Philadelphia, PAHoliday Bars

McGillin's, one of the city's oldest continuously operating taverns, covers itself in holiday decorations every winter, filling the narrow alley bar with lights and greenery. The regular pub menu and beer list keep running underneath the decor, with no separate pop-up name and no ticketed entry. It draws the same mix of regulars and visitors the rest of the year, just under a lot more tinsel. The decorations come down and the room returns to its plainer everyday look once the season passes.

Craftsman Row Saloon goes all in on Christmas each winter, packing the bar with thousands of lights and ornaments as part of a touring holiday pop-up format. The regular saloon menu and drink list step aside for a dedicated set of seasonal cocktails and a holiday-themed food menu for the run. It is known for over-the-top milkshake builds alongside the cocktail list. The bar reverts to its usual saloon look once the new year begins.

Tinsel is a Midtown Village bar built entirely around Christmas each winter, with decades of accumulated holiday memorabilia and decorations covering the room. A local DJ known for spinning holiday music anchors the room's atmosphere alongside a dedicated seasonal cocktail list. It runs as the bar's identity for the whole season rather than a side attraction squeezed into a working bar. The space closes out or resets once the run ends for the year.

Taqueria Amor, a Manayunk taco spot and bar, gives its bar a Grinch-themed makeover each winter that has become a fixture on Main Street. The regular taco menu keeps running, but the bar's drink list adds a dedicated set of green, holiday-themed cocktails for the season. It draws a festive, costume-friendly crowd looking for a themed night out along the Main Street strip. The bar reverts to its everyday look once the pop-up wraps for the season.