Christmas arrives shortly after the winter solstice, and with it comes a fresh wave of holiday and winter menus at bars and restaurants. While some flavors carry over from fall, holiday favorites tend to dominate seasonal offerings for a couple of months and winter brings a distinct shift. Expect a spotlight on darker spirits and more robust, boozy cocktails that capture the cozy, indulgent spirit of the season.
When the new Later Bye opened Nov. 1, they were ready for winter. The bar-restaurant from Palo Santo owners Bailey and Brian Butler and their bartender partner Steven Idlet was a much-anticipated addition in the same building as Harvey Bakery. The craft cocktail menu — themed around ways to say goodbye — features the Warm Embrace, built with Laird’s Bottled-in-Bond Apple Brandy, honey, sherry and Heirloom Alchermes, which adds notes of cinnamon, clove and vanilla.
Popular Midtown “hidden” bar Lunar Lounge is known for creative cocktails in a divey environment. One of the holiday standouts from bartender Brett Herrin is Alone in the Big Apple — yes, the menu is “Home Alone” themed this winter. Herrin starts with Biscoff Cookie Butter to make a syrup, infusing the Overholt Rye and vanilla liqueur with a scorched caramel and winter spice blend. For a dessert-like finish, it’s topped with spiced apple cider whipped cream.
One of the best winter warmers is the traditional hot toddy. While it rose to prominence as a medicinal remedy — even for teetotalers — it’s a delicious cocktail in its own right. At AKAI Sushi, bar manager Aaron Fletcher has elevated the humble home remedy with the Peace Treaty, a combination of ginger tea, Japanese plum whiskey and cinnamon. It’s served in a teapot and comes with a shot of sake, which Fletcher recommends adding to taste. The sake rounds out the toddy and adds depth and comforting flavors.
Picasso Cafe is going old-school with an “A Charlie Brown Christmas” theme for its winter menu, featuring names like Linus’s Blanket and Pig Pen’s Latte. For adventurous cocktail fans, bartender Maddy Will created the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree, a blend of Alpine Liqueur, Genepy, lemon juice, turbinado syrup and Jerry Thomas Bitters with notes of orange and angostura bark.
Deem Laow, now a year old, has become a popular neighborhood joint on North May Avenue, paired with great food from Tana Thai next door. For the holidays, they’re offering a Butter Beer cocktail made with butterscotch schnapps, vanilla and caramel syrups, cream soda and chocolate bitters. It’s topped with caramel foam and grated cinnamon — a grown-up cocktail for your inner child.
The Hamilton Supperette and Lounge opted for nostalgia with their holiday cocktail list, which features drinks like Jack Frost, Tannenbaum Tiki and Melty the Snowman. The latter is a confectionary mix of vanilla vodka, cinnamon-infused bourbon, ginger syrup, allspice dram and cream, topped with a candied carrot.
At Jones Assembly, the bar team borrowed from sister restaurant Spark, known for its custard treats, to create the Pistachio Martini. Initially planned for November only, the drink was so popular it’s now available through the holidays. The cocktail features Monopolowa Vodka, a scoop of pistachio custard, pistachio orgeat, amaretto and Bailey’s.
Miracle at Social Capital is a pop-up cocktail bar with a Christmas theme, offering a festive setting where you can enjoy a full menu of holiday cocktails. With expertly crafted drinks and a nostalgic ambiance, Miracle is guaranteed to bring even the most resistant Grinch into the holiday mood.
Sippin' Santa, the tropical holiday pop-up at Suite B in Automobile Alley, is a can't miss holiday experience. With festive tropical decor and a whimsical island vibe, trade in the cold Oklahoma weather for drinks on the beach this Christmas season.
Finally, dive bars are embracing the holiday spirit too. Good Times boasts one of the best divey cocktail programs in the city, offering frozen drinks year-round and hot drinks during winter. Their holiday feature is the White Christmas Margarita, made with blanco tequila, Cointreau, coconut cream and lime, served with a sugar rim and garnished with cranberries and rosemary.
Find more ways to celebrate the holidays with our full round up of events and happenings around the city.
