10 Holiday Bars & Events in Charlotte
My favorite part of the holiday season includes spending time with family and friends, decorating the Christmas tree and getting myself lit off of winter cocktails. Keep your spirits merry and bright at these holiday pop-up bars and cocktail events in Charlotte.
Check with these businesses directly for exact hours of operation and holiday closures.
Holiday Bars in Charlotte
A Very Tiki Christmas at El Thrifty
A Very Tiki Christmas at El Thrifty
Optimist Park
El Thrifty, a Mexican bar and restaurant at Optimist Hall, is giving Santa a tropical vacation. Celebrate the holiday season cantina style as you sip themed cocktails like the Seashell Spritz, Frosty’s Flamingo, Tropical Sleigh Ride and Why Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer. As you enjoy your tropical cocktail, order food and play games like mini duck pin bowling, shuffleboard, air hockey and more.
A Very Tiki Christmas runs from Dec. 1-31. ElThrifty.com
House of Krampus at Humbug
House of Krampus at Humbug
Villa Heights
House of Krampus returns to Humbug this holiday season. Get your tickets for this unique holiday experience. Enjoy a curated drink menu, holiday snacks and other surprises.
House of Krampus runs from Dec. 1-23. HumbugCLT.com
Miracle at BackStage Lounge
Miracle at BackStage Lounge
South End
BackStage Lounge loves a holiday-themed bar. This speakeasy, located behind SouthBound, is decked out in holiday lights for the Mircale pop-up bar. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis for this popular imbibing experience. Expect cocktails like the Bad Santa, served hot with aged rum, spiced butter, oat milk and nutmeg, along with holiday movies on the bar’s televisions. Make sure you check BackStage Lounge’s Instagram for the secret code to enter the speakeasy.
Miracle at BackStage Lounge runs from Nov. 22-Dec. 30. EatSouthBound.com/Backstage-Lounge
Miracle on Main at 158 on Main (Photo from 158 on Main)
Miracle on Main
Mooresville
If you’re willing to travel outside of Charlotte, 158 on Main is also a Miracle pop-up location in Mooresville, about 30 minutes from Uptown. Holiday spirit can be found from floor to ceiling at this cocktail lounge. Sip a Christmapolitan or Jingle Balls Nog made with cognac, then purchase a festive mug or glass to take home.
158 on Main is also donating a portion of sales to Children’s Hope Alliance. This is the season of given after all, so you’ll be drinking for a great cause.
Miracle on Main runs from Nov. 16-Dec. 31. 158onMain.com
Sippin’ Santa at The Royal Tot
Sippin’ Santa at The Royal Tot
Belmont (neighborhood)
Celebrate the holidays with a tropical twist at The Royal Tot. This tiki bar is an official location for the Sippin’ Santa pop-up bar. Enjoy a Kris Kringle Colada inside the bright pink bar or by one of the rooftop firepits overlooking Uptown. The Royal Tot will also have holiday games, like Music Bingo Xmas Style, along with stocking decorating and more throughout the holiday season.
Sippin’ Santa at The Royal Tot runs from Nov. 21-Dec. 31. CharlotteRooftopBar.com
Sippin' Santa at Thigs Cocktail Bar (Photo from Thigs)
Sippin’ Santa at Thigs Cocktail Bar
Cornelius
If you’re in the Lake Norman area and want to experience the Sippin’ Santa pop-up, then head to Thigs Cocktail Bar in Cornelius. Enjoy the same themed cocktails as The Royal Tot, plus special holiday programming. Thigs will host a whiskey tasting, Christmas cocktail class, ugly sweater contest and more throughout the month of December. Tickets are required for some of these events.
Sippin’ Santa at Thigs runs from Nov. 20-Dec. 31. ThigsCocktailBar.com
Tinseltown at Billy Sunday
Tinseltown at Billy Sunday
Optimist Park
Billy Sunday’s location at Optimist Hall will be full of holiday spirit during the Tinseltown pop-up. Sit inside the decorated bar or get cozy by the outdoor firepits while you enjoy a seasonal cocktail like a sugar cookie martini, apple pie old-fashioned and house-made coquito.
Tinseltown at Billy Sunday runs from Nov. 29-Dec. 31. Billy-Sunday.com
Tinsel Town at Papa Doc’s Shore Club (Photo from Papa Doc's Shore Club)
Tinsel Town at Papa Doc’s
Lake Wylie, S.C.
Down in Lake Wylie, Papa Doc’s is celebrating the holiday season with its own Christmas pop-up bar. Tinsel Town features over-the-top decorations, Instagram-worthy photo opportunities and a cocktail menu that will leave you feeling holly and jolly. Make your way to the gingerbread house bar to order drinks like Cousin Eddy’s frozen spiked egg nog, a Mistletoe Mule and Elf’d Up Shots.
Tinsel Town at Papa Doc’s runs Nov. 24-Dec. 23, Thursday through Saturday. PapaDocsLKW.com
Toast to the Holidays at Supperland Speakeasy (Photo from Supperland)
Toast to the Holidays at Supperland
Plaza Midwood
Make a reservation for a Holiday Spirit Experience at Supperland’s speakeasy. The basement of this popular restaurant is transformed into a cozy, festive bar. Come dressed in your best (or worst) holiday sweater and enjoy one of the all-new themed cocktails, with small bite pairings if you’re feeling peckish.
Toast to the Holidays runs from Nov. 24-Jan. 6, 2024. Supper.Land
Other Holiday Cocktail Events
Toasts & Trees at Southern Distilling Company (Photo from Southern Distilling Company)
Toasts & Trees at Southern Distilling Company
Statesville
On Saturday, Dec. 9, Southern Distilling Company is hosting a cocktail competition at the Statesville distillery. From 3-8 p.m., watch as amateur mixologists and industry professionals compete to make a delectable cocktail from a mystery box of ingredients. Contestants have 15 minutes to shake or stir their cocktail. Judges will critique each entry, and there will be a final round of judging for the amateur versus the professional match up.
While you’re there, tour of the distillery, take a photo with Santa from 5-8 p.m. and vote on the best tree decorated by local nonprofits. Tickets for Toasts & Trees are $25.
Holiday Bar Crawls in Charlotte
Jingle all the way across the Queen City at these holiday bar crawls in Charlotte.
Dec. 9: 2023 Official Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl. BarCrawlLive.com
Dec. 9: SantaCon Bar Crawl. PubCrawls.com
Dec. 9: Charlotte 23rd Annual Santa Bar Crawl. EventBrite.com
Dec. 16: Ugly Sweater Crawl. PubCrawls.com, PubCrawls.com