The Christmas Bar Is Back—at a New Location
While bars aren’t legally allowed to operate in Honolulu right now, The Christmas Bar serves food and nonalcoholic drinks along with holiday spirit-filled beverages.
The Christmas Bar has been serving Butter Beer with vanilla vodka, Butterscotch Schnapps, cream soda and marshmallow fluff since its first pop-up in 2017, though it also comes in a nonalcoholic version. Photo: Catherine Toth Fox
It may have “bar” in the name, but The Christmas Bar is shifting gears again this year to operate safely as a pop-up restaurant.
First as a drinks-only pop-up in the old Magnolia Bakery at Ala Moana Center in 2017 , then a revamped bar with food in the old Big City Diner at Ward Village in 2019, The Christmas Bar, run by the folks from Tiki’s Grill and Bar, found a new home this year in the former Forty Carrots in Bloomingdale’s.
In the span of just four days, the team dusted off their old JOY sign, decked the halls and updated their menu—and rules—to open on Nov. 25. It will remain open every day through Christmas Eve.
Chocolate lovers can choose from the Candy Cane Iced Cocoa or Peppermint Hot Cocoa, made with Peppermint Schnapps and chocolate liqueur, or Rich Mexican Cocoa, with Kahlua, rum and cayenne. These drinks can also be made without alcohol. Photo: Katrina Valcourt
Seatings are limited to one hour for up to five people, and each table must order a food item. Right now, it’s first come, first serve—no reservations. The menu features many of last year’s favorites on both the food and drink sides. When we went in previous years, we enjoyed Kris Kringle’s Kimchee Grilled Cheese, Rich Mexican Cocoa and Butter Beer, which can both be served without alcohol.
Kris Kringle’s Kimchee Grilled Cheese with smoked gouda and sharp cheddar from the 2019 pop-up. Photo: Katrina Valcourt
We checked it out again this year. See what we found and what you need to know when you arrive on Frolic Hawai‘i!
Bloomingdale’s at Ala Moana Center, Third Floor, open 11 a.m. daily, last call 30 minutes before the store closes (Sunday through Wednesday, 7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m., but holiday hours will change), through Dec. 24, @thechristmasbarhawaii on Instagram
