Metro Detroit Bars Transform Spaces With Holiday Pop-Ups Featuring Themed Drinks

Bars across metro Detroit have kicked off holiday pop-ups. Themed cocktails and decorations will run through January. The Side Hustle Lounge brought back its Santa's Side Hustle transformation based on the movie Elf for the second year, while Miracle and Sippin' Santa pop-ups showed up at multiple locations.

"Downtown Detroit comes alive during the holidays, and it's great to bring Santa's Side Hustle back for another season," said Lisa Walters, operating partner of Side Hustle Lounge, as per Freep. "After such a strong response last year, we wanted to make this one even more memorable, with more lights, more laughter, and a lot more syrup."

The Side Hustle Lounge next to Mootz Pizzeria + Bar transformed earlier this week. Decor stays up through Dec. 31. Cocktails include World's Best Cup of Coffee with Frangelico or Baileys, Angry Elf with vodka and cranberry, and Son of a Nutcracker with tequila and triple sec.

Miracle and Sippin' Santa pop-ups came back to three metro Detroit establishments. Miracle started more than a decade ago at a New York bar. Sippin' Santa followed a year later with a tiki bar theme. Hundreds of venues now participate in both concepts worldwide.

The Oakland in Ferndale added new Miracle cocktails. Candy Cane Lane, Dancing Sugarplums, Blitzen Barrel, and Miracle Mouse are on the menu. The Skip in the Belt Alley offers Sippin' Santa drinks like Coco Ho Ho, Frost Bite, and Wreck the Halls.

Blitzen's on Bagley entered its fourth year with drinks like Grinch Punch and Very Merry Marg. The southwest Detroit venue comes from InLaws Hospitality, which runs Green Dot Stables and Johnny Noodle King.

Union Joints restaurants kicked off Cocktails & Cable Knits at four locations with 1950s and 1960s themes. The pop-up shows up at Union Assembly in downtown Detroit, Gran Castor in Troy, and Union Woodshop in Clarkston. It will soon open at Little Yard in Birmingham.

JoJo's Shakebar in District Detroit created a Winter Wonderland peppermint shake. A Christmas tree cookie sits on top. The venue also offers Holly Jolly mixology classes and workshops for ornament painting, wreath-making, and gingerbread houses.

Iron Gate in Wyandotte serves more than a dozen cocktails, including Polar Vortex with Casamigos tequila and Red Ryder BB Gun with Tito's vodka. Food options include 12 Days of Carbonara and White Christmas Flatbread.

Detroit City Distillery at Eastern Market decorated its tasting room. A new cocktail menu and limited-edition bottle releases are available.