Lost with Luis {Holiday Edition}: Let’s get elfed up! Three Christmas-themed pop-up bars you must check out in Toronto
The tree isn’t the only thing getting lit this year! Tis’ the season to be merry and nothing makes me merrier than a cocktail (or five). Check out these three Christmas-themed pop-up bars in Toronto that will get you nice and elfed up for the holidays!
If you missed my last post on all of the Christmas activities to do in Toronto, I do mention one of these bars in brief!
1. Miracle Pop-up Bar
146 Ossington Ave
November 25th - December 26th
Monday to Friday, 5pm - 2am, and Saturday & Sunday, 2pm - 2am
Miracle is a Christmas-themed pop-up bar that serves Christmas-themed cocktails in a cozy bar setting that is fully decked out in Christmas decorations. It’s Christmas on steroids, so naturally it’s heaven for me.
The décor is kitschy and old school, and has a bit of an 80’s vibe which really brings me back to my childhood.
What originally started as a pop-up bar in the New York City bar scene many years ago, has quickly spread like wildfire all over the world. Luckily, we get our own pop-up right here in Toronto.
I visited the bar last year on Queen Street and of course I had to visit this year’s pop-up on Ossington street. I think this is going to be a tradition for me so here’s to HO HO HOping it comes back every year!
Oh my Garland, this is good.
If you go with a group of people, I suggest trying one of everything because the drinks come in festive glasses and that’s part of the charm. My drink choice was the Jingle Balls Nog and the Bad Santa.
2. Sippin’ Santa
1369 Dundas Street West
November 25th – December 31st
Monday to Friday, 5pm - 2am, and Saturday & Sunday, 2pm - 2am
Sippin’ Santa is a spin-off from Miracle. Unlike Miracle’s more traditional Christmas style, Sippin’ Santa has a more relaxed beachy vibe with a tiki theme. I guess you could say that it’s super lei’d back. ;)
Cocktails are specially curated by Jeff "Beachbum" Berry, which New York Times describes as “the Indiana Jones of Tiki drinks”.
Sip on cocktails like the Papa Noel and the Christmas Eve of Destruction.
My drink choice? The Sippin’ Santa cocktail with rum, amaro, citrus and gingerbread spice. It has a nice kick to it and definitely puts the RUM in pa rum pa pum pum!
Sippin’ Santa
TIP: Both Sippin’ Santa and Miracle are within walking distance of each other so why not make it a bar hop kind of night? I went to both bars on the same night and it was ‘Chicken Noodle for the Christmas lover’s soul’.
3.The Thirsty Elf
Fairmont Royal York, 100 Front Street West
November 28th - December 21st
Thursdays – Saturdays, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
With a name like ‘The Thirsty Elf’, you know it’s going to be good. The Fairmont Royal York hotel in Toronto has opened its doors (for the very first time) to its own pop-up Christmas bar.
Rus Yessenov, the director of mixology at the hotel, has created some festive cocktails to make your ‘spirits’ bright. See what I did there? ;)
Source: Fairmont Royal York
The bar is tiny and intimate (formerly known as Toronto’s smallest bar) and straight out of a 90’s holiday movie.
You can try cocktails like the Be Bad for Tito’s Sake or the Fuzzy Grinch. My favourite was the Gin-gle all the way. Super boozy, and great presentation with the ornament ball.
While all three bars are fantastic and it’s tough to choose a favourite, The Thirsty Elf came out on top for me. It’s small, cozy and intimate. The drinks are top-notch and the presentation is next level. The bar is also very well decorated for any Christmas enthusiast. I should also add that they were playing the Mariah Carey Christmas album when I arrived, which was an added bonus for me. It was almost as if they knew I was coming. All in all, I give The Thirst Elf and 11 out of 10. Miracle comes at a close second with a 9 out of 10. Sippin’ Santa comes in at a 8, and that’s only because although I’m an island boy, I like my Christmases traditional!
Drink up grinches and of course, always drink responsibly!
