A Complete Guide to Annual Pop-Up Bars in St Louis

The most common type of pop-up bar in St Louis, first introduced to us by Miracle. It might be the delicious flavors of this season, or it might be the holiday spirit, but nothing gets me ready for Christmas quite like these pop-up bars.

Many people are probably familiar with Miracle Bar. There is one in almost every city. Call me biased, but I think Small Change puts on the best Miracle Bar. Their decorations are top notch, all their employees are decked out in Christmas spirit, and the drinks are phenomenal. I recently found out that the drinks at each Miracle Bar are not all the same, so if you’ve been to one before, be sure to check out one in another city for a new flavor.

Sippin’ Santas

The same team that brought us Miracle has taken over Planter’s House and transformed it into the Christmas Tiki Bar you didn’t know you needed.

Frosted by Tower Grove Park

Frosted is a unique pop-up event that serves as a fundraiser for Tower Grove Park. They transform the Piper Palm House into a pop up bar winter wonderland. Holiday themed cocktails are curated by created by Pat Gioia of STL Barkeep

Every Saturday in December, Tower Grove Park is hosting the Frosted event in person with hot cocktails so you can purchase cocktails and sip them in Tower Grove Park.

Toasted Chestnuts by Public School House

Public School House has brought the holiday pop-up bar concept deep into the suburbs of St Louis. This holiday pop-up bar is held annually in St. Peter’s. Public School House hosts pop-up bars for many different Holidays.

Toasted Chestnuts was Public School Houses’s first ever pop-up bar back in 2019, and they’ve continued their pop-up trend with a Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Back-to-School, and Halloween Pop-up. Needless to say, they’ve become experts in the pop-up game and have quickly become a must-see pop-up bar any time of year, but especially this holiday season.

Lit by Molly’s

Molly’s in Soulard was one of the first to announce their entrance into the pop-up bar race and one of the few locations to keep up the fun longer than just the Christmas season. At their Lit pop-up bar, they offer one of the most Instagram-worthy drinks: a bright blue cocktail served inside of a glass ornament. Unfortunately, they don’t let you actually drink it out of the ornament. They give you a moment to snap a photo and then pour it into a blue-sprinkle-rimmed martini glass for you to drink.

Mistletoe by Paddy O’s

Mistletoe by Paddy O’s has the unique advantage of being partnered with the Anheuser Busch Brewery Lights. Guests at Mistletoe drink their holiday drinks and even roast marshmallows from the comfort of the heated bar, and then get shuttled over to the Brewery Lights for a full evening of Christmas Spirit.

For more information on the Anheuser-Busch Brewery Lights or other drive through lights in St Louis, read my post about the The Best Drive Through Holiday Lights in St Louis.

Up on the Rooftop by Three Sixty

This one is all about the location. Three Sixty Rooftop bar in downtown St Louis hosts Up on the Rooftop from their rooftop bar. The cocktails are all named after Christmas movies. One of my favorite ingredients listed on their drink menu: cocoa puff infused almond milk.

Numbskull (Formerly known as Corpse Reviver)

If you loved the Yellowbelly / Lazy Tiger’s infamous Halloween Pop-up Bar, Corpse Reviver, then you do not want to miss what they have in store this year. New for Halloween 2023, they’ve created a new concept: Numbskull.

Think of Numbskull as the Miracle Bar of Halloween. They’ve franchised the idea and it is popping up in several cities across the U.S.:

St. Louis (Westport Social)

Columbia, MO (Room 38)

Nashville, TN (Pearl Diver)

Birmingham, AL (Pilcrow)

Drinks include: The Executioner, Human Canvas (it comes with a temporary tattoo àla the Ghost Malone of pop-ups past), Lobster Boy, Death By Pumpkin, Pennywise Punch, Inside Out Man, and “Trick or Treat shots.” Each drink is served in a glass to match the drink and I for one cannot wait to check this one out!

The Ghoul House by Public School House

Public Schoolhouse isn’t a bar. It’s an event space in Cottleville that is killing it with their pop-up concepts. Their newest pop-up concept is their Halloween bar, which they are calling the Ghoul House. Make your reservation in advance to guarantee you will have a seat. Each table reservation costs $10 (or $15 at the door!) and the money raised from these cover charges is being donated to The Cottleville Firefighters Outreach & LBB Scholarship Fund.

Reservations allow you to have a table for 1.5 hours. At the end of your reservation, you’re invited to walk the Haunted Trail which is put on by the Cottleville Fire Department.

Their menu is being held under wraps for the moment, but if it is anything like their other pop-up bars, it will not disappoint!

Cauldrons & Cocktails by Presto Wine Bar

New this year, Presto Wine Bar is hosting their very own Halloween Pop-Up bar the last two weekends of October (October 20th, 21st, 26th and 27th). Tickets must be purchased in advance, $5 per person, sold as groups of 4 or 6 only (aka: $20 or $30 per table.) Multiple tables can be purchased for larger groups. Time slots are 2.5 hours and food, beer, seltzers, and wine are also available for purchase in addition to the halloween themed cocktails.

Check out Eventbrite to purchase tickets.

Bars with Halloween Drink Menus

There are tons of bars in town breaking out their halloween menus without going full-blown holiday decor. Here are a few more bars around St. Louis where you can grab a spooky cocktail:

Small Change

Small Change is probably most recognized for their annual Miracle pop-up bar. This year, they’re starting the fun a little early with some halloween themed cocktails.

Noto Pizza

Noto Pizza is a new, upscale pizzeria in St. Peter’s. They’re joining in on the Halloween fun with a few themed cocktails. Grab a Vampire Kiss, Dark Magic, or Hocus Pocus at Noto Pizza this halloween.

Love Shack by Public School House

For Valentine’s Day, Public School House transform their space into Love Shack, complete with His & Her Mules, Chocolate Strawberry Martinis, and the elegantly refreshing “Galentine.” Each pre-reserved table gets a plate of cookies and chocolate covered pretzels on the house.

It’s hard to pick just one favorite drink on their menu, because they were all so good. Their Love Shack Old Fashioned features a blackberry simple syrup. They make the Whiskey Mule with a honey lavender simple syrup. They use fresh strawberry puree in their Chocolate Covered Strawberry Martini. Love Boat Float tastes just like a root beer float with hints of caramel. The Galentine was lightly sweet and refreshing, again featuring their honey lavender simple syrup and elderflower liquor.

The unique flavors and beautiful decorations make this pop-up one you do not want to miss! If you want to know more about their Christmas pop-up bar, you can check that out below.

Want to learn more about Love Shack? I’ve got a whole post dedicated to it! Check out more of the inside of this adorable pop-up bar.

Carnival by Molly’s

Molly’s in Soulard hosts a Mardi Gras themed pop-up, dubbed Carnival. Their drink menu includes a King Cake Cocktail, a house Hurricane, a Bourbon Smash, and a large, smoking fishbowl called “The Rex.”

Shamrocked by Public School House

Public School House is a small event space in Cottleville. Every March, Cottleville is home to a very large St. Patrick’s Day Parade and celebration. So it was no surprise when Public School House decided to get in on the celebration, after all, they have the perfect location for it!

Like all their other pop-up bars, Public School House’s Shamrocked is just as delicious. Their drink menu is amazing, and their festive decorations are sure to get you in the mood to celebrate.

My favorite on the Menu was their Salted Caramel Prezeltini (so good, I guzzled down two!) Other drinks include a Pot of Gold Mule, an Irish Old Fashioned, and a Sham-Rita.