Despite Covid, the Miracle and Sippin’ Santa Holiday Pop-Up bars are coming back to New Jersey this year.
The holiday bars are bringing a huge list of festive cocktails for you to enjoy, like the Jolly Koala (made with gin, vermouth, and pine-cardamom-sage cordial), the Fruitcake Flip (brandy, Jamaican rum, amaretto, cherry bitters), and the Parrot in a Pear Tree (tequila, pear liqueur, applejack, lime juice, and black walnut bitters) will be sure to get you in the holiday spirit.
These NJ locations will be turned into holiday wonderlands with festive décor through the start of the new year. Along with their special cocktail menu, there will be ugly sweater parties, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and chances for you to win holiday goodies.
Miracle at Catherine Lombardi
This Brooklyn-style Italian spot is transforming into a holiday wonderland for the rest of the year. Through the entire month of December, Catherine Lombardi will be serving the most festive cocktails, which you can sip out of Miracle glasses, mugs and shot glasses. Reservations required via phone number or email [email protected] to secure your spot. Open Sunday–Thursday, 4:30-9 pm and 4:30-10 pm on Saturdays.
Catherine Lombardi, 3 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick; 732-828-4444
Miracle at Game Time Bar & Grill
From November 17 to January 3, Game Time Bar & Grill in Freehold will be featuring over-the-top Christmas décor to get you in the holiday spirit. Their new featured cocktail menu will include seasonal drinks like the Christmapolitan, Mistletoe shots and the Bad Santa (served hot). Indoor and outdoor dining is available, and if you order two or more Miracle cocktails on Tuesdays, enjoy a free s’mores kit on the outdoor patio. Miracle merchandise is available for purchase, and iPlay America will donate 10 percent of the sales to Special Strides, a non-profit organization benefiting the lives of those with special needs.
Game Time Bar & Grill, 110 Schanck Road, Freehold; 732-577-5545
Miracle on Centre
Cowan’s Public in Nutley will be kicking off the holiday season with the Miracle pop-up bar. The building opened as a bar back in 1934 and Cowan’s has transformed over the years to become what it is today: a spot that honors its past while also adapting to become a modern day cocktail bar. All Miracle cocktails purchased will benefit the Aids Research Foundation for Children, and Cowan’s will be hosting a Toy Drive from December 1–19. Get into the holiday spirit at their ugly sweater party on December 14 and celebrate the New Year at their NYE Miracle Farewell, with drink specials available all night (reservations required).
Cowan’s Public, 229 Centre Street, Nutley; 973-542-8151
Miracle on Mercer
Christmas is coming to Jersey City! Miracle will be taking over Franklin Social through the month of December and is bringing all the best holiday cocktails. Participate in the Miracle House Party Contest by showing off your own holiday decorations and cocktail creations for a chance to win some holiday prizes, including gift cards, Miracle glassware sets and bottled cocktails. Open for dinner Monday-Sunday 4-10pm, and brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays from noon–3 pm.
Franklin Social, 292 Barrow Street, Jersey City; 201-413-1300
Sippin’ Santa at The Vanguard
The Vanguard will be hosting a Sippin’ Santa Tiki pop-up through the month of December. The bar’s profits will provide meals to families of the Thirteenth Avenue School in Newark and the Vanguard will also be hosting a toy drive and holiday crafts event for the children. Santa will even be stopping by for a visit on December 12th from 10 am–2:30 pm. Enjoy holiday inspired drinks like North Pole Punch, Runaway Sleigh and the classic Sippin’ Santa. Open Monday-Friday 4 pm-10 pm, and Saturday and Sunday noon-10 pm.
The Vanguard, 705 Frank E Rodgers Boulevard South, Harrison; 201-292-3633