New York City
We Tried The Chrismapolitan at the Most Popular Holiday Pop-Up Bar in the U.S.
Not to be a Grinch but...
What are the holidays without a little kitsch? This time of year rolls around, and New York City is full of Santas, adorned storefronts, and way too many merry pop-ups. Whether you like it or not, holiday-themed bars will be fully booked and they will be inevitably making an appearance on your social media feeds.
Miracle on 9th Street has pop-up cocktail bars in a whopping 39 different states across the country and internationally, from Costa Rica to Canada. Safe to say it’s the biggest, most popular holiday-themed pop-up bar around, and around mid-November every year, the festive concept takes over watering holes and serves up specialty cocktails that people go crazy for.
This December, I decided to embrace the stereotypical holiday ritual of an overpriced cocktail in a way-too-loud bar and turn it into an episode of Snack Shop. Someone has to do you the favor and figure out if it's actually overrated or, maybe even, worth the prices.
I made my way to their East Village pop-up in Manhattan, which every other month of the year is a cozy mezcal bar called The Cabinet, and tried my best to stay objective while ordering off their menu on a weekday afternoon. The place is a holly jolly slap in the face: the loudest Christmas music you’ve ever heard, low multicolored lighting, the walls, ceilings, floors bursting with festive decorations you couldn’t even imagine, and bartenders in ugly Christmas sweaters.
One of my least favorite parts about Miracle on 9th Street: there are no walk-ins allowed. No holiday whimsy, no space for festive spontaneity! Reservations are mandatory, and in order to make one on Resy, you have to pay $12 a person. That fee comes with a “complimentary” light-up Christmas tree beanie that you receive upon arrival—I’ll let you decide whether you think that’s worth it or not.
The Snacks
There are more than ten cocktails to choose from, but what they all have in common is embarrassing, long names that will definitely make you cringe when you have to order. (More on that in a second.) But it's all in good fun—right? Despite my initial grumpiness about the reservation fee and the music (which made filming extra difficult), it's actually hard to be in a bad mood once you’re inside. The vibes are definitely jolly, plus the bartender was kind.
Hot Buttered Rum. This was a no-brainer because of how cold it was outside and how much I love rum, especially mixed with oatmilk, nutmeg, velvet falernum, mixed spice butter. This one was delicious, but I’m not sure it justified the cost— $18.95. Here’s a version we love that’s easy to make at home, and is definitely cheaper to make.
Rudolph's Replacement. I’m not sure what I expected from this drink, but I never would have guessed that the cute red-nosed reindeer’s replacement would be served in a green dinosaur shaped cup. Still, even though I enjoyed the flavor of this cocktail—it’s made with vodka, coffee liqueur, creme de cacao, orange curacao, chai, almond milk, and bitters—I don’t get why the replacement is a T-rex nor what a chocolate-covered orange inspired drink has anything to do with Rudolph. Think of it as a dirty chai espresso martini served in a prehistoric themed cup.
Chrismapolitan. In 2023, Taylor Swift was seen at a Miracle on 9th Street in Kansas City, and her fans immediately clocked the drink in her hand: the Chrismapolitan. Garnished with an exaggeratingly large sprig of rosemary, the drink is made up of elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, lime, and absinthe mist. Carrie Bradshaw might hate this take on the Cosmo, but I didn’t mind it. Easy to drink, plus, easy to recreate at home with this base recipe.
Final Rating
Full transparency: Every drink I ordered cost $18.95. It’s always hard for me to order a drink that costs more than $15, but I had to follow through with my very important holiday bar research. Keep in mind the final cost also includes the initial investment of $12 a person (and the light-up Christmas tree beanie you’ll never wear again). I will admit that the service was lovely, I made good friends with the bartender who is usually serving mezcal-based drinks on the off-season at the same bar, and I was a little obsessed with the over-the-top themed mugs. I declare Miracle on 9th a very good time if you surrender to the kitsch and okay cocktails, but overrated in general.
If you’re reading this and you have a suggestion for a Snack Shop in the city that I must visit and (honestly) rate, leave a comment here or on our Snack Shop TikTok video. I love suggestions!
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