringing back its massive ugly sweater party with kitschy decorations along with themed snacks and drinks. It runs from Tuesday, November 26 through Saturday, December 28. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

101 Red River Street, Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 600-2000
(512) 600-2000

Also featured in:

Four Seasons Hotel Austin

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The downtown hotel the Four Seasons is hosting its Ice Rodeo again with the outdoor ice rink, rentable cabins, the deck lounge, and a speakeasy-styled bar, all with food and drinks. It runs from Friday, November 22 through Sunday, January 5. There are outdoor areas.

98 San Jacinto Blvd (at E Cesar Chavez St), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-4500
(512) 478-4500
A toasted marshmallow on top of a graham cracker on a blue plate on a white marble counter.
S’mores from the Four Seasons.
Four Seasons Hotel Austin

Also featured in:

Kitty Cohen's

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The Webberville bar is hosting its annual Hanukkah pop-up, Get Lit, with themed drinks like the latke punch (potato vodka, apple cider, ginger liqueur, and lemon), the Oy Fashioned, and food pop-ups to be announced which will serve themed dishes. It runs from Tuesday, December 3 through the last night of Hannukah on Thursday, January 2. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

2211 Webberville Rd, Austin, TX 78702

Also featured in:

Gibson Street Bar

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South Austin bar Gibson is hosting its holiday pop-up again, the Gibson Wonderland, with winter cocktails, festive decorations, and more. It runs from Wednesday, November 27 through Sunday, January 5. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

1109 S Lamar Blvd (at Gibson St), Austin, TX 78704
(512) 386-1345
(512) 386-1345
A bar exterior decked out in Christmas decor and lights and a sign over the door reads Gibson Street Bar.
Gibson Street Bar’s holiday entrance.
FBR Management

Also featured in:

Nadia Chaudhury is the editor of Eater Austin covering food and pop culture, as well as a photographer, writer, and frequent panel moderator and podcast guest.

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Lala's Little Nugget

2207 Justin Ln (Burnet Ln), Austin, TX 78757

It’s always Christmas at this Crestview dive bar, which has holiday decorations up all year. The holiday season is a perfect time to revisit Lala’s for boozy eggnog. Find similar vibes at its second location in South Austin’s Cherry Creek neighborhood, Lala’s South Pole. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

2207 Justin Ln (Burnet Ln), Austin, TX 78757
(512) 487-5297
(512) 487-5297
A wall with Christmas ornaments and letters reading Lala’s.
Lala’s.
FBR Management

Mozart's Coffee

3825 Lake Austin Blvd (at Enfield Rd.), Austin, TX 78703

The Lake Austin coffee shop will be hosting its annual holiday light show — now with installations on land and water (with boats!). It starts on Friday, November 29, and runs through Saturday, January 4. The cafe revamped its ticketing style so that people can book time slots (as opposed to the previous table reservations) from 5 to 7:30 p.m. or 7:30 to 10 p.m.; tickets are $5 with service fees for adults and it’s free for children 11 years old and younger. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

3825 Lake Austin Blvd (at Enfield Rd.), Austin, TX 78703
(512) 477-2900
(512) 477-2900

Donn's Depot

1600 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78703

The Old West Austin dive bar’s first-holiday phase is here with lots of festive details. The second portion begins on Monday, December 2 with its holiday menu and way more decorations. There are indoor areas.

1600 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78703
(512) 478-0336
(512) 478-0336

Stephen F's Bar & Terrace

701 Congress Ave (at E 7th St), Austin, TX 78701

The downtown hotel’s second-floor bar is embracing the holiday film A Christmas Story for its pop-up this year. This means lots of decor stemming from the film as well as drinks such as a boozy Ovaltine and the Oh Fudge (a take on the espresso martini). It runs from Thursday, December 5 through New Year’s Eve on Tuesday, December 31. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

701 Congress Ave (at E 7th St), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 457-8800
(512) 457-8800

Nickel City

1133 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78702

The favorite Central East Austin bar will transform again for the holidays into Sippin’ Santa, a tiki spinoff of Miracle, starting on Monday, November 25. Expect tropical festive decor and themed drinks. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

1133 East 11th Street, Austin, Texas 78702
(512) 987-4294
(512) 987-4294

The Dead Rabbit [Austin]

204 East Sixth Street, Austin, Texas 78701

The New York City Irish bar import brought along its annual Christmas pop-up Jingle Jangle to Austin for the first time. The bar is playing Irish Christmas music and the bar’s cocktail list includes drinks like the Figgy Pudding with Irish whiskey, Guinness beer, fig, cassis, baking spices, and lemon. It runs through Sunday, January 5. There are indoor dine-in areas.

204 East Sixth Street, Austin, Texas 78701
A white plastic cup with the word Jingle Jangle on it.
A Jingle Jangle cocktail at Dead Rabbit.
Nicholas Ruiz

The Eleanor

307 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701

National pop-up bar Miracle on Fifth Street returned to esteemed cocktail bar Roosevelt Room’s next-door sibling again in downtown, bringing kitschy decor and festive cocktails. Look for drinks like the mulled wine drink and the Christmapolitan. It runs through through Thursday, December 28. Advanced tickets are $12.50 and come with (though entry is still subject to capacity), and there are other types of entry passes. There are indoor services.

307 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
(512) 494-4094
(512) 494-4094
A dinosaur-shaped mug with a drink in it.
The Christmasaurus drink at Miracle on Fifth at Eleanor.
Miracle on Fifth Street

Uptown Sports Club

1200 East 6th Street, TX 78702

The East Austin New Orleans-ish cocktail bar is decking out with holiday decor and drinks inspired by National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Drinks include the Bar 5 cider toddy with bourbon, apple brandy, apple cider, bitters, and lemon, and the frozen Moose-shine with rye, white and spiced rums, coquito, and whipped cream. It starts on Wednesday, December 4, and runs through the end of the month. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

1200 East 6th Street, TX 78702
(512) 551-2013
(512) 551-2013
A Christmas tree inside a restaurant.
A Christmas tree at Uptown Sports Club.
Kim Light Pearson

Cosmic Saltillo

1300 East 4th Street, Austin, Texas 78702

The East Austin location of the coffee shop/bar/beer garden is embracing its first holidays with its Candy Land-themed pop-up. Expect decor inspired by the board game and gingerbread houses; cocktails like the Honey Pear Cottage with aged tequila, honey, spiced pear, lemon, and bitters and the Mudslide Mountains with vodka, Irish cream, Tia Maria cold-brew coffee liqueur, cream, cocoa, and mole drizzle. It runs through Friday, December 27. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

1300 East 4th Street, Austin, Texas 78702
(512) 763-7216
(512) 763-7216

The Cavalier

2400 Webberville Rd (Swenson Ave), Austin, TX 78702

The East Austin bar’s holiday pop-up this year takes its cues from Krampus, the spooky-scary Christmas figure. This means morbid and festive decor and themed cocktails. There’s a kickoff party on Thursday, December 12 at 8 p.m.; and then it runs through Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

2400 Webberville Rd (Swenson Ave), Austin, TX 78702
(512) 696-4318
(512) 696-4318

Daydreamer

1708 East Sixth Street, Austin, Texas 78702

The East Austin cocktail bar is getting into the holiday spirit with its first themed pop-up inspired by The Nutcracker. This means, yes, lots of festive food tools, along with decorations, themed drinks, and even a ballet performance by Ventana Ballet on Sunday, December 8. It runs from Friday, November 29 through Monday, December 30. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

1708 East Sixth Street, Austin, Texas 78702
Someone holding up a drink in front of a giant nutcracker.
A drink at Daydreamer’s Nutcracker pop-up.
Daydreamer

Fairmont Austin

101 Red River Street, Austin, Texas 78701

The downtown hotel’s seventh-floor rooftop is bringing back its massive ugly sweater party with kitschy decorations along with themed snacks and drinks. It runs from Tuesday, November 26 through Saturday, December 28. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

101 Red River Street, Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 600-2000
(512) 600-2000

Four Seasons Hotel Austin

98 San Jacinto Blvd (at E Cesar Chavez St), Austin, TX 78701

The downtown hotel the Four Seasons is hosting its Ice Rodeo again with the outdoor ice rink, rentable cabins, the deck lounge, and a speakeasy-styled bar, all with food and drinks. It runs from Friday, November 22 through Sunday, January 5. There are outdoor areas.

98 San Jacinto Blvd (at E Cesar Chavez St), Austin, TX 78701
(512) 478-4500
(512) 478-4500
A toasted marshmallow on top of a graham cracker on a blue plate on a white marble counter.
S’mores from the Four Seasons.
Four Seasons Hotel Austin

Kitty Cohen's

2211 Webberville Rd, Austin, TX 78702

The Webberville bar is hosting its annual Hanukkah pop-up, Get Lit, with themed drinks like the latke punch (potato vodka, apple cider, ginger liqueur, and lemon), the Oy Fashioned, and food pop-ups to be announced which will serve themed dishes. It runs from Tuesday, December 3 through the last night of Hannukah on Thursday, January 2. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

2211 Webberville Rd, Austin, TX 78702

Gibson Street Bar

1109 S Lamar Blvd (at Gibson St), Austin, TX 78704

South Austin bar Gibson is hosting its holiday pop-up again, the Gibson Wonderland, with winter cocktails, festive decorations, and more. It runs from Wednesday, November 27 through Sunday, January 5. There are indoor and outdoor areas.

1109 S Lamar Blvd (at Gibson St), Austin, TX 78704
(512) 386-1345
(512) 386-1345
A bar exterior decked out in Christmas decor and lights and a sign over the door reads Gibson Street Bar.
Gibson Street Bar’s holiday entrance.
FBR Management

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