christmas bar in austin texas

The Complete Guide to Austin Christmas Bars 2023

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Heading to Austin Christmas bars is one of our favorite December activities!

Over the past few years, Austin has really embraced the holiday pop-up spirit.

When it comes to Austin Christmas Bars in 2023, there are some favorite spots returning for another year, changes to some mainstays, and even more brand new Austin Christmas bar pop ups.

Zilker Park has been keeping Austin festive with the Trail of Lights for many years, but last year holiday-themed pop-up bars packed in guests thirsty for some holiday spirits.

Couple under an ornament photo stand at an Austin Christmas bar.

This year, the trend has grown with additional festive options which will hopefully meet the demand of last year’s holiday-bar demand.

Grab your ugly Christmas sweaters, read through this complete guide to Austin Christmas bars, and plan our weekends accordingly!

Ice Rodeo Austin Christmas Bar.

Ice Rodeo at the Four Seasons with Austin Ice Skating and Holiday Cocktail Cabanas

Head to the Four Seasons Austin for a decked out holiday experience!

Featuring an ice skating rink with real ice on top of the hotel’s pool, chic cabins, and even a life-sized gingerbread airstream!

Ice Skating in Austin at the Ice Rodeo Pop Up.

Pull up to a fire to roast house-made s’mores, including Executive Pastry Chef Amanda Pallagi-Naim’s Hennessy-infused marshmallows for adults.

Enjoy festive cocktails and snacks in between your triple axels, tickets are $40 and include a skate rental and skating session. Get your Ice Rodeo tickets ahead of time before you arrive.

November 18, 2023 – January 7, 2024

Four Seasons, 98 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX 78701

  Photo: Mario Andrade Photography

Photo: Mario Andrade Photography

Incredible Decorations at the Gibson Street Bar

Head to Lamar to Gibson Street Bar for bountiful over-the-top decor plus an instaworthy sleigh photo-op.

We tasted specialty themed cocktails like the Ho-Ho-Ho Hot Toddy and Santa’s Little Cider made with Flor de Cana 7-year rum.

Reservations are not accepted, first come first served.

December 1-31, 2023

1109 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

An Iconic Holiday ATX Staple – Donn’s Depot

Donn’s Depot is an Austin honky-tonk destination on West 5th street that is filled with patrons from young to old. 

Their owner loves the holiday Christmas season so much the bar turns from old school country casual, to a holiday tinsel town. 

40+ people come to decorate Donn’s Depot every single year.

Enjoy the decorations with a festive libation.

Don’t stress though, you can still get your two-step on while taking on the holiday cheer. 

November 25 2023 – Mid-January 2024

1600 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78703

Photo: W Hotel

A couple inside an Austin Christmas bar wearing santa costumes.

Fairmont Hotel Ugly Sweater Holiday Lounge

The Fairmont Austin is transforming their 7th floor to a holiday experience. 

The ugly sweater themed pop up will feature fire pits, igloos and cabanas at the pool level for rent.

Of course they’re also offering festive cocktails and snacks inside the bar as well.

Be sure to try the coquito which comes in an awesome surfing santa tiki mug!

Pop by or reserve a cabana for your group. You can also reserve their decked out “santa suite” for a stay to remember.

Daily starting at 5pm, November 29 -December 31, 2023

Fairmont Austin, 101 Red River St. Austin, TX

Nickle City Austin Christmas Bar Popup.

Nickel City’s Sippin’ Santa Tiki Pop Up

Nickel City is an East-Side bar that recently received national fame by dressing up as Moe’s Bar for Halloween.

They’ve also won numerous awards for their craft cocktails in a welcoming dive-bar atmosphere.

Now they are gearing up for a holiday celebration with decorations, novelty drinkware, and craft cocktails fit for the season. 

Their cocktail menu is part of the national holiday pop-up circuit from Beachbum Barry and features festive drinks like the Sippin’ Santa.

You can even buy cool holiday tiki mugs to take home!

November 21- December 31, 2023

1133 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702

austin christmas bars

Hotel Van Zandt’s Holiday Bar Rooftop Igloos

Geraldine’s at the Hotel Van Zandt off of Rainey street is transforming their pool deck into a giant snow globe once again.

This is a limited time pop-up, so you won’t want to miss it.

Order some appetizers, a cheery cocktail and get festive prior to a night out on Rainey Street. 

The snow globes are outfitted with record players and games.

Weekends in December.

605 Davis St, Austin, TX 78701

Kissing booth at the Peppermint Parkway.

Peppermint Parkway’s Drive Through Experience with Bar Lounge

Circuit of the Americas is back with their Peppermint Parkway experience. 

While this drive through light show event is more of an interactive outing than a traditional bar, know that they do offer the Peppermint Pub bar in the Peppermint Plaza. 

You’ll find cocktails alongside amusement rides, snacks and even a mistletoe kissing booth. 

Talk about a cute date night idea. 

You can even bring your dog along if they stay in your vehicle for the drive through light show. Get your Peppermint Parkway tickets ahead of time.

November 24-December 30, 2023

Circuit of the Americas, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd, Austin, TX

 Photo: Monica Payne

Photo: Monica Payne

Year Round Holiday Bar – Lala’s Little Nugget

For Lala’s Little Nugget, this holiday bar craze isn’t a trend, it’s a way of life.

Lala’s is a year-round holiday bar, adorned with glowing lights and Christmas decor.

This is a cash-only bar so bring some bills for drinks and coins for the old school jukebox.

All year long!

2207 Justin Ln, Austin, TX 78757

austin christmas bars

The Most Popular Austin Christmas Bar – Miracle on 5th

Returning for a yet another year, Miracle on 5th Street will open in the event space next to The Roosevelt Room, one of our top cocktail bars in town.

You can expect twinkling decorations and holiday drinks from some of the best mixologists in Austin.

Their drinkware is also so fabulously festive that they have extra holidays cups that you can buy to take home with you. 

November 17 – December 27th, 2023

307 W 5th St Unit A, Austin, TX 78701

Fake snow in austin at a rooftop holiday bar.

Experience “Snow” at the JW Marriott Edge Rooftop

For a festive time on a downtown rooftop in Austin, head to the JW Marriott Hotel.

Their Edge Rooftop Snow Much Fun pop up offers holiday decor, firepits, and the best surprise of all: snow!

While it’s actually more like foam instead of actual snow, it creates a magical ambiance perfect for a date night or an outing with families.

The “snow” falls every hour on the hour.

November 24 – December 25, 2023

JW Marriott Austin – 110 E 2nd St, Austin, TX 78701

Pink holiday cocktails with whipped cream.

Pinkmas at the Museum of Ice Cream

The Museum of Ice Cream is always the epitome of festivity, and it’s no surprise that they’ll be decked out for the holidays.

This year, celebrate the holidays by going PINK!

Pinkmas features instagramable pink trees, holiday music and treats. They will be offering limited-edition Pinkmas cocktails.

November 17, 2023 – January 15, 2024

Museum of Ice Cream, 11506 Century Oaks Terrace, #128, Austin, TX 78758

Walk Through Luminations

Luminations is an all-new light installation spanning almost two miles across the Texas Arboretum. 

This is not a traditional bar, but you can get a spiked hot cocoa or a specialty cocktail at Luminations.

Buy your tickets ahead of time as well as prepaid, guaranteed on-site parking, if desired. Free parking is available at St. Augustine University. 

There will be rotating food trucks on site to enjoy with your cocktails.

5:45-pm, November 24, 2023 – January 6, 2024*

*Excluding Dec 24, 25, 31, and January 1st.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX 78739

Girls on an ATX sign at the Trail of Lights in Austin.

Iconic Austin Trail of Lights

The Austin Trail of Lights is an ATX icon.

While not a traditional bar, it wouldn’t be fair to exclude this nostalgic light show since they do have a bar located inside the lounge of the Trail of Lights.

Zilker Park gets illuminated with 2 million lights for the 59th annual event.

Be sure to check the Trail of Lights Event Calendar for the select nights offering free admission or buy your tickets in advance for ticketed evenings.

Grab a cocktail and a snack from the many food vendors after your stroll through the lights.

6-10pm, December 1 – December 23, 2023

Zilker Park, Austin, TX 78746

couple outside christmas lights at mozarts.

Mozart’s Light Show

An Austin tradition, Mozart’s on Lady Bird Lake brings lots of cheer with an expansive holiday light show on their patio.

Maybe after all those cocktails you’ve guzzled from the Christmas bars all across town, you need to head to a coffee bar.

Grab a hot cocoa or a latte and head to the patio to take in over 1 MILLION twinkling lights.

3825 Lake Austin Blvd, Austin, TX 78703

Man and dog in sled at Austin holiday bar Lucilles.

Best Holiday Bar on Rainey St – Lucille’s

If you’re on Rainey Street, head to Lucille’s. They go ALL OUT for both halloween and holiday decor.

On a warm December day their outdoor patio covered in lights can’t be missed.

This is also a dog friendly bar, so bring your pooch!

There are even specialty cocktails available at the bar.

All December long.

77 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701

Boozy hot cocoa at Austin Christmas bar.

“Happy’s” Pop Up at Wax Myrtles

Inside the Thompson Hotel, head to Wax Myrtles bar and restaurant for “Happy’s” their holiday-themed lounge.

They’re featuring season drinks like candy cane julips, a Jägermeister sour, and a tropical holiday drink as well as an ice luge and raclette!

4pm to close, November 24 – December 24, 2023

506 San Jacinto Blvd Suite WM, 4th Floor, Austin, TX 78701

New Artistic Pop Up – Illumaverse

For a new immersive holiday experience, head to the east side of Austin for Illumaverse.

This is a more artistic, modern take on a holiday celebration.

Local artists created over 6,000 square feet of art installations with a fresh holiday twist.

Alcoholic beverages like themed cocktails, zilker beer, wine and themed snacks are available at this new unique installation.

Weekends from December 8 – 30, 2024

2008 Alexander Ave, Austin, TX 78722

Holiday martini at an Austin Christmas Bar.

12 Bars of Christmas Crawl

Instead of putting together your own DIY  holiday bar crawl, you could just buy a ticket to the 12 Bars of Christmas Bar Crawl.

Stumble your way down Austin’s famous 6th Street with hundreds of others in ugly sweaters and Santa suits on December 16th.

Your ticket gets you holiday swag and drink specials across the 12 participating locations.

Best Austin Christmas Bars.

Austin’s Christmas Bars will keep you jolly all December long.

Plan a double date, a girl’s night or even get a festive libation before cooking up a warm and comforting holiday meal at home.

Or, if you want to transform your OWN home into a holiday cocktail wonderland, try whipping up our Apple Cider Sangria Recipe, A Christmas Tree Old Fashioned Recipe (it uses a simple syrup infused with pine!), Easy Mulled Wine, or a better-for-you Apple Hot Buttered Rum.

You’ll also likely love this round up of 35 Amazing Christmas Whiskey Drinks.

Hope this guide helps to make your holidays more spirited!

Click this link to pin this post for future reference. If you visit one of these spots based on our recommendations, let us know by tagging @coupleinthekitchen on social media!

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