We all know that Cleveland has incredible Christmas Ales and holiday beers. Beginning from late October through Christmas, you can expect every drink menu at pretty much every restaurant or brewery in the area to sport a holiday beer of some kind.
Aside from killer Christmas Ales, though, Cleveland goes pretty big when it comes to Christmas pop up bars and bar crawls during the most wonderful time of the year, too.
If you want to go all-in on the holiday cheer, here are all the Christmas bars and bar crawls to check out this year in and around Cleveland.
Best Christmas Pop Up Bars and Bar Crawls in Cleveland
Let’s talk about the best Christmas pop up bars and bar crawls happening this year around Cleveland!
Best Christmas Pop Up Bars In Cleveland
Sip holiday themed cocktails or enjoy a Christmas Ale at one of these Christmas-themed pop up bars in and around Cleveland.
1. The Christmas Corner Bar
18616 Detroit Ave, Lakewood (at Around the Corner)
When Does It Open? Friday, November 18, 2022. Check their Facebook page for hours and upcoming events.
The beloved Christmas Corner Bar is coming back to Around the Corner in Lakewood! This place explodes with holiday cheer this time of year with a ceiling dripping in holiday decor, famous Christmas movies playing on the TVs, Christmas music on blast, and all the Christmas beers and cocktails.
Seriously, this is a must-visit pop up bar in Cleveland for the holiday season! Enjoy a festive martini and soak up the Christmas spirit.
Also keep en eye out for themed holiday events, and even Christmas karaoke nights. The bar announces all of these on its Facebook page.
2. Miracle On 4th Street
2063 E 4th St, Cleveland (at Society Lounge)
When Does It Open? Miracle opens November 22, 2022. Hours are the regular Society Lounge hours, which are 5 p.m.-midnight or 1 a.m. They’re closed Sunday and Monday.
The Miracle Pop Up Bar has locations all over the US, and it’s coming back to Society Lounge on E 4th Street again this year.
This popular Cleveland cocktail bar has a whole new holiday menu, filled with fun Christmas-inspired drinks – all of which come in fun themed glasses! You can also admire all the colorful Christmas decorations.
Pro tip: Make a reservation if you can, or plan to get there right when they open at 5 p.m. so you (hopefully) don’t have to wait long for a table.
3. Xmas Bar
1052 Old River Road, Cleveland (East Bank Flats)
When Does It Open? Set to open November 10, 2022
Cleveland is getting a brand new Christmas bar this year in The Flats! Xmas Bar will pop up inside a huge space in the Flats for over a month this holiday season.
They’ll be serving up holiday cocktails and beer, along with a limited food menu. There will also be music and a club-like atmosphere.
Follow them on Instagram for more info.
4. Sleigh
100 Public Square, Cleveland (3rd floor of JACK Casino)
When Does It Open? November 25, 2022; it will be open Friday and Saturday nights through December 17
JACK Casino in downtown Cleveland is once again hosting a pop up bar through December 17 called Sleigh. It’s located on the 3rd floor (follow signs for Sleigh) and will be serving festive drinks and have cozy holiday decor.
The holiday drinks list here is extensive, with both cold and hot drinks to choose from.
5. Holiday Spirits: Poured by Nuevo
Inside The Eatery at Tower City downtown
When Does It Open? It opens on Friday, November 25, 2022, and after that will be open Thursday-Sunday through December 31. Find hours here.
A brand new pop-up Christmas bar is coming to Tower City this year! It will be located inside The Eatery in Tower City, and will be serving up festive alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
You can expect holiday decorations, too. Check this one out during the WinterLand kickoff on November 26, which will include lots of things happening inside Tower City.
6. Secret Cellar Christmas Bar
2516 Market Ave. Cleveland (at Great Lakes Brewing)
When Does it Open? The bar opens on Wednesday, November 23, 2022, and then will be open Friday-Sunday through December 18, and then every day of the week (except Christmas) through December 31. You can find opening hours here.
Great Lakes Brewing Co. has will once again transform its cellar bar into a cozy Christmas wonderland this year. Enjoy festive decorations as you sip a pint of Christmas Ale, or order off an exclusive holiday cocktail menu.
Seating is first-come, first-served, but the bar is open roughly the same hours that the GLBC brewpub is, so you have lots of chances to check it out!
Holiday pop-up bars a little further away
And the list doesn’t end there! Here are some more holiday pop-up bars to check out if you’re willing to drive a little further:
8. Santa City
500 Shipyard Way, Lorain (at The Shipyards)
When Does It Open? November 25, 2022, and will be open Friday anf Daturday nights from 5 p.m.-midnight through December 30.
For the third year, The Shipyards in Lorain will be offering its pop up Santa City Christmas bar on weekends. The theme this year is a holiday at the beach, so you can expect to find an extensive themed cocktail list with a tiki twist, as well as Hawaiian-inspired holiday decor.
You can find the full menu here.
9. Let It Snow
16555 Southpark Center, Strongsville (at Brew Garden)
When Does It Open? December 1, 2022, and it’s open every day that the restaurant-bar is open
Brew Garden in Strongsville is launching a Christmas pop-up bar this year called Let It Snow, with drink and menu specials.
The whole restaurant is decked out in festive attire, and this is one of just a couple spots on this list that would be appropriate for the whole family since it’s a restaurant and not just a bar!
10. Christmas Explosion
7300 Palisades Pkwy, Mentor (inside RollHouse Mentor)
When Does It Open: November 15, 2022; opening hours will vary weekly
RollHouse is a chain of indoor entertainment facilities throughout northeast Ohio that offer bowling, escape rooms, and more. And the Mentor location is opening a pop-up Christmas bar this year!
“Christmas Explosion” will be available for private rentals, and will be open for walk-ins when it’s not being rented out for holiday parties. Contact [email protected] for rental info, and check their Facebook page for more info.
11. Blitzen’s
80 N Main St., Hudson, OH
When Does It Open? November 23, 2022; it’s open 4-10 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve
Blitzen’s isn’t in Cleveland, but Hudson is a cute town with a Hallmark-esque town square that’s worth the short drive. Plus, they’ve got a pop-up Christmas bar again this year!
Blitzen’s has taken over all of Hudson’s Restaurant this year, serving up fun holiday-themed drinks in a cozy, decorated space. Hudson has a DORA, too, meaning you can grab a drink to-go and check out the town’s Christmas decorations.
You can even get any of their themed cocktails served in a leg lamp cup this year!
(If you’re looking for a Christmas bar that’s kid-friendly, this one would be my pick! It’s a restaurant first with a family-friendly menu and plenty of seating.)
Local bars with special holiday menus
These spots may not be going full-on Christmas pop up bar, but they’re still offering special holiday drink menus and specials. Some you won’t want to miss include:
- 12 Cocktails of Christmas at Table 45 inside the InterContinental Cleveland – They’re serving up some of the prettiest and most Instagram-ready holiday cocktails. They’re all delicious and tastefully decorated. There’s even a special Christmas Story eggnog cocktail that comes with a souvenir leg lamp ornament!
- Merwin’s Wharf – Along with offering igloo dining again this winter, Merwin’s Wharf has a special holiday cocktail menu through January 1. All cocktails look festive and only cost $10!
- Jingle Bell Rock menu at Seeing Double in North Olmstead – 8 festive cocktails (including one that has twinkle lights IN IT), plus a special Christmas food menu, too.
Check out our complete guide to the Holidays in Cleveland, too!
Best Christmas Bar Crawls In Cleveland
If you want to take the holiday revelry to another level, you can also sign up for one of these awesome Cleveland Christmas bar crawls!
1. 12 Bars Of Christmas
Dive Bar, 1214 West 6th Street, Cleveland
When: December 3, 2022
The annual 12 Bars of Christmas Bar Crawl is taking place on Saturday, December 3, 2022 from 12-8 p.m. Tickets start at $12 and include a Santa stadium cup for your drinks, commemorative Santa hat, bar covers, and food/drink specials at participating bars.
You just need to bring your game face and best costume to partake in the fun! Pop on that ugly Christmas sweater, A Christmas Story bunny costume, or perhaps a Santa suit and join in the festivities!
You can purchase tickets in advance here.
2. Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl
Around the Corner, 18616 Detroit Ave, Lakewood
When: December 10, 2022
While the Around the Corner bar is host of one of the pop up bar above, they also are a part of the 6th Annual Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl! As you can imagine, ugly sweater bar crawls are very popular this time of year, and many neighborhoods and cities nearby host them.
On December 10, 2022 from 1-9 p.m., you can partake in this bar crawl that goes all over Lakewood. Tickets start at $20 and include a t-shirt, koozie, Christmas movie trivia during the crawl, discounted drinks, and entrance to the after party where you can get a special Holiday Drawstring Bag.
Snag your ticket here!
3. Santas In Tremont
The South Side, 2207 W 11th St., Cleveland
As fun as bar crawls are, what about a fun run that ends in a party? That is what Santas in Tremont is all about. This 1-mile run/walk/jog/crawl starts and ends at Tremont Tap House on December 10, 2022.
The race starts at 4 p.m. and then there is an after party from 4-8 p.m. at The South Side. Tickets are $25 and include a Santa hat, a t-shirt, and a free adult beverage at the post-race party.
Get those endorphins going before enjoying a boozy celebration afterward!
Register for Santas in Tremont here.
4. Christmas Ale Ugly Sweater Contest
Balentine, 4113 Erie Street, Willoughby
When: December 10, 2022
Over on the east side in Willoughby, there is another bar crawl happening on December 10, 2022 from 1-5 p.m. Sport your favorite ugly sweater for the event as you pop around to 9 different locations to enjoy some of the best Christmas Ales the area has to offer!
Prices start at $30 and include Christmas Ales, food specials, and a souvenir to keep.
Register for this bar crawl here!
5. Official Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl
West 6th, Cleveland
When: December 17, 2022
Party it up in your craziest holiday-themed sweater, onesie, or Santa suit as you crawl around W. 6th Street in Cleveland in the 7th Annual Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl. This takes place on December 17, 2022 from 2-9 p.m.
Tickets start at $15 and include free bar cover, discounts on food and drinks, holiday themed drinks, an ugly sweater costume contest, DJs and entertainment at select bars, and more!
Be sure to register here!
The holiday season is a fun time to visit Cleveland. As the temperatures drop, you’ll find many great things to do in Cleveland during Christmastime. Bar crawls and Christmas pop up bars will definitely add a bit more holiday spirit to the occasion!
Which bar crawl or pop up bar would you most like to enjoy?
Kat is a Cleveland transplant and has lived here for over 5 years. She loves to eat, drink, and explore all across the city, and has made it her personal mission to find the best breweries and pizza in Northeast Ohio. She also runs a couples travel blog and podcast called World Wide Honeymoon.