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It’s no Europe, nor as grand as New York City, but if you want an entertaining place to enjoy the Christmas season, Philadelphia is a good choice. In addition to the historic light show, Christmas Village Market, Dilworth Winter Garden, and multiple ice rinks, there are a variety of Christmas themed restaurants and bars in Philadelphia.
With so many options, and limited time, it may be difficult to decide which place to check off your grown-up Christmas list.
Uptown Beer Garden (1500 JFK Blvd.-City Hall Area)
Uptown is one of the most conveniently located Christmas themed restaurants and bars in Philadelphia. If you need to warm up, after a stroll around Philadelphia’s Christmas Village, you only need to cross the street, and walk through Uptown’s bright, cheerful, entrance.
Have a favorite Christmas movie? Uptown has you covered.
If you didn’t get enough Belgian Fries and Raclette Sandwiches at the market, there is a menu featuring popular bar fare. Uptown’s bar food is not Christmas themed.
A beer garden, they are known for their festive, drinks. Are you going to pay a little more for a
drink served in a souvenir ornament sipper? Yes. Does it feel fabulous sipping said drink surrounded by Whoville decorations? Absolutely.
Uptown has an inside bar and an outside bar.
You have your choice of seating options, from booths near a train, to comfy sofa areas.
I am all for supporting businesses, so I do encourage you to grab a drink or some food, if you visit. You can however, visit Uptown, to see the decorations and snap yuletide photos,
without making a purchase. Children and teens can enjoy seeing the decorations, when accompanied by a 21+ guardian, except on Friday and Saturday nights.
The best thing about Uptown, is that you can visit anytime you wish, without a reservation. The space is large, so it doesn’t feel crazy crowded. It’s an excellent choice if you are short on time, and want to have a snack and/or drink surrounded by holiday spangle.
Tinsel (116 S. 12 th Street-Midtown Village Area)
My heart skips a beat as I approach Tinsel. Anyone growing up in the Philadelphia area, holds happy memories of the famous light show.
I still remember my first light show.
If you long for the glee and nostalgia of childhood Christmas, with an adult beverage in hand, Tinsel is one of the Christmas themed restaurants and bars, that is a must-visit.
Is there such a thing as too many lights?
Tinsel says no (also me).
Tinsel’s decorations are over-the-top, in the very best way. To quote the Muppets,
“It’s true wherever you find love, it feels like Christmas.” Tinsel clearly puts a lot of love into creating their Christmas pop-up bar.
Everyone in the bar is grinning from ear to ear, striking their best pose on the Santa throne.
Tinsel is pure, Philadelphia, fun.
Even the bathrooms (which there are plenty of) are filled with holiday cheer.
Some might complain that you’re paying too much for the whimsical drinks, but you only live once and Christmas only comes once a year. Drink from a snowman.
Tinsel is drinks only, there is no food, but there are restaurants on either side of the bar, owned by the same restaurant group.
On weekends, Tinsel gets crazy crowded, so if you want to move about freely, discovering all of the bar art,
wall decor, and characters, visit early in the season, on a week night.
Walnut Garden (1708 Walnut St.-Rittenhouse Area)
Another of the Christmas themed restaurants and bars in Philadelphia, Walnut Garden has a laid-back, decorated-up, atmosphere.
Their holiday enhancements provide outstanding sparkle.
I didn’t eat at Walnut Beer Garden, but I’d like to return during the season to try a mini-s’mores station.
The drink menu has a few holiday themed options. I order a Cocoa Warm Up.
The hot chocolate is spiked with Amaretto and Irish Cream. It’s not too boozy, and an excellent choice for casual sipping. If you would rather skip the spirits, you can savor a non-boozy hot chocolate or a mulled apple cider.
Walnut Garden is a relaxing, place to add some playful shine to a holiday meet-up with friends.
At Walnut Garden you can also bring the kids, and best of all, they enthusiastically, welcome dogs. It’s the best stop for the entire family.
White Elephant (1500 Locust Street-Rittenhouse Area)
The White Elephant is unique as one of the Christmas themed restaurants and bars in Philadelphia. You won’t see characters from your favorite December specials here. Instead, White Elephant is like walking in a winter wonderland, or more accurate, a pink winter wonderland.
Pink bows, pink trees, pink flowers, are mixed with snowflakes, icicle lights, and all things silver. The atmosphere promotes swanky, sophistication.
Year round, The Elephant (the name of the bar changes from white, to pink, to green, depending on the holiday) is a popular, espresso, martini bar. During the Christmas season, they also offer a holiday drink menu. I order a Peppermintini.
I swig my martini, while watching the fire, crackling on the tv screens, behind the bar.
White Elephant also has a food menu that features familiar bar bites.
Though on the list of Christmas themed restaurants and bars in Philadelphia, White Elephant, is different from the rest. If you aren’t into all of the characters and kitsch of Christmas, White Elephant offers a nice alternative.
More winter themed than straight up Christmas. It’s the perfect, place, to catch
up with friends, snap some sparkly, selfies, and cheers with stylish, martinis.
McGillian’s Olde Ale House (1310 Druy St. – Midtown Village Area)
As Philadelphia’s oldest, continuously, operating bar, McGillian’s Olde Ale House has survived prohibition, a fire, and not one, but two pandemics. As one of the top attractions in Philadelphia, this family owned Irish Pub, shows immense love for tourists and Philly locals. Over the years McGillian’s Olde Ale House gained the reputation for being one of the best Christmas themed restaurants and bars in Philadelphia.
The façade of McGillin’s Olde Ale House calls to you, the minute you turn the corner onto Druy Lane.
In December, the outside is adorned with bows, evergreen, stars, and nutcrackers.
McGillin’s Olde Ale House embraces their historic, interior. It’s a warm, cozy, welcoming, atmosphere, even sans holiday decorations.
I settle into a seat near the fireplace.
Garlands hang above. Twinkle lights cast a soft glow onto McGillin’s collection of historic, iconic signs, acquired from defunct, Philadelphia, businesses. Animated Santa figures surround the room. Snowflakes and gleaming baubles, dance above my head.
Though the food menu remains the same, McGillian’s mixes up a variety of holiday themed drinks. Craving something refreshing, I order the Vixen’s Gin Fizz. It’s light, and the Cranberry is not too tart.
It’s a lovely holiday sip. I also order a crock of French Onion soup and mussels in white sauce, to enhance the cozy vibes.
You can feel the history absorbing into your veins at McGillian’s. At Christmas, the added decorations will dazzle, and the drinks will enhance your holiday spirit.
Butcher Bar (2034 Chestnut Street-Rittenhouse Area)
As the weather chills, Butcher Bar, transforms their outdoor, patio, into the insulated, Yule Lodge. Butcher Bar’s Yule Lodge, is a great choice for those desiring a less ostentatious, environment. The room is designed to invoke feelings of a homey, winter, cabin. It’s enchanting. Given the name you can deduce that Butcher Bar’s menu, leans carnivore, but there are plenty of choices to delight non-meat-eaters. Eating a meal at Butcher Bar, is a foodie joy.
Butcher Bar’s Yule Lodge is well-known for their moose glass, drinks. At the Yule Lodge, you can swig an eggnog based cocktail, out of a glass, made famous by the Griswold family.
This is one of the smaller Christmas themed restaurants and bars in Philadelphia. It fills quickly, so making a reservation is a must. If you aren’t into eggnog moose drinks, there are a variety of other cocktails. Butcher Bar also earns bonus points for having creative mocktails on their menu. It’s your best bet if you want to indulge in an elevated menu, and is perfect for a date night or a one-on-one dinner with a friend.
Craftsman Row Saloon (112 S. 8 th Street- Jewlers’ Row Area)
The Holy Grail of Christmas themed restaurants and bars in Philadelphia, Craftsman Row is a Christmas explosion. I’ve seen pictures and heard tell of the Craftsman Row Christmas experience, but nothing prepares me for what it is like to see it in person. Christmas envelopes you the minute you walk through the door.
This Christmas themed restaurant and bar in Philadelphia elicits classic, Christmas, feels. Instead of characters like The Grinch and Rudolph, the main character is more like your great- aunt who loves Christmas. The decorations are garlands, lights, and shiny ornaments. It’s Christmas chaos that is also surprisingly calming.
Craftsman Row’s menu features holiday themed drinks, food, and milkshakes.
Like Uptown, if you put it in an ornament, I will drink it.
Unlike many holiday themed pop-ups that put the theming and drinks first and have food as an afterthought, Craftsman Row food is delicious. During the holiday season, there are special holiday dishes, like the Christmas dinner burger. A burger topped with stuffing, sweet potatoe fries, and cranberry.
The highlight of a visit to Craftsman Row is the outrageous milkshakes. Some shakes are on the menu year round, but I can’t resist ordering one of the special holiday shakes. My sip is the All I Want for Christmas shake.
It’s comprised of vanilla ice cream, egg nog, and crushed cookies. To make the shake
tip towards the outrageous, it’s topped with a sour strip, ribbon candy, and a cookie sandwich. The shake is tasty. The cookie sandwich alone, is worth the order.
Craftsman Row is a special, holiday experience and is one of the most sought after Christmas restaurants and bars in Philadelphia. By Thanksgiving, reservations are impossible to get, so if you want to visit, book your time by November 1st .
I’m happy that over-the-top Christmas decorating is a growing trend. If during the busy holiday season you to need to decompress, check out one of Philly’s Christmas themed restaurants and bars.
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