Holiday-themed pop-up bars have officially swept the Dallas-Fort Worth restaurant-bar scene in 2023, moving from a special-circumstance oddity into an expanding trend.

The holiday pop-up bar was first pioneered in 2014 by "Miracle," a New York-based tour founded by the owner of a bar supply company who started doing holiday bar takeovers so he could sell glassware. Initially an exclusive thing that hit bars in a few key cities, Miracle is now at nearly 200 locations across the U.S. including four bars in DFW (which are documented here).

This edition of Where to Drink spotlights five locals doing their own versions. Get ready for spiked hot chocolate, spiked apple cider, minty martinis, and more. Plus a bonus sixth bar that's a swanky newcomer that just opened in Dallas' West Village.

The Holiday Hideaway Chicken N Pickle holiday pop-up
All Chicken N Pickle locations (including Grand Prairie and Grapevine) have turned their rooftops into the Holiday Hideaway: A CNP Pop-Up Bar, serving festive cocktails and small bites in the venue’s enclosed rooftop space. It's a mountain lodge theme with twinkling lights, a gondola photo booth, and cozy seating. They've created a menu of nine holiday cocktails including one with apple cider and another with chocolat mint, plus a martini flight. The fee is $5 to $10 per person and comes with a shareable appetizer such as a cheeseboard or French onion dip. You can reserve tables for parties of 2, 3, 4, and 6 people, for stays of up to two hours. It debuts November 17 and will be open through December 31. Reservations open up for 2 weeks at a time (they're currently stopped at December 1) so you'll need to check back as dates are added.

Harwood Arms "Miracle on Harwood Street" pop-up
The British pub in the Harwood District will become "Miracle on Harwood Street," not to be confused with the Miracle tour (hope they don't catch wind!), with festive decor and special holiday-themed food and beverages. Foods include mini beef Wellington with brisket and mushroom in puff pastry; spinach artichoke dip with grilled pita and feta cheese crumble; baked brie in puff pastry with pear chutney; meatballs with whipped ricotta and smoked tomato sauce; and an eggnog crème brûlée. Cocktails and shots include a Dasher with gin, vanilla liqueur, lemon, creme, and soda; Espresso Martini with vodka, espresso, and coffee liqueur; and spiked warm apple cider with rum. It debuts November 24 and runs through December 31.

The Henry "St. Henry's Winter Wonderland" pop-up
Fox Restaurant Concepts' restaurant-bar at 2301 Akard St. has a tradition of transforming their rooftop into a holiday getaway with cocktails and festive atmosphere. It's mostly about Xmas decor, but they merit props for being early (2020) to the holiday pop-up bar trend. They do a special menu with drinks like Junior & Mrs Mint (vodka, white chocolate, peppermint schnapps), Nog On The Rooftop, Fig & Ginger Mule. There's a hot brandy-spiked cider and a frozen spiced horchata, plus an extensive menu of bites like cauliflower hummus, rotisserie chicken nachos, and baked Brie. It runs from November 21 to January 1. Reservations are required for parties of 4 or more and can be made online; smaller parties may walk-in.

Leela’s Wine Bar "Holiday House" pop-up
All three locations have become Holiday House, an immersive holiday pop-up featuring the expected festive decor and cocktails, although they've gone to town on the Greenville Ave location with arched branches covered in lights and ornaments at the entrance, oversized gift boxes, ceilings decked out with snowflakes, and lights to look like snowfall. Themed cocktails include Polar Expresso with espresso-infused vodka, Mr. Black, frangelico, cream and cinnamon; gingerbread espresso martini; and Sweater Weather with merlot, Grand Marnier, orange, turbinado, mulling spices. An Espresso Flight will feature mini versions of the espresso martini, gingerbread espresso martini, and s’mores espresso martini. It'll be open through January 1.

Suburban Yacht Club "Suburban Sleigh Club" holiday pop-up
Plano seafood restaurant from the 33 Restaurant Group (Taverna Rossa, Union Bear, Cadillac Pizza Pub) joins the holiday pop-up trend with the Suburban Sleigh Club, its first stab at the genre, featuring bites and specialty cocktails in cute mugs, November 20-January 7. Drinks are $10 and include Spiked Cocoa, a hot toddy, the Blitzen’ Rita, and Jingle Juice. Bites include tamales and churros. Unlike most of these bars, Suburban allows kids and has a special cocoa for $8 which includes a souvenir mug.

Bar Colette
New cocktail spot in Dallas' West Village is from Brandon Cohanim, (Pok, Namo), who has partnered with Ruben Rolon, previously of L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Miami and Le Jardiniere Miami. Their vision is an artisan aperitif destination offering a sophisticated and upscale experience that pulls inspiration from the bar and food culture of Europe. Drinks sound amazing such as the Beets Me, which they say is inspired by a Beet Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette, containing vodka, Pineau de Charentes, rectified pear juice, and golden beets; or the Chamonix, a hot chocolate-based cocktail with a herbaceous Calvados infusion and oat milk. There's also a food menu of snacks, caviar, small plates, and sweets.