You've gone Christmas tree shopping, you've Instagrammed the craziest holiday lights, and maybe you've even gone so far as to tour the city's most Pinterest-worthy gingerbread houses.
But to really get into the, er, spirit of the holidays, you're going to need booze—plenty of in-law-erasing, shopping-pain-medicating booze. Hit up these Bay Area bars for delicious holiday-themed drinks.
Deck the Halls
The extensive cocktail menu at this Christmas-themed pop-up will surely have Santa trading his ol' cuppa milk. Go for spiked classics such as egg nog shots and a cranberry martini bitter served in Christmas ornaments, as well as more complex pours like the Pumpkin Flip (Makers Mark Bourbon, ginger spice molasses, pumpkin puree, stout beer, whole egg). Arrive early for a chance at scoring the limited Gingerbread House, one of the bar's most popular cocktails that is served in, yes, an actual gingerbread house. Christmas ain't your holiday? Order up a Treif-ashioned rye, bacon, touch of house ginger molasses, orange bitters, guilt) from Dreidel Bar. It doesn't get any merrier than this, kids. // Deck the Halls pop-up will be open through Christmas Day; 1217 Sutter St. (TenderNob), deckthehallsbar.com.
Miracle at Pacific Cocktail Haven
Bar Agricole
Charmaine's
(Noah Webb Photography)
The Naughty and Nice Lounge at Hello Stranger
Whether you behaved this year or not, Oakland's Hello Stranger will welcome you to its Naughty and Nice Lounge. Swing by after 8pm in December and treat yourself to a "cocktail menu that would make Santa blush." Try their whiskey-spiked Ho Ho Cocoa—it'll be way better than your homemade hot chocolate, trust us. // Hello Stranger, 1724 Broadway (Oakland),facebook.com/hellostrangerbar/
