The holidays are sneaking up fast — can you believe there are only five weekends left until Christmas? If your plan was to stay cozy at home by the fire this season, we say: “That’s cute, but why not add a little sparkle to your social life instead?”
Lucky for you, the Twin Cities and surrounding towns are fully embracing the holiday spirit with pop-up bars, twinkling lights, and cocktails that taste like Christmas in a glass. Whether you’re in the mood for an intimate night sipping mulled wine, a fun girls’ night out surrounded by tinsel, or a big boisterous evening with friends in full ugly sweater mode, there’s a festive spot waiting for you.
We’ve rounded up 20 local “Jingle Bars” that are guaranteed to get your merry on. Think of it as a holiday bar crawl guide — from snowy lakeside patios to cozy downtown hideaways, there’s something for everyone. So grab your coziest sweater, your best holiday cheer, and maybe a friend (or three), and start planning your weekend adventures before the season melts away.
Here are the spots where the eggnog flows, the lights twinkle, and the holiday magic is on full display:
- Snow Globe Social at Red Cow Wayzata — Wayzata (redcowmn.com)
- Jimmy’s Jingle Lounge at The Lake Room — Navarre (thelakeroomrestaurant.com)
- Lord Fletcher’s Jingle Bar in the Oar House — Spring Park (lordfletchers.com)
- Jingle Bar at Back Channel Brewing — Spring Park (backchannelbrewing.com)
- Sparkle Bar at The Lion’s Den — Victoria (https://thenoblelion.com)
- Jingle Bar at Lola’s Lake House — Waconia (https://lolaslakehouse.com/)
- The Nutcracker Suite at Sovereign Estates — Waconia (https://www.sovereignestatewine.com)
- Christmas Lodge at Schram Vineyards — Waconia (schramvineyards.com)
- Holiday Movie Bar at Brass Hat Dive Shop — Waconia (https://bodegrays.com/the-brass-hat/)
- Jingle Bar at Jordan Taproom — Jordan (https://jordantaproom.com)
- Charlie’s on Prior — Prior Lake (https://www.charliesonprior.com)
- Blitzen’s Bar at Omni Viking Lakes — Eagan (https://www.omnihotels.com)
- Dorit’s Tavern at Surly Brewing — Minneapolis (https://surlybrewing.com)
- Down Through the Chimney at Hotel Emery — Minneapolis (https://downthroughthechimneymn.com)
- Frosty’s Bar at Brit’s Pub — Minneapolis (https://britspub.com)
- Hell‑a‑Dazzle at Hell’s Kitchen — Minneapolis (https://hellskitcheninc.com)
- Holiday Flight Club at Travail — Minneapolis (https://www.travailkitchen.com)
- Nico’s Navidad at Nico’s Taco Bar — Minneapolis (https://nicostacobar.com/)
- Northern Starlight at The Depot — Minneapolis (https://www.marriott.com)
- Winter Wonder Bar at Creekside Supper Club — Minneapolis (https://www.creeksidemn.com/)
🎉 A few Pro Tips for Your Holiday Bar Crawl:
- Plan ahead — Some pop-ups may require reservations, especially on weekends.
- Start early — These bars fill up fast during the weekends before Christmas.
- Mix it up — Pair a cozy spot (like Snow Globe Social) with a wild one (like Dorit’s Tavern) for maximum holiday fun.
- Capture the memories — Many of these spots are Instagram gold. Twinkling lights, sleigh props, and festive cocktails await.
