December is here, and that can only mean one thing: Christmas bars are back. Every year, bars and restaurants across New Jersey transform into festive winter wonderlands, complete with holiday drinks, twinkling decor and plenty of cheer.
From Miracle—a pop-up bar experience that takes over cocktail spots nationwide each holiday season—to independent operations decking their halls in full holiday spirit, Christmas-themed bars are among my favorite ways to celebrate the season.
Here’s a roundup of the must-see Christmas bars in New Jersey this year.
Barrow House
Clifton
Barrow House first made waves in for their hand-crafted cocktails, served inside a spacious colonial farmhouse. That history weaves through the entire concept—inlcuding the holidays. Enjoy spirit-free mulled cider, tequila eggnog, highballs flavored with Christmas-y dried fruit and so much more.
Brothers Daley
Sea Bright
The Brothers Daley Holiday Spectacular is the go-to spot in Sea Bright during Christmas. The Jersey Shore pub-style restaurant decks the halls with ornaments, garland and enough lights to illuminate a small city. You’ll find a diverse menu of creative drinks, like the Panettone-infused The Naughty List.
Miracle on George Street at Catherine Lombardi
New Brunswick
Catherine Lombardi serves old-school Brooklyn Italian with a side of Christmas cheer during the holidays. Santa Claus right in front, decorated trees and excellent winter-themed cocktails. Have dinner in the dining room, but stay for the Christmas bevs.
Cellar 335
Jersey City
Cellar put its pin on the Jersey City map over a decade ago, defining one corner of what would eventually become New Jersey’s premier food city. The pan-asian cocktail parlor and restaurant gets a full makeover for the holidays. Tiki drinks with a healthy dose of Christmas cheer? Sign me up.
Miracle on Centre at Cowans
Nutley
Nutley’s Cowans transforms into Miracle on Centre each and every Christmas season. Bringing Christmas-themed drinks and decor to the legendary cocktail bar. Sip on a winter-flavored Cosmopolitan and enjoy one of the most popular Christmas bars in NJ.
Miracle on Mercer at Franklin Social
Jersey City
This Jersey City favorite is inspired by the pubs that Benjamin Franklin frequented during the founding of the United States. For the holidays, Franklin Social transforms into Miracle on Mercer with frosted Christmas trees, colorful lights and and cocktails poured into Santa Claus mugs.
Grinch’s Grotto at Cucina Calandra
Fairfield
Cucina Calandra gets a head-to-toe makeover in festive green neon and garland. Enjoy a variety of Christmas cocktails in a setting you won’t soon forget. Bring some friends, grab a few drinks and remember: spread the cheer, don’t be a grinch.
Jingle Bell Bar at Ocean Casino Resort
Atlantic City
1927 Lounge, located inside Ocean Casino Resort, is doing a full Christmas concept this year. Glistening lights, poinsettias and more adorn the spacious Atlantic City cocktail lounge. It’s the perfect setting to cap your evening with some festive charm.
Nómada
Verona
Navidad en Nómada is here on Bloomfield Ave in Verona. Expect to find lights and garland hanging from the ceilings, ornament-adorned palm trees and a plethora of delicious, cheerful drinks. Frozen, alcoholic Mexican hot chocolate? I’ll take four.
Miracle on Bloomfield at Parkside Social
Verona
Is this Bloomfield Avenue or the North Pole? Okay, it’s still New Jersey, but wrapped tables and brandy cocktails served in jolly red dinosaur mugs will sure have you feeling the Christmas spirit. Bonus: Miracle on Bloomfield is right nextdoor to Navidad en Nómada, so you can kill two birds with one stone.
Las Posadas at San Patricios
Jersey City
New Jersey’s best new bar injects some holiday cheer into its Irish-Mexican concept. The cantina-pub hybrid is decked out for Christmas, serving banana-spiked espresso martinis, perfect pints of Guinness. And don’t worry, Christmas or not, the frozen margaritas still flow.
A Silk City Story at Silk City Distillers
Clifton
This Clifton distillery is bringing the holiday love. A Silk City Story is the intimate cocktail bar located inside of the distillery this Christmas season. Based on A Christmas Story, expect to find the decor to match it and delicious drinks that flow. Holiday drinks made with spirits distilled on premise? It doesn’t get better than that.
Sinner’s Steakhouse
Point Pleasant
What happens when a local-favorite steakhouse gets bit by the Christmas bug? You get Sinner’s in Point Pleasant. Ribbons and garland drape from the walls, red and green lights illuminate the gorgeous space and, obviously, the Christmas-spiked drinks flow in abundance.
The Irish Pub
Atlantic City
This Atlantic City staple is open around the clock. That’s right, 24 hours. Finnegan the reindeer makes a stop at The Irish Pub each year for their holiday makeover, complete with scenes that look straight out of an ’80s Christmas flick. Grab a cold beer, some pub food and give Finnegan my regards.
The Waiting Room
Hoboken
Hundreds, if not thousands, of ornaments hang from the ceilings at The Waiting Room during the Christmas months. The Hoboken cocktail bar takes the holidays seriously, offering cheerful cocktails in a setting fit for a Christmas card.
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
