Toronto is getting a whole crop of new Christmas bars this holiday season
Toronto is going to be home to a number of new Christmas pop-up bars this holiday season.
Ho ho h... wait, wasn't it just the summer? Don't worry, you didn't accidentally slip into a wormhole that shot you out in December, but it's never too early to get excited for the impending days of holiday cheer.
If you already have daydreams of sugarplums dancing in your head, I come bearing an early gift: Toronto is getting three new Christmas pop-up bars this holiday season.
For years, Miracle on Bloor has been the undisputed go-to annual pop-up for festive cheer, and the 2025 season will be no different. The pop-up takes over Third Place (875 Bloor St. W.) as of Nov. 14.
But wait, there's more. For the first time, Miracle is expanding with a second pop-up in the city at Boxcar Social's Harbourfront location, opening on Thursday, Nov. 20.
Created by the award-winning team behind Civil Liberties and Civil Works, Miracle on Harbourfront will bring all the festive fun that's made the Bloor pop-up a city tradition and then some.
Think seasonal cocktails and bites, cheerfully kitschy decor, photo-ops abounding, and several special events, like a weekly family-friendly Saturday Santa Pancake Brunch, over its month-long run.
To make things even more magical, Miracle will donate $1 from every drink sold at both locations to Nellie's, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their financial position, has a happy holiday season.
Miracle isn't the only Christmas pop-up that's expanding this year, though. Pnut Gallery, the team behind Papi Chulo's, who have long transformed the Ossington Mexican restaurant into Mistletoes and Margaritas every holiday season, and who added a second pop-up last year, are introducing an additional two for 2025.
First up, Queen West's Little Ese will become Naughty Nutcracker, which they describe as "festive, flirty, and a little mischievous." You can expect no shortage of twinkling lights, themed cocktails and, of course, Christmas magic.
Over on Ossington, Papi and Rosita will become Frosty's Fiesta, decked out in "bright lights and bold cocktails," with plenty of Mexican fare coming out of the kitchen to heat up the winter chill.
All of Pnut Gallery's four holiday pop-ups officially open on Saturday, Nov. 1, so if you've had your fill of all things eerie by the time Halloween is over, you won't have to wait to go into full-fledged merry mode.
If it's still too early for you to start planning out your holiday season bucket list, though, don't worry: the city is also home to plenty of spooky and sweet Halloween pop-ups and events that you can check off first.
Hector Vasquez, courtesy of Miracle
