Best Christmas Bars & Holiday Pop-Ups in Phoenix (2026)
Rooftop ski-club cocktails, a flight to the North Pole, neighborhood bars covered in lights, and festive nights across Phoenix, Scottsdale and the East Valley.
New to RoamRecs? Save these places to your own map in one tap, find them again on your phone, and share lists with friends. It’s free.
Run a business in this guide, or want yours added? Get in touch. Or get featured.
Phoenix has more ways to do Christmas drinks than you'd expect. You can settle into a tropical Santa takeover downtown, book a make-believe flight to the North Pole, or keep it simple with a beer under a ceiling of Christmas lights. Scottsdale adds Old Town bars, holiday cocktail menus and resort grounds you can easily spend a whole evening exploring.
We picked these places for the kind of night they make possible. Some are full Christmas transformations; others are good bars with a seasonal menu, or holiday outings where the drinks are part of the fun. A few local favorites haven't announced their 2026 return yet. They're marked in the table and in their cards, so you'll know which ones to check before you go.
Every Phoenix Christmas Bar and Pop-Up at a Glance
| Bar or pop-up | Area | Dates and booking |
|---|---|---|
| Sippin' Santa at Bitter & Twisted | Downtown Phoenix | Nov 11–Dec 27; Tock or walk-in waitlist |
| Miracle at Floor 13 | Downtown Phoenix | Nov 23–Dec 30; reservations open 7 days ahead |
| Journey to the North Pole at Carry On | Downtown Phoenix | Ticketed; new flights release Mondays |
| Home By Myself at Trophy Room | Downtown Phoenix | 2026 dates to come |
| A Blue Hound Christmas Story | Downtown Phoenix | From Nov 27 for about a week; reserve online |
| Naughty or Nice at Eden | Downtown Phoenix | From Nov 11; SevenRooms |
| Get Merry at Little Rituals | Downtown Phoenix | 2026 return not confirmed |
| Winter Wonderland at Pigtails Downtown | Downtown Phoenix | 2026 return not confirmed |
| On Holiday at The Global Ambassador | Camelback corridor | Nov 4–Dec 30; reserve through the hotel |
| Swizzle Inn | Uptown Phoenix | Open year-round; walk-in |
| Holidays in New York at 36 Below | Arcadia | 2026 dates to come |
| Hot Cocoa Aboard Platform 18¾ | Arcadia | Weekends Nov 28–Dec 20; book ahead |
| Holiday nights at Thunderbird Lounge | Melrose | Dec 4, 19 and 26; event tickets |
| Santa's Love Shack at Sunny's Lounge | Central Phoenix | 2026 dates not confirmed |
| Coach House | Old Town Scottsdale | Open year-round; walk-in |
| Miracle at BLVD | Old Town Scottsdale | Nov 27–Dec 24; check holiday hours |
| Ho Holidays at Hotel Valley Ho | Old Town Scottsdale | Nov 23–Jan 3 (closed Dec 3); $25 tickets |
| 50 Shades of Rosé | Old Town Scottsdale | 2026 theme and dates not confirmed |
| The North Pole at Porters Western Saloon | Old Town Scottsdale | 2026 return not confirmed |
| Blitzen's at Centro Bar, Omni Montelucia | Paradise Valley | Returning for 2026; confirm opening date |
| Christmas at the Princess | North Scottsdale | Nov 20–Jan 2; ticketed |
| Feliz Navidad Cantina at Salt + Lime | Central Scottsdale | 2026 return not confirmed |
| Fireside Square at JW Desert Ridge | Desert Ridge | Nov 18–Jan 3; reserve a timed table |
| Jingle & Mingle at Neighborhood Services | Downtown Tempe | Nov 28–Dec 28; book the restaurant directly |
| Bar Blitzen at Culinary Dropout Tempe | Tempe | 2026 return not confirmed |
| Bar Blitzen at Culinary Dropout Gilbert | Gilbert | 2026 return not confirmed |
Christmas Bars in Downtown Phoenix
Downtown has the most concentrated run of holiday pop-ups in the Valley. Make Bitter & Twisted, Floor 13 or Carry On your main booking, eat beforehand if your pick only serves snacks, and leave room for an unhurried second drink nearby.
Sippin' Santa at Bitter & Twisted
1 W Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85003, USA
Christmas palms, rum drinks and a room fully committed to the theme make this the first place we'd send anyone for a proper holiday cocktail night. The tropical spin on winter imagery feels right for Phoenix, and it's worth booking for a date or a small group that wants to settle in. Details: November 11–December 27. Ages 21+. Tock opens two weeks ahead for two-hour visits, with a $15-per-person reservation fee separate from food and drinks; walk-ins and the same-day waitlist skip the fee. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Miracle at Floor 13
15 E Monroe St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Floor 13 turns its rooftop into a Christmas ski club, with lodge-style decorations, playful glassware and downtown views. Come around dusk, order something festive and let the skyline do some of the work. Details: November 23–December 30. Ages 21+. 90-minute visits; reservations open seven days ahead. A food-and-drink minimum applies and depends on party size. Bring a layer; it's a rooftop.
Journey to the North Pole at Carry On
2 N Central Ave #101, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Carry On makes the night feel like an occasion before the first drink arrives. Its airline-cabin bar takes a holiday detour to the North Pole, with a scheduled departure and 90 minutes aboard. Book it for someone who likes a little theater with their cocktails. Details: Ticketed; new flights release Mondays at 10 a.m. and sell by the table, plus tax and a 20% service charge. Ages 21+. Check in at Wren & Wolf and arrive 10 minutes before departure.
Home By Myself at Trophy Room
2 N Central Ave #101, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Trophy Room's holiday theme is the Home Alone–inspired Home By Myself, which makes its intimate, phones-away cocktail room one of downtown's better Christmas dates. 2026 dates are still to come. Details: Check holiday schedule. Ages 21+, 90-minute visits, parties of up to six. A $25-per-person nonrefundable prepayment goes toward your drinks; tax and gratuity extra. Phones stay outside the main room; no food.
A Blue Hound Christmas Story
2 E Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Blue Hound's holiday run takes its cue from A Christmas Story, with movie-themed cocktails like The Red Ryder and The Ovaltini and a full menu that gives you a reason to stay for dinner. It's billed as a short run, so book early rather than saving it for late December. Details: Starts November 27 and is billed as a weeklong run; check available dates. Reserve through Blue Hound's website.
Naughty or Nice at Eden
2 E Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
Up on the Palomar's roof, Eden goes naughty-or-nice with festive cocktails, seasonal food and a more social, open-air feel than the bars downstairs. It's a good fit for a group that wants to celebrate, and pairs easily with dinner at Blue Hound in the same hotel. Details: Opened November 11; no closing date announced yet. Book through SevenRooms and check which holiday experience is attached to your reservation.
Get Merry at Little Rituals
132 S Central Ave 4th Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
2026 return not confirmed. Past Get Merry seasons have brought holiday-movie nostalgia into this downtown hotel lounge, and it's one of the better settings in the city for an intimate cocktail date. Watch for this year's theme and booking release.
Winter Wonderland at Pigtails Downtown
1 E Washington St #128, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
2026 return not confirmed. The downtown Pigtails has paired its hidden-bar feel with festive decorating and a short holiday menu in past seasons. It's a smaller stop to keep in mind for a downtown night; check this location's announcement specifically.
Email me this guide
All 26 places with map links, in your inbox. No account needed.
Christmas Bars in Central Phoenix, Arcadia and Melrose
This stretch covers the quieter end of the list: a plush hotel lounge, an underground cocktail room, an all-ages hot-cocoa train, a year-round Christmas dive and Melrose's dated holiday parties.
On Holiday at The Global Ambassador
4360 E Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018, USA
On Holiday is about the drinks and a comfortable seat in a plush hotel lounge rather than wall-to-wall decorations. The seasonal menu includes a cranberry-and-pear Secret Santa, a bourbon-and-chai Forty-Five Rockefeller and a crème brûlée espresso martini. Details: November 4–December 30. Cocktails $20–$25 before tax and tip. Reserve through the hotel's Lobby Bar link and check for any table minimum.
Swizzle Inn
5835 N 16th St # A, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA
Swizzle Inn keeps its Christmas lights up all year, then piles on more for the holidays. Add pool, darts and a jukebox, and you've got the easiest no-plan Christmas night in Phoenix for catching up with friends. Details: Open year-round, walk-in. No food, so eat first or make dinner your next stop.
Holidays in New York at 36 Below
3620 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018, USA
This underground room suits a smaller, quieter holiday night. Its holiday menu takes inspiration from New York neighborhoods, with drinks like Seneca Village and Spanish Harlem also offered without alcohol. 2026 dates are still to come. Details: Check holiday schedule. Ages 21+, 90-minute visits. Read the card-hold and cancellation terms when you reserve.
Hot Cocoa Aboard Platform 18¾
3626 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018, USA
Century Grand's Pullman-style train car turns into a 45-minute Rocky Mountain journey with hot cocoa, fresh cookies and a possible visit from Santa. It's the rare Century Grand experience open to all ages, which makes it the family stop on this list. Details: Saturdays and Sundays, November 28–December 20. All ages. Space is limited, so book ahead.
Holiday Nights at Thunderbird Lounge
710 W Montecito Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
Thunderbird's retro Melrose room is where you go when you want a Christmas night with something on the calendar. Pick the party first, then build the evening around it. Details: Christmas Disco Party, December 4 at 9 p.m.; Melrose Ugly Sweater Crawl, December 19 at noon; Yule Ball, December 26 at 7 p.m. All 21+. Tickets through the venue's event calendar.
Santa's Love Shack at Sunny's Lounge
2701 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA
2026 dates not confirmed. Sunny's goes cheeky for the holidays, with irreverent Christmas cocktails and a neighborhood-lounge feel firmly aimed at adults. It usually runs through December; check for this year's dates.
Christmas Bars in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Desert Ridge
Old Town works as a walkable Christmas night: a Miracle pop-up, a classic tavern under lights and a roller rink, all close to one another. Farther north, the big resorts turn Christmas into a whole evening, with lights, fire tables and several bars on the grounds. Admission, parking, food and seating can be separate charges there, so compare the full total for your group before you book. Our Phoenix Christmas lights guide and holiday ice skating guide cover the rest of what's on at the Princess and JW Desert Ridge.
Coach House
7011 E Indian School Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, USA
Coach House is Old Town's go-to for people who want a bar first and a holiday outing second. Its seasonal blanket of lights turns a longtime tavern into an easy place to gather and order something familiar, either as one stop on an Old Town night or the whole plan. Details: Open year-round, walk-in. Check that the full holiday display is up before making a special trip.
Miracle at BLVD
7324 E Indian School Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, USA
BLVD brings Miracle's over-the-top decorations and holiday cocktails to Old Town, with weekend live music giving you a reason to stay for a second round. The indoor-outdoor setup handles groups well and puts you close to the rest of Scottsdale's nightlife. Details: November 27–December 24. Holiday hours differ from BLVD's regular hours, so check the schedule. Private holiday parties book through a separate inquiry form.
Ho Holidays at Hotel Valley Ho
6850 E Main St, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, USA
Ho Holidays gives you something to do between drinks: a retro roller rink, firepits, games and food from ZuZu. Reserve a firepit or cabana for a group, or make it a playful date before dinner in Old Town. Details: November 23–January 3; closed December 3. $25 admission includes skate rental, and everyone needs a ticket, skating or not. Food and drinks extra. Hotel guests and kids 5 and under get in free.
Holiday Takeover at 50 Shades of Rosé
7419 E Indian Plaza B, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, USA
2026 theme and dates not confirmed. 50 Shades of Rosé goes big with holiday transformations and a party-ready crowd, and it's an easy launch point for a lively Old Town night. The theme changes each year, so wait for the new announcement.
The North Pole at Porters
3944 N Brown Ave, Scottsdale, AZ 85251, USA
2026 return not confirmed. Porters' North Pole pop-up has added Christmas decorations and seasonal cocktails to an Old Town saloon in past years. Keep it in mind if a Western bar sounds more fun than a hotel lounge.
Blitzen's at Omni Montelucia
4949 E Lincoln Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85253, USA
Centro Bar gets the ornaments, tinsel and twinkle-light treatment for Blitzen's, giving Montelucia a proper Christmas cocktail room. It's a polished date or an early drink with friends, especially if you're already having dinner nearby. Details: Omni has announced Blitzen's return for 2026; check the opening date before you go. Groups of 10 or more should contact the resort's event team.
Christmas at the Princess
7575 E Princess Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85255, USA
The Princess is the one to choose when you want the entire evening to feel like Christmas. The Lodge does alpine-style comfort food and cocktails, Plaza Bar looks out on the musical tree, and Comet's Caboose pours seasonal drinks by the train depot. It works for families as well as adults. Details: November 20–January 2. Ticketed resort event; food and drinks extra. Some bars are walk-up; fire tables and igloos can be reserved. Check admission, parking and package inclusions.
Feliz Navidad Cantina at Salt + Lime
9397 E Shea Blvd #115, Scottsdale, AZ 85260, USA
2026 return not confirmed. Salt + Lime's past Christmas transformations have made it a fun spot for a full dinner and margaritas under the decorations, and it's handier than Old Town if you're staying around Shea Boulevard.
Fireside Square at JW Desert Ridge
5350 E Marriott Dr, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA
A private fire table, holiday cocktails and a s'mores spread give your group its own spot for the night, with views of the Enchanted Evergreen tree. Add another Jingle at JW activity if you want to make more of the trip. Details: November 18–January 3. Table bookings last 105 minutes and include s'mores kits; other food and drinks extra. Tables seat six or eight. Parking and other resort attractions are charged separately.
Christmas Bars in Tempe and Gilbert
The East Valley's holiday options lean toward dinner and drinks together, which makes them easy for mixed groups who'd rather not cross the metro.
Jingle & Mingle at Neighborhood Services
7 E University Dr, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
Neighborhood Services serves seasonal bites, holiday cocktails and zero-proof drinks, so the whole table can sit down to dinner and still get something festive. It fits neatly before or after a night around Mill Avenue. Details: November 28–December 28. Book the restaurant directly rather than through the hotel.
Bar Blitzen at Culinary Dropout Tempe
149 S Farmer Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
2026 return not confirmed. Bar Blitzen has turned The Coop at Culinary Dropout into a heavily decorated Christmas drinking room in past seasons, with dinner right next door. A regular restaurant reservation may not cover The Coop, so check how this year's entry works.
Bar Blitzen at Culinary Dropout Gilbert
383 N Gilbert Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234, USA
2026 return not confirmed. The Gilbert edition has brought the same Christmas room to the East Valley, so if it returns, you get dinner and a festive bar together without the drive into Tempe or Phoenix. Look for an announcement that names this location.
Tips for Planning a Christmas Bar Night in Phoenix
- Stay in one part of the Valley. Downtown Phoenix and Old Town Scottsdale each have enough for a full night. The resorts, Desert Ridge and the East Valley are their own trips, so plan a ride home if you're drinking.
- Read the booking charge. A reservation fee is added to your bill, a minimum spend is what you have to order, and a prepayment or credit goes toward your drinks. Resort tickets can add parking and attraction costs on top.
- Bring a layer and check the holidays. Rooftops, patios and resort paths cool off fast after sunset, and a bar running a Christmas pop-up can still close on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day.
Find another place to settle in with our best cozy bars in Phoenix, plan an earlier round with our Phoenix happy hours guide, or browse our Phoenix bars for people in their 30s.
For dinner under the decorations, see our most festive Christmas restaurants in Phoenix.
Save this guide
Keep this guide in your RoamRecs so you can find it again later.
Email me this guide
All 26 places with map links, in your inbox. No account needed.
Some booking links are affiliate links — if you book through them, RoamRecs may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes which places we recommend.
Own or run a place in this guide, or want yours added? Get in touch. Own a restaurant or bar here? Become a featured partner on this guide →
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Christmas bars in Phoenix?
Is there a Miracle bar in Phoenix?
When do Phoenix Christmas pop-ups open in 2026?
Do I need reservations for Phoenix holiday pop-ups?
Which options work for someone who isn't drinking?
Can kids come to these holiday bars?
Are Phoenix Christmas bars open on Christmas Day?
Can I do Phoenix and Scottsdale in one bar crawl?
Related guides
More in Phoenix
About the creator
Your guide to eating, drinking & exploring Phoenix 🌵 Neighborhood favorites, date spots, game-day bars & seasonal plans. Find your next spot ↓
View profile →