Have a merry time at these holiday pop-up bars in the Twin Cities

Eat, drink, and be merry, right?

You can get the whole lot of those instructions under your belt by dropping into one of the many holiday-themed pop-up bars surfacing in late November, whether it’s charming, kitschy, or “Gremlins”-themed.

Here are some of the festive, décor-stuffed, cocktail-slinging pop-ups you’ll find around the Twin Cities through the end of the year.

Jingle Bar is taking over the Mall of America bar for a second year. It’ll have heaps of decorations, photo opportunities, and a pair of decorated bars in its 36,000-square-foot home to year-round, fair-inspired food. Through mid-January at The Fair on 4, Mall of America, 402 East Broadway, Bloomington

Surly Brewing has again transformed Surly Pizza Upstairs into Dorit’s Tavern, the bar from “Gremlins.” The brewery describes it as a “tacky ’80s aesthetic.” Be sure not to offer any pizza to the gremlins after midnight. Through Dec. 31 at Surly Brewing, 520 Malcolm Ave. SE, Minneapolis

Earl Giles is a winter wonderland. It’ll be decked out with more than 100,000 lights and an 18-foot tree. It’s rolling out seasonal cocktails and snacks. Plus, there’s a mini Jingle Giles at Dayton’s Market on Nicollet Mall. Through Jan. 3 at Earl Giles Distillery, 1325 Quincy St. NE, Minneapolis

Bassett Hound, situated next to the Christkindl holiday market, will be festively decorated with a menu of holiday-themed cocktails like the Mrs. Claus Holiday Nog and the Jack Frost Spritz, which features Dampfwerk Peppermint Schanpps, Prosecco, and soda. The theme is a little lighter here than at some spots, if you find some of the wilder ones to be a bit much. Through Dec. 31 at Bassett Hound, 350 N 5th St., Minneapolis

Red Cow overstuffs its Uptown Minneapolis restaurant with kitschy holiday garb and drops a curated menu that includes drinks like the Gingerbread White Russian, Frozen Cranberry Margarita, and a non-alcoholic cranberry spritzer. Meanwhile, inside its enclosed patio, it’ll transform into the Aprés Sky Chalet, which has a similar, but more ski lodge-themed menu. Nov. 21–Jan. 4 at Red Cow, 2626 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis

Red Cow is bringing some of its pop-up fun to Wayzata as well. Snow Globe Social dishes up an icy vibe with snowflake lights, icicles, and silver and gold trim. Its themed menu will include food and drinks like the Aperol Spritzmas and White Christmas Russian. Nov. 25–Jan. 4 at Red Cow, 881 Lake St. N, Wayzata

This year, Hotel Emery’s pop-up theme is “An Explorer’s Guide to the North Pole,” which transforms its Vault Level into a cozy Santa-centric hub. Visitors will “literally step down through the chimney” into the North Pole, it says in an announcement. New this year is Blitzen’s Dive Bar, a “speakeasy-within-a-bar” featuring neon lights, vintage ornaments, and an interactive bar game.

It’ll also have a space called Santa’s Strategy Room, an enchanted candy forest, and the Gingerbread Toy Factory. There will be games, themed cocktails, a toy drive, themed nights, and more. There’s a lot going on. Reservations are not required, but recommended. Nov. 26 to Dec. 27 at The Vault Level at Hotel Emery, 214 S 4th St., Minneapolis

Hell’s Kitchen’s devilish holiday pop-up returns on Black Friday, filling every free space in the bar with kitchy décor. At least, every space that isn’t left clear for holiday-themed food and drinks. There will also be live music on select nights and a photo booth to ensure you’ll never forget that ugly sweater you wore to dinner. Nov. 28–early January, Hell’s Kitchen, 80 S 9th St., Minneapolis

Black Sheep Pizza’s themed pop-up will include visits from Santa, who will surprise diners at their tables at random with mini bags of coal (those might contain a gift card), as well as a mailbox for kids to drop off letters to the Big Red Guy. The festive décor isn’t just around the bar, but throughout the entire restaurant. Nov. 28–Jan. 6 at Black Sheep Coal Fired Pizza, 600 N Washington Ave., Minneapolis

For a second year, The Naughty List will surface inside the Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District. Decked out in holiday garb, it offers a menu of seasonally inspired cocktails and food. Dec. 1–30 at The Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District, 708 S 3rd St., Minneapolis

Related: Your guide to holiday markets in the Twin Cities

This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Nov 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the MN Lifestyle section. Add Bring Me The News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.