Get into holiday spirits at these
This is a favorite and special time of year for many of us. There is festive music everywhere, holiday lights, decorations and excitement to share with friends and family.
So let’s get immersed in the holiday season and visit some incredible bars and lounges that will transport you to a wintertime wonderland.
Ho Ho Hotel Sorrento
A fantastic place to cozy up on a leather couch while being warmed by a giant fireplace is the Fireside Room at Hotel Sorrento. This hotel was built in 1909 in the historic First Hill neighborhood. The wood-paneled Fireside Room draws you in on these brisk December days and transports you to a different era. Combine the incredible atmosphere with wonderfully handcrafted cocktails and you have found a perfect holiday-decorated hideaway!
There are some great cocktails to consider while you revel in the upscale yet inviting atmosphere. Winter always makes me want to curl up by the fire with a cup of tea and that beverage is even better than a tea-infused cocktail. Grey’s Rose with bergamot tea, gin, and a dash of alpine liqueur transports you to a chalet deep in a winter wonderland forest. Time for some fireside daydreaming about playing in the snow and ski season!
Another favorite is Pomona’s Gift. A unique twist on a Hot Toddy with their own hand-selected barrel of Woodford Reserve Bourbon. This hand-selected whiskey has more floral and pear flavors than your typical Woodford Reserve Bourbon. The Pomona’s Gift cocktail leans into those flavors with a bright, warm spiced pear flavor that warms you up and gets you humming along to all the holiday songs!
If you would like to visit the beautifully decorated Fireside Room when Mr. and Mrs. Claus are there, make a reservation for December 18. Spend the afternoon sipping on tea or a cocktail while you snack on some seasonal delights and write your lists and letters to Santa!
Details: Letters To Santa Holiday Tea in the Fireside Room
Jingle Belltown
The holidays bring such wonder and cheer during this festive season and two bars in Belltown know how to celebrate with their seasonal pop-ups. We’re talking about “Miracle on 2nd” at Rob Roy and “Sippin’ Santa” at Navy Strength. Both of these locations are crafting delicious and whimsical cocktails to ring in the holiday season!
The Miracle on 2nd at Rob Roy is such a vibe. The entire menu of this pop-up experience is filled with cheery and delicious holiday cocktails served in unique themed mugs and glassware. The holiday joy is on everyone’s face and the bar is filled with laughter and festive attire. The new addition to the Christmas Cricket cocktail is a must try if you love mint and chocolate.
The rum-based drink Yippee Ki-Yay is served in a great Santa mug and will have you immediately quoting and talking about all the best scenes in (my favorite Christmas Day must-watch holiday movie) Die Hard!
Whether you have been naughty or nice, you will need to go visit Sippin’ Santa at Navy Strength bar. Now a holiday-themed tropical paradise, the Sippin’ Santa pop-up brings you tropical holiday-themed cocktails that will have you immediately adding Feliz Navidad and Mele Kalikimaka to your holiday playlist.
Their menu is filled with incredible tropical cocktails that will have you and Santa thinking about relocating to a warm sandy beach paradise. The Kris Kringle Colada is a delicious and amazing Christmas-y cocktail. This colada with rum, amaro, allspice liqueur, lime, pineapple, and coconut would be great any time of the year but is even more special during the holidays. This drink is like a holiday ray of warm summer sunshine on cold, blustery Seattle days.
Another cocktail to add to your list is their Jingle Bird cocktail. This twist on the Jungle Bird with a bourbon and a pineapple rum base elevated this drink to become a holiday favorite.
I hope you get many opportunities this year to raise a glass and celebrate the beautiful holiday season and all that our wonderful city has to offer.
Cheers and Happy Holidays!
Seattle Refined contributor Carolyn Sellar is a renaissance woman in the whiskey, spirits, and cocktail world. She is the owner of Adventures in Whisky, a certified educator, event producer, branding consultant and a regional & national whiskey, spirits, and cocktail competition judge!