Los Angeles may never truly experience a white Christmas, but that doesn’t mean we are lacking in holiday spirit. This December, there are a number of bars that have transformed into bonafide winter wonderlands complete with special seasonal menus, faux snow, staffers donning gay apparel and decorations that rival the Griswold family home.
So sleigh the holidays and check out five festive AF bars here in L.A.. Holy sh*t! Where’s the Tylenol?
Here & Now
Here & Now officially opened in October, transforming the Arts District’s beloved former Westbound space into an all-new cocktail haven. Here & Now is a result of Westbound founder Sarah Meade’s collaboration with Va’La Hospitality, which is made up of Aaron Melendrez of Salazar, Damian Diaz and Othon Nolasco, both previously of E.R.B.. For the holidays, the bar is going all out with its Blitzen’s pop-up. Think an over-the-top North Pole pop-up complete with fresh falling snow, kitschy Christmas and other decorations with tips from sites like laurelandwolf.com, ugly sweater adorned bartenders and an entirely festive menu, which reads as a multi-page illustrated children’s book stacked with Santa approved bites and booze. With over a dozen drinks on the menu, there is no excuse to not have a red rose like Rudolph.
Try the Santa’s Nightcap made with Altos Tequila, mezcal, Mr. Black Coffee liqueur, allspice, chocolate, dram, milk and spice or the All I Rye For Christmas You made with Jim Beam Rye, Demerara sage syrup and house Christmas bitters. Taking shots? Throw back a Sex On A Snowbank with Becherovka or Sleigh Back Shot with Jameson, St. George Spice Pear Liqueur, Amaro Nonino, Angostura Bitters and cinnamon. And don’t forget to challenge your friends to a game of Manischewitz Punch Pong on the back patio where you’ll also find a projector showing holiday movies and Instagramable photo area.
300 S. Santa Fe Ave., Suite N, Los Angeles; hereandnowdtla.com; @hereandnowdtla
No More Heroes
No More Heroes is getting lit for its first holiday season. Todd Walker and Cole Apodaca’s new West Hollywood bar is hosting its Christmassy As F*ck, a month long celebration featuring snowfall on the hour, Bad Santas, a Toys For Tots drive and enough yuletide decorations that makes us shudder thinking of what their electric bill looks like. Festive cocktails include the Feliz Navidad made with Del Maguey Vida Mezcal, fresh cranberry-infused Pavan, orange blossom and all spice, Cousin Eddie’s Egg Nog made with Remy Martin 1738, Tempus Fugit Banane, eggnog and a sprinkling of cinnamon and Peppermint Frozen Irish coffee that combines Tullamore Dew whiskey, coffee, Irish cream and peppermint and then served in a tipsy Rudolph mug. Talk about no more Grinches!
7746 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; Nmh.la; @nomoreheroesla
Miracle at The Everly
Ever Bar at The Kimpton Everly Hotel has transformed into a retro-inspired winter wonderland as the host of the 2018 Los Angeles pop-up of Miracle, the beloved Christmas-themed bar, now through New Year’s Eve. Miracle at The Everly will bring a touch of vintage glamour to the season, serving Miracle’s holiday-themed cocktails in a setting modeled after a mid-century ski chalet. Bar-goers can expect a totally Instagram-able, one-of-a-kind drinking experience, with festive, throwback holiday décor, a fifteen-foot tall inflatable Santa Claus and a “Hanukkah Hut.” As one of Miracle’s 80 locations worldwide this year, Ever Bar will exclusively serve the seasonal pop-up’s menu of Christmas concoctions; The Run Run Rudolph is made with prosecco, gin, mulled wine puree, lemon and cane syrup while the Snowball Old Fashioned with butterscotch rye, spiced demerara, wormwood bitters and orange zest while the Bad Santa is a hot milk punch with Barbados rum, Trinidad Overproof Rum, Batavia Arrack, pineapple juice, lemon juice, almond milk, 8 Spices, coconut water and coconut oil. The Yippie Ki Yay, Mother F****r!, a tribute to the classic holiday blockbuster “Die Hard,” made with Sweet Potato Barbados Rum, Cachaça, Trinidad Over Proof Rum, dry curacao, marshmallow orgeat and lime.
Ever Bar is also serving up seasonal cocktails from Beverage Manager Dan Rook and his team of cocktail geniuses.The Genger Bread Man is a gingerbread-sprinkled cocktail combining Bols Genever, Faretti Biscotti Famosi, Bonolli o’f Amaro, absinthe, ginger and cinnamon with gingerbread cookie and candy cane garnishes for dunking. There is also the Hans Gruber, a frothy homage to “Die Hard’s” infamous villain that puts a spin on traditional eggnog with house-made horseradish- and green apple-infused Calvados Boulard V.S.O.P. Brandy, crème de cacao, whole egg, angostura bitters and a dusting of fresh nutmeg.
All cocktails will be served in Cocktail Kingdom custom Miracle glassware, from mugs to coupes, highballs and rocks glasses, which will be available for purchase with 10% of all sales donated to Action Against Hunger.
1800 Argyle Ave., Los Angeles; Everlyhotelhollywood.com; @everlyhollywood; @everbarla
Happy Holidays, Ya Filthy Animals
Happy Holidays, Ya Filthy Animals is a fully-immersive pop-up experience inspired by some of the greatest and fan favorite holiday movies of all-time. Now through Jan. 7, guests can walk through nostalgic sets inspired by the films, take photos in one of the three experience booths, go ice skating in the free outdoor ice rink attached to the space and learn how to defend their houses at booby trap collage. The full-on winter wonderland is complete with live music, entertainers, falling snow, an outdoor fire and even an onsite Christmas tree farm. Custom cocktails served at the pop-up include the Better Drink Your Ovaltine, the Bad Santa snd, of course, the Filthy Animal. Hungry? Some of Los Angeles’ best food trucks will also be on hand. No matter what you celebrate, you’ll have a blast. You won’t shoot your eye out with anything, you won’t be home alone, and you won’t be a Bad Santa. Tickets are $40 and includes two cocktails. Hours are 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Hollywood & Vine; showclix.com/event/happy- holidays-ya-filthy-animals; @hhfilthyanimals
Seven Grand
DTLA’s premiere whiskey bar, Seven Grand, is making sure there isn’t a Scrooge in sight this holiday season. In addition to hundreds of twinkling holiday lights adorning the bar, Seven Grand, is hosting a number of festive events to bring the holiday spirit downtown. On Dec. 14 and Dec. 15, the bar is throwing a Ugly Holiday Sweater Party. Wear your ugly holiday sweater for to take advantage of the special holiday cocktail menu at happy hour prices, thanks to Woodford Reserve. The Sexy Santa Photos event will take place on Dec. 21 and Dec 22 where guests can take a free photo with Seven Grand’s Sexy Santa from 9 p.m. and 11pm. Dress self up as a sexy Santa yourself and enjoy a night at home with your wife using a wand vibrator. Seven Grand is also hosting a Toy Drive now through 23rd. Bring in a new, unwrapped toy and receive a complimentary highball! Toys will be donated through LAFD’s Spark of Love.
515 W. 7th St., Los Angeles; Sevengrandbars.com; @sevengrandla
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