Getting Blitzed

Dallas' Omni Hotels debuts holiday bar pop-up at 7 Texas properties

Is your order naughty or nice?

Photo courtesy of Omni Hotels & Resorts

Dallas-based Omni Hotels is ringing in the holidays with an over-the-top cocktail experience that will debut at 27 hotels across the U.S., including seven in Texas and five in Dallas-Fort Worth.

The holiday initiative is an expansion of their successful Blitzen’s Bar, the festive pop-up they debuted at the Omni Dallas hotel in downtown Dallas in 2024. Now the hotel chain will expand the concept, launching bar takeovers at these seven hotels in Texas:

Dallas: Hops & Hens at Omni Dallas Hotel
Fort Worth: Wine Thief at Omni Fort Worth Hotel
Frisco: Lobby Bar at Omni Frisco Hotel at The Star
Frisco: Lounge by Top Golf at Omni PGA Frisco Resort
Irving: LRH at Omni Las Colinas Hotel
Houston: La Reserve at Omni Houston Hotel
San Antonio: El Colegio at Omni La Mansión del Rio

From November 28 to January 9, these hotel bars will transform into a winter wonderland decked out with twinkling lights, festive decor, and a menu of merry-making cocktails crafted by mixologist Julie Reiner, a judge on Netflix’s Drink Masters and the creative force behind New York City favorites Clover Club, Milady’s, and Leyenda.

The cocktail menu will comprise eight drinks including:

The Blitzen with Woodford Reserve Rye, Liquid Alchemist ginger apple spice syrup, and angostura bitters, served in a holiday ornament
Sleigh Ride with Grey Goose Vodka, Italicus, lime, cranberry syrup, and soda water, served with light-up ice cubes
Espress-Ho Ho Martini with Don Julio Reposado Tequila, Mr. Black coffee liqueur, and espresso, garnished with a mini MoonPie

There's also a zero-proof Merry Spritz-mas with Curious Elixir #4, Fluère non-alcoholic bitter, and lemon; and a decadent and trendy Dubai hot chocolate with caramelized kataifi, pistachio whipped cream, and dripped Stroopwafel chocolate bar, served in a gold coffee mug.

Accompanying snacks will include Reindeer Fuel (smoked maple-chili nut and pretzel crunch) and an assorted holiday cookie tray.

"After the incredible response to Blitzen's Bar last year, I'm thrilled to return with Omni Hotels & Resorts to make this holiday season even more memorable," Reiner says in a release. "Crafting cocktails for Blitzen's is all about pushing the boundaries of tradition, and infusing classic holiday flavors with playful, modern twists - and this year's menu delivers in the most fun and flavorful way."

Each hotel will also host holiday experiences including concerts, photos with Santa, and special holiday stay packages.

On Saturday, November 29, Omni's properties will simultaneously light their Christmas trees at 6 pm local time, marking the official start of the season, which also features the brand's cherished annual hot chocolate ritual.

ON THE ROAD

6 must-try restaurants for your next Texas Hill Country getaway

Salt Lick BBQ/ Facebook

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While wine gets the majority of the attention in the Texas Hill Country, something has to soak it all up, and the region is also home to some of the state's best eats.

From legendary barbecue and famous desserts to elegant bistros serving elevated fare, these six Texas Hill Country restaurants are among our favorite detours. Add them to your next weekend getaway itinerary.

The Dodging Duck Brewhaus, Boerne
Named for Cibolo Creek's most famous waddlers, this Boerne gastropub has an international menu that ranges from blistered shishito peppers to fish and chips. But flowing beer calls for a sturdy foundation. Get your ducks in a row with a beer sampler paired with hearty German fare like huge Bavarian-style pretzels or a spicy bratwurst.

Old City Hall Restaurant & Bar, New Braunfels
Housed in a, well, old city hall, this graceful New Braunfels newcomer is now more of a hub of languorous date nights than municipal intrigue. Still, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t inspire a few debates. Should the appetizer be the lighter smoked crab dip with farm-fresh crudité or the indulgent truffle fries paired with a frosty gin martini?

Old City Hall in New Braunfels has our vote. Old City Hall/ Facebook

Salt Lick BBQ, Driftwood
Sure, some Texans obsess about post oak versus mesquite, but this Driftwood barbecue joint is not for barbecue cultists. While the famous circular smoker is mostly just for show, the all-you-can-eat family meal is still a rite of passage. For $33.95, guests can munch on beef brisket, sausage, pork ribs, and all the Texas fixings.

The Blue Bonnet Cafe, Marble Falls
This Marble Falls charmer, open since 1929, is famed for sky-high meringues that tower as high as five inches. Pie, however, is just the start. Almost all of the fare is a little oversized, from a Dagwood club to a hefty Wednesday meatloaf special. The stripped-down interior isn’t much to look at, but that doesn’t mean your eyes won’t be popping.

Vaudeville Fredericksburg At Vaudeville, come for the shopping; stay for the bistro cuisine.Vaudeville/ Facebook

Vaudeville Bistro, Fredericksburg
It’s a boutique. It’s a wine bar. It’s a stylish brasserie. Much like its namesake, Fredericksburg's Main Street stunner likes to lay on the variety. Start with Spanish-style grilled octopus, then head to the showstopping rack of lamb. The curtain call is a chocolate chunk pecan cookie almost richer than the dark chocolate pot de creme.

Calivence, Fredericksburg
This Fredericksburg winery's biggest surprise isn’t the bright Cab Franc. The property also hosts a charming bistro serving French-Californian fare. Housed in an 1869 Sunday house, the quaint spot serves pairing-friendly dishes like crostini, oysters, and a Thai steak salad with a minty chutney. And, of course, there's an absolutely killer crème brûlée for dessert.

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