Some bars decorate for Christmas. And then there’s Miracle at The Ordinarie. Christmas doesn’t just arrive, but rather disgorges up the most wondrous array of kitsch, tackiness, and yuletide cheer this side of the North Pole—just a few days after the space took on Halloween.
And, well, it’s official: the beloved Broadway tavern is formally transformed into a tinsel-drenched fever dream.
SanTaRex, the Christmas Fa-la-la-la-la Barrel, and the Christmas Unicorn are back as mugs. Joining them is a mouse whose appearance as a mug makes you feel like the creature is begging you to drain its contents. (In the happy sense, not the Halloween sense.) The lights are bright as always. The cocktails share both traditions and newbies. (For the lovely list of libations this year, scroll below.) And yes, the sheer amount of holiday cheer could power a small city block.
For the seventh annual celebration, owners Christy and Jaime Caldwell have done what no one else in the city does better: make December feel like a full-body experience. Nearly every square inch of the space is covered—retro reflective tinsel in reds, silvers, and golds; frames wrapped in paper; ornaments dangling from every surface; and tributes to Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story peeking from every corner. It’s not subtle—and that’s the poinsetta point.
Controlled chaos, powered by love (and extension cords)
This year’s Miracle kicks off earlier than ever: Nov. 7, two weeks before last year, which was also earlier than other Miracles. With it, The Ordinarie has formally etched itself into the Long Beach Tablets of Stone as the space that takes on holidays, particularly after its inaugural Halloween stint as the Black Lagoon. And other business owners recognize that.
“The Ordinarie started it,” said Baby Gee bar co-owner Daniel Flores, who told me last year that he credits the Caldwells for inspiring Long Beach’s newfound status as a “holiday bar mecca.”
He’s right. Miracle’s success—and now Black Lagoon’s additional achievement—has set off a chain reaction across the city over the past few years. Christmas and Halloween menus are directly related to the birth of Miracle. And in that vein, Long Beach bars aren’t afraid of going all-in on a theme anymore. That’s the real miracle. Rather than shy away from the chaos, they’ve embraced it, building a holiday scene that’s joyful, communal, and a little bit unhinged.
Still, no one does it quite like The Ordinarie. The rest of the city can try—and should—but this is still Long Beach’s North Pole, the original house of holiday excess, where the season officially begins and the drinks flow just as fast as the good vibes.
The 2025 Miracle at The Ordinarie cocktail offerings.
Some favorites return, both in cocktail and mug form. But not all contents are the same…
Christmapolitan: vodka | elderflower | dry vermouth | spiced cranberry sauce | lime | rosemary | absinthe mist
Snowball Old-Fashioned: rye whiskey | gingerbread | aromatic & wormwood bitters | orange essence
Candy Cane Lane: white rum | vanilla liqueur | dark crème de cacao | minty amaro | candy cane | soy milk
Dancing Sugarplums: gin | limoncello | plum wine | plum milk syrup | lemon | tiki bitters | nutmeg
Koala LaLaLa: blanco tequila | dry vermouth | apple liqueur | tamarind | lemon | eucalyptus bitters | mint | soda
Cheery Cherry Chocosaurus: brandy | Italian sweet vermouth | dark crème de cacao | blackberry liqueur | tart cherry & chocolate | lemon | chocolate bitters | brandied cherries
Blitzen Barrel: cream sherry | mead | scotch | PX sherry | honey | sesame
Run Run Reindeer: mulled wine reduction | prosecco | lemon | aromatic bitters
Yippee Ki Yay Mother F….!: Barbados rum | rhum agricole | Trinidad overproof rum | ube & coconut orgeat | acid-adjusted pineapple
Rudolph’s Replacement: vodka | coffee liqueur | white crème de cacao | orange curaçao | chai | almond milk | aromatic bitters
Miracle Mouse: bourbon | French sweet vermouth | pamplemousse liqueur | vanilla liqueur | strawberry | grapefruit | orange acid
Coconut Hot Chocolate: aged Jamaican rum | amaretto | chocolate hazelnut & coconut | coconut whipped cream | cacao dust
But what about the food at Miracle at The Ordinarie?
Yes, there is plenty of food options—here are some highlights.
Hatch Chile Mac & Cheese: Cavatappi pasta | White cheddar | Hatch chile | Crispy onions | Add bacon | Add short rib +5
Chicken Pot Pie Bites: Carrots | Peas | Flaky crust | Gravy
Sweet Potato Fries: Burnt honey with ancho and cinnamon | Honey mustard aioli
Spinach & Cheese Ravioli: Oyster mushroom | Brown butter | Crispy kale | Balsamic
Roasted Cauliflower: Miso-maple glaze | Scallion | Cilantro | Black sesame
The Ordinarie is located at 210 The Promenade N. For more information on Miracle at The Ordinarie, click here.
