12 Perfect Spots for Holiday Vibes in KC
By KCM Content Studio
Spend your season tucked away in KC’s pop-up holiday bars and year-round hotspots that promise an especially cozy experience during the winter months.
Christkindlmarkt at The Campground
Modeled after the famous Chicago version, Christkindlmarkt at the Campground is happening for the second year in a row. Some things will be the same—hot drinks, street food, festive music and vendors. And other things will change. This year, the event will feature the Campground’s latest project, their patio renovation, which they’re intending to look like an urban forest in the Stockyards District.
Dec. 9-11 and Dec. 16-18, 5 to 9 p.m.
Silver Bell Club at Canary
Canary in Midtown is hosting a new holiday pop-up called the Silver Bell Supper Club, with garlands, snowflakes and paper ornaments. In addition to chic holiday decor, Canary will be offering a new holiday drink menu alongside their full dinner menu. The drink menu will feature eight new cocktails, including an espresso martini, No Sleep ‘til Christmas, made with oat milk. There will also be a cranberry gimlet called Holiday in the Hamptons and Julep’s famous Sugarplum Old Fashioned.
Wednesday to Sunday through Dec. 31. Hours vary. Reservations only.
Nine Zero One Igloo Bar at The Fontaine
The Igloo Bar on the rooftop of The Fontaine is one of KC’s most popular winter destinations. The pop-up features craft cocktails and a seasonal menu in a winter wonderland setting.
Friday & Saturday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, Wednesday & Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m. Reservations only. $125 igloo reservation fee.
Wunderbar at Grünauer
The bar at Grünauer has a wide selection of Austrian and German wine, beer and spirits, plus the restaurant feels like an alpine Ski lodge, which just makes sense during the colder months.
Monday to Wednesday, 4 to 9 p.m.; Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Winter Menu at Monarch Coffee
Deemed “one of the very best coffee bar companies in the United States” by critic Jordan Michelman, Monarch Coffee is a modern coffee shop with white subway dot tile, golden chandeliers, floral wallpaper and the city’s most beautiful espresso machine—all perfect for the holiday season. Plus their seasonal coffee drinks are barista-crafted and cocktail-inspired delicious creations.
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
Charlie Hooper's
Charlie Hooper’s in Brookside is a classic neighborhood bar with cozy vibes and warm spirits. It’s open every day of the year, which includes Christmas. Think of “Hoop’s” as an escape hatch if you feel a little worn out by all that quality time. Or bring the family—they’ve got shuffleboard.
11 to 3 a.m. daily.
The Conductor Club by Pierpont’s at Union Station
Located on the third floor of Union Station, The Conductor Club offers a holiday pop-up bar with a menu inspired by Home Alone, featuring drinks like “Keep the Change, Ya Filthy Animal,” a cocktail with bourbon, J. Rieger caffé amaro, ginger liqueur and vermouth. You’ll also be able to order a variety of shareables from the kitchen, including crab cakes, buffalo cauliflower and cheese plates.
Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. Reservations only. $2 cover.
Miracle Kansas City
Featuring over-the-top decorations and holiday cocktails, Miracle has three pop-up bar locations in the heart of Kansas City—Country Club Plaza, Town Center and Power & Light. The pop-up menu will have ten Christmas-inspired cocktails and appetizers that include fried cheese curds, jumbo pretzels and buffalo chicken dip.
Nov. 26 to Dec. 26, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Various locations.
Sippin’ Santa at Julep
Sippin’ Santa is a national pop-up companion to Miracle that fuses tiki and Christmas vibes. Westport’s Julep hosts KC’s Sippin’ Santa, and it’s sure to keep you warm no matter the weather.
Through Dec. 31. Monday to Friday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday, 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. $25 reservation fee, with portions going to the AAPI Victory Fund and Children’s Mercy Hospital.
Brown & Loe
Housed in an old bank building from the 1920s, Brown & Loe is a bistro in the River Market with marble floors and walls, spherical pendant lighting and a long, dark wood bar. The restaurant sets the perfect mood year-round, but especially during the holiday season, with its classic, old-timey charm. Brown & Loe sources its ingredients from local farmers and food artisans, and it has an impressive cocktail menu.
Monday to Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Princess Garden
Princess Garden in Waldo is a local gem, boasting food that’s both good and inexpensive. The atmosphere, though, is what gets us: the restaurant’s dining room is such a perfectly preserved relic of the mid-century Chinese dining experience that you could be forgiven for thinking you walked into a time machine. Princess Garden is famously open on Christmas, being a cherished part of many local family holiday traditions.
Wednesday & Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 12 to 8 p.m.
Rec Deck the Halls at Boulevard Brewing Co.
Open to the public as of December 3 this year, Boulevard’s holiday pop-up features a special cocktail menu and, of course, signature barrel-aged beers. Rec Deck the Halls will have shimmering shuffleboard courts, keepsake glassware, festive foods and a claymation movie marathon.
Friday & Saturday, 1:30 to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. $5 cover, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Kansas City G.I.F.T., a nonprofit providing grants for Black-owned businesses.
Access more holiday resources to find all the ways you can celebrate the season in Kansas City, from stunning displays to shopping hotspots.