These 4 Winter Pop-Up Bars In Illinois Are Sure To Elevate Your Spirits This Season
It wasn’t too long ago that the main “pop-ups” of the holiday season were jack-in-the-boxes and pop-up books. Now, there’s a more adult way to get your pop-up on, and it’s taking over Illinois this season. At these four bars in Chicago and beyond, you’ll find the perfect place to raise a glass of Christmas cheer with your friends and loved ones, and party like you’re elves who just finished making their last present of the season.
Most pop-ups on this list take over popular bars to make a seasonal scene. Frosty's A Christmas Bar takes it to the next level, literally, by capturing three floors of a hotel. Come and explore the many levels of Christmas cheer and worry not: an overnight at the hotel is possible if you overdo it on drinkable winter delight. This is a real place to elevate your pop-up game. Frosty's is located at 809 W Evergreen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622.
Sippin' Santa takes over the beloved Cortland's Garage for holiday nights to (hopefully) remember. Their specialty drink and food menu for the season is bountiful, and their menus are beautifully illustrated, featuring everything from Santa's Helpers to Yule Logs. Sippin' Santa is located at 1645 W Cortland St, Chicago, IL 60622.
If you're looking for winter cheer outside of Chicago city limits never fear. Rubi Agave in Homer transforms from a vibrant tequila and whiskey bar to Santa's village overnight to serve you the holidays right. Santa's Christmas Bar is located at 12622 W 159th St, Homer Glen, IL 60491.
Of course, Christmas isn't the only winter holiday. Celebrate Hanukkah in style at Eight Crazy Nights, which inherits the Grey Stone Tavern for the Winter Season. Here, you'll have fantastic cocktails and bar food with a twist. We wouldn't necessarily recommend going all eight days in a row, however. Eight Crazy nights is located at 3441 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60657.
The next time someone asks you what’s poppin’ this Christmas, the answer won’t just be the chestnuts roasting over the open fire or the crackle of logs. You can report back from the premier pop-ups in the state, and pride yourself on a holiday done right.
What bars do you love that transform during the Christmas season? Leave us a comment with your favorite picks!
Benjamin Clancy is the Illinois and Indiana writer at Only In Your State, a doctoral candidate at UNC Chapel Hill in Communication, and an artistic type who has attended the Vermont Studio Center residency in poetry writing and makes something like music as "little other." They grew up in Austin, Texas and currently live in Chicago, IL with their partner, two dogs, and a cat. Get in touch by emailing bclancy@onlyinyourstate.com.
