Last year, it was “becoming;” this year, Long Beach has become the epicenter for solid, thoughtful holiday takeovers. Decorations galore. Drinks that span from the warm and bright to the esoteric and complex. Vibes that vary from the purposefully overwhelming to the much more chill. Long Beach has this holiday season down on lock with these bars and restaurants going all out in the name of Santa Claus, Krampus, and more.
Baby Gee Bar
What kind of Long Beach holiday hootenanny? The one where a miracle snowstorm comes.
1227 E. 4th St.
This paired with vintage decorations, tinsel ceiling-to-floor, a new slew of holiday drinks, and the distinct aura that has made the 4th Street bar a staple, visiting Baby Gee is a must this year. On top of its just-released (and quite stellar) winter cocktail menu, Baby Gee can’t stop and won’t stop. And, as with last year, it will offer a flurry of snow on the hour daily.
For more information, click here.
Recommendations: Jell-O Shots; Neato! Banana Coquito!; Hot Pineapple Cider
The Bamboo Club
What kind of Long Beach holiday hootenanny drink? The tiki one, of course.
3522 Anaheim St.
They call it The Tinsel Club, which inspired their Halloween off-shoot, The Tremble Club. And with it, The Bamboo Club has not only gotten the attention of the L.A. Times with it, but created a solid’n’cheerful menu for the caroling season and decked out the space with garland-ed great taste. Also, it’s the last menu from tiki legend Dustin Rodriguez, who ran the bar for the entirety of the space’s existence. Read his goodbye here.
Recommendations: Rum Rum As Fast As You Can; Yukon Cornelius; Rum Pum Pum Rum
For more information, click here.
Que Sera
What kind of Long Beach holiday hootenanny drink? The Whoville one.
1923 E. 7th St.
They call it The Tinsel Club, which inspired their Halloween off-shoot, The Tremble Club. And with it, The Bamboo Club has not only created a solid’n’cheerful menu for the caroling season but decked out the space with garland-ed great taste. Plus, the space—celebrating its fifth year of being the King of Long Beach tiki—is completely decked out in what could be the most Halloween-y vibe in the city.
Recommendations: Resting Grinch Face; Martha-May Hochata
For more information, click here.
Port City Tavern
What kind of Long Beach holiday hootenanny drink? The ‘nauti’cal one.
4306 E. Anaheim St.
What is no doubt the work of owner Dylan Davis’s wife, Stefani, and head bar manager, Kody Hill, the space is an incredibly un-invasive, warmly holiday-ed out takeover that is not only the space’s most ambitious but cohesive overhaul. The side room has been repainted and re-arranged, feeling more loungey and cozy than storage-y. Each space—the patio, the main bar, the side room—all have distinct vibes for whatever type of holiday cheer you’re feeling. And the drinks are happily worth exploring thanks to Kody.
Recommendations: You’re A Mean One; Naughty Elf; Under The Mistletoe
For more information, click here.
Angel’s Share
What kind of Long Beach holiday hootenanny? The one with a ton of whiskey options.
5110 E. 2nd St.
Bar lead Rachel Zimmerman has done something all restaurants should consider: Add an ounce of femininity. Across the past year, Angel’s Share cocktail program has never been better. Surely, there are booze forward concoctions that Rachel has created. But there are also bright, porch pounders. Creamy odes to the season. And a little bit of fruity here and there to balance it all out.
Recommendations: Feliz Navidad; Hot Buttered Rye; Making Christmas
For more information, click here.
The Social List
What kind of Long Beach holiday hootenanny? The one with utterly delicious turkey pot pie.
2105 E. 4th St.
After a somewhat middling Halloween menu, owner and chef Luis Navarro knew he had to return to what The Social List is all about. And that is comfort. And what better way to do that than bring back former Navarro Hospitality Group Beverage Director Erik Rios-Wentzky. One of the group’s strongest cocktail menus yet, Chef Luis also dove into the food the way it should be: with full gusto. A stellar chili bread bowl pairs with an equally stellar turkey pot pie and apple cider-braised pork that gives a carnitas-gone-holiday vibe.
Recommendations: Holiday pot pie; Cindy Lou Who; Holiday Mulled Wine; Grinchmas
For more information, click here.
The Stache Bar
What kind of Long Beach holiday hootenanny drink? The perfect, not-quite-so-divey one.
941 E. 4th St.
Stache Bar, 4th Street’s much-loved dive-meets-high-end-spirits space, helped introduce Long Beach to good liquor. But long gone are the days when Stache Bar was the only bar in the city to offer Hudson Baby Bourbon and Weller’s full-proof. But across the past year, it has chosen to return to roots with regularly rotating cocktail menus that uplift the space but never eradicate its divey heart. With bar manager Priscilla In building her relationship with owner Brett Gallo, the two have come to a communal understanding: The Stache deserves more love—and that’s exactly what they’ve been doing since last year.
Recommendations: Burger, It’s Cold Outside; Ozzy’s Crispy Dove Wings; Deck The Balls; Noggy Style
For more information, click here.
Miracle at The Ordinarie
What kind of Long Beach holiday hootenanny? The OG, Christmas balls-to-the-walls awesome.
210 The Promenade N.
Miracle at The Ordinarie has officially returned to Downtown Long Beach, bringing SanTaRex, Christmasaurus, Krampus, lights, booze, and plenty of holiday cheer. An annual tradition over six years in the running, owners Christy and Jaime Caldwell could very well call themselves the bearers of bringing the holidays to Long Beach. Nearly every inch of its interior space is covered: From retro, reflective red, silver, green, blue, pink, and gold tinsel to white and multi-colored lights to wrapping paper-wrapped frames to presents to nods to “Christmas Vacation” and “Star Wars” and “A Christmas Story,” it is a happily overwhelming, over-the-top and excessive in every significant way imaginable, including the holiday libations.
Recommendations: Chicken pot pie bites; Dancing Sugarplums; Koala LaLaLa
For more information, click here.
Buen Provecho
What kind of Long Beach holiday hootenanny? The Latin American one.
310 The Promenade N.
Buen Provecho co-owner and full-front-facing guy Stephen Ramos has been nonstop in trying to make the space fit into the landscape of DTLB. From solid happy hour menus, an accessible but un-basic menu, and a slew of cocktails, he and the Buen Provecho team have truly been working at assuring the community feels their presence. Their holiday cocktail menu is no exception to that. From one of the city’s best coquitos—with an agricole Jamaican rum that gives it the chef’s kiss—to an incredible Abuelita chocolate-based old fashioned, they are perfect to enjoy on one of DTLB’s best patio and bar spaces.
Recommendations: Coquito Bonito; Coco-Loco; Abuelita Rum Old Fashioned
The Attic on Broadway
What kind of Long Beach holiday hootenanny? The one inside a house.
3441 E. Broadway
The Attic on Broadway has unveiled its holiday cocktail menu, joining the wonderful plethora of spaces that are partaking in creating holiday menus. Short, sweet, and to the point, the menu features four cocktails, including a stellar hot toddy, a wondrous whiskey sour, and a rum old-fashioned with the slightest hint of banana that is as smooth as it is boozy.
Recommendations: Pear Whiskey Sour; Rum Old Fashioned; Hot Toddy
The Wicked Wolf
What kind of Long Beach holiday hootenanny? The fairy tale one.
2332 Pacific Ave.
The Wicked Wolf is Wrigley’s best bar. Decked out in an into-the-woods vibes that (unintentionally) melds cosplay (thanks to its main heroine behind the bar) and delicious cocktail making, the space isn’t just a watering hole. It’s become a place for afternoon tea. A place for cocktail history lessons. And a great place to celebrate the holidays, with elevated takes on a hot toddy, egg nog, hot chocolate, and cider.
Recommendations: Red Velvet Hot Chocolate
The Stave
What kind of Long Beach holiday hootenanny? The Downtown vibey one.
170 The Promenade N.
The holiday cocktail lineup leans festive and comforting, starting with the Jolly Ginger Margarita, built on tequila blanco with lime, pomegranate, and ginger syrup. Coffee lovers can opt for the Polar Espresso-Tini, combining peppermint vodka, espresso, Kahlua, vanilla simple, and a candy cane garnish. For something warm and communal, the Posada Punch blends Maker’s Mark with traditional Mexican ponche made from hibiscus, guava, dried fruits, citrus, and spices. Hot Toddys are available in classic, honey, cinnamon, or maple variations, featuring whiskey, honey, lemon juice, a cinnamon stick, and orange peel. Rounding things out is an Egg Nog Shot, mixing Jim Beam with egg nog, whipped cream, and a dusting of nutmeg.
Recommendations: Posada Punch
Simmzy’s
What kind of Long Beach holiday hootenanny? The newest one in the Shore.
5271 E. 2nd St.
The Shore’s epicenter for craft beer for well over a decade, Simmzy’s has opted to get into the holiday spirit with a Christmas decor takeover and a slew of holiday ales and a couple holiday cocktails: Rudolf’s Rosy Glow blends Hanson of Sonoma Mandarin vodka with lemon Owens sparkling cranberry soda, fresh cranberries, and rosemary, creating a bright, lightly herbal cocktail that balances citrus and tart cranberry notes for an easy-drinking holiday refresher. On the richer side, Jalisco Holiday channels cozy indulgence with eggnog infused with Nosotros Blanco, and coconut cream, finished with house- tequila, Kahlúamade bitters for depth and spice—a dessert-leaning cocktail that nods to both tradition and tequila-forward flair.
Recommendations: Holiday Ale
