The Ultimate Guide to D.C.'s Best Christmas Pop-Up Bars
With holiday bars gaining popularity in Washington, D.C., I want to provide you with the ultimate guide for your visit — or even if you live here. These bars range from charming date spots with your partner or a girls' night out, to dive bars and everything in between! Note that there are two major Christmas sponsors: Miracle and Holly Jolly. Both change their bars annually, as explained below. For Holly Jolly, you'll need to purchase tickets online, while Miracle offers free entry. The other bars listed are not affiliated with these two brands.
Let’s go on a holiday bar crawl, shall we?
Urban Roast DC
Located in the Penn Quarter, this bar was the first to display decorations before Thanksgiving. I appreciate this because I usually put up my own decorations by then! This is my second visit in recent years, and I think it has the best Christmas decor of any bar. I enjoy how they change their decorations annually, offering great photo opportunities—perhaps even the perfect Christmas card shot. You can take pictures in three spots: upon entering, near the bar, and in the back room. Each provides a unique backdrop, from the Grinch who stole Christmas to a wall of presents with "Merry Christmas." My favorite spot is what I call the pink glow room, decorated entirely with pink fake flowers and bathed in a pink glow, making it my favorite place. This place is prefect for a date night or a girls night out!
Tips!
Reserve your spot ahead of time; this place gets bustling. But if you're just getting a drink, you can usually find a table more easily as long as you arrive before 6pm.
They have a few different food options ranging from brunch, two full-course meals, or just a regular dinner!
Sit inside to experience the décor, but if that's not your jam, they have outdoor seating with fire pits and heaters. I would totally come back here to enjoy that! Also, DC doesn't get as cold in December as other places, so you can enjoy sitting outside without dying from the cold!
Take your time to enjoy the place. Yes, I took many photos, but it's nice to put the phone away and fully immerse yourself in the experience and the people around you, creating a relaxed and unhurried atmosphere! The server we had was terrific, and it is the holiday season. Tip more than 20 percent; the people here work hard to provide you with a unique experience and good service.
You are about a 15-minute walk from the White House Christmas Tree and a 10-minute walk from City Center, where you can see more Christmas Decorations, and only a 5-minute walk to the Christmas Market!
Holly Jolly Bar at Puttery
Holly Jolly took over the Brighton Bar in the Wharf last year and did a fantastic job. This year, they're at Puttery in Penn Quarter near Capital One Arena. I haven't been there before, but Puttery offers an immersive experience with creative dining, fun social activities, craft cocktails, and lively music, all while guests enjoy themed nine-hole courses. This year, they're adding some Christmas magic, and with Holly Jolly Bar taking over, you'll need to book a 90-minute ticket online, which includes a free drink. While they've done a great job, I still think Brighton Bar offered a warmer, more decorated atmosphere with more space to move around than this cozy corner of the bar, even though it has multiple areas. I also preferred the drinks last year. This is a great place to hang out with friends, maybe even a date night.
Tips!
1. Get their pomegranate wings! They were incredibly tasty. I also recommend trying their truffle fries, but I think the wings were even better.
2. I highly suggest trying the Sugar and Spice Old Fashioned and the Jolly Pear drink; those are my top two favorites.
3. I strongly recommend visiting the Washington D.C. Christmas Market before or after your plans, as you're just steps away from it.
4. Booking your ticket for 6pm or earlier is ideal to enjoy the market and avoid crowds, since seating is at the back of a small bar.
5. If you're in the mood to play putt-putt, just note it'll cost extra.
6. For more Christmas bars, there are two just a 3-minute walk away—Urban Roast and Dirty Habit.
Dirty Habit
This bar wasn’t initially on my list for this year's visits, but its close location—just a three-minute walk from three different Christmas bars—made it irresistible. As the saying goes, when in Rome. Honestly, I prefer this bar over Puttery because it feels more charming and more like a European spot, with features such as fire pits and cozy fur blankets, while we enjoyed the Christmas tree and twinkling lights. There are two main downsides: first, the cocktails are expensive at $19—more so than Puttery; second, finding the bathroom is a bit of an adventure—you have to go through the hotel bar, then the lobby, and upstairs. But at least the lobby, decorated with holly and a large Christmas tree, creates a festive atmosphere! This place is perfect for a date night, girls' night, or large parties because they have a spacious seating area!
Tips!
1. Go later, around 7:30 or after. We ended up scoring one of their couches by the fire pit because it was empty on a Friday night!
2. Get their Ski the Limit, which is a twist on the French 75 drink, or their Spike Poncho, especially if you like mezcal!
Sense of Thai St
While this place isn't technically in D.C.—it's located in Ashburn, Virginia, about 45 minutes away—I had to include it. The décor is minimal when compared to Death Punch, but the food is outstanding. It's another Miracle pop-up bar and has the same drinks, but it offers the best Thai food I've had in Virginia!
Tips!
1. I recommend making a reservation or arriving early. We were informed there would be a 1.5-hour wait for a table, so we grabbed seats at the bar and only waited about 15 minutes.
2. Make sure to try the Yellow Curry Chicken. It's the best I've had since visiting Telluride!
3. Don't miss the Secret Santa drink. The bartender will ask what you like to drink and create a special concoction for you, which may include flavors like gingerbread or something festive!
4. You have to get the eggnog! I typically dislike eggnog, but this is the best I've ever tried!
5. They offer Happy Hour every day from 3 PM to 6 PM.
6. If you're in need of a last-minute gift, there are plenty of shops nearby to find something after enjoying your food and drinks!
Black Whiskey
Over the past couple of years, Death Punch held Miracle Bar. This year, since Death Punch was sold under new ownership, Over the past few years, Death Punch operated Miracle Bar. This year, after being sold to new owners, Death Punch's sister bar, Black Whiskey, is hosting Miracle. If you're seeking a relaxed dive bar with a touch of Christmas spirit, this is the spot. Keep in mind, they don't serve food here, but since you're in the Logan District, you'll find plenty of dining options nearby.
Tips!
Arrive earlier, as this place is smaller than Death Punch.
This spot is ideal for after-work drinks or a mellow type of night with friends. They do have a pool table!
I strongly recommend trying their Christmaspolitan, Koal LaLaLa, and Snow Ball Old Fashion. The Koala is a new drink this year!
They will keep your credit card while you order drinks, as they are served in fancy, decorative glassware. If you like the glassware, you have the option to purchase it from the bar!
Yes, I mentioned another Miracle bar in Virginia, but if you'd rather not drive all the way out there and want a more low-key spot, this is your place!
This location is reachable by metro, and you can explore several other Christmas bars nearby.
Revolt U Street
This wasn’t on my radar for Christmas Bars until I visited Black Whiskey with a friend, who told me about another bar doing a preview weekend! Located in the U Street area, it’s probably my favorite Christmas Bar of the season. They have a vibe similar to Black Whiskey, functioning as a dive bar but also operating as a nightclub. When we visited, the DJ wasn’t playing yet, but there was Christmas music, and people were dancing, which I love. Plus, they serve the most reasonably priced drinks compared to the other bars I’ve mentioned. If you’re looking for a place where you can dance, make friends, and enjoy great drinks and décor, this spot is perfect!
Tips!
I recommend getting their Golden Nutcracker, The Grinch, and the Winter Mar.
This place also doesn’t serve food, but there are plenty of other places to eat in U street.
It's just a 15-minute walk from Black Whiskey, making it easy to visit both bars in one night, as I did.
This is one block up from the U St metro.
Dance! It was wonderful to stand up, enjoy the music, and make new friends that night!
Say hi to the bartenders. They were extremely friendly, explaining how they created the cocktails and sharing stories about the place. Honestly, they were fantastic! just great!
This year in D.C., there are plenty of great holiday bars for everyone—whether you want to dance, have a girls' night out, or take photos for Christmas cards. Let me know which bar you visited and which was your favorite! I’d love to hear about your experiences and any recommendations you might have for others looking to celebrate the season.
