2 Christmas pop-up bars in Macon ahead of the holiday season. See drinks, decorations

With the holidays around the corner, a few local spots are getting into the spirit of the season with Christmas pop-up bars.

Covered in tinsel and lights and boasting a range of specially made drinks, Sophia’s on Second and the Society Garden are both running pop-ups throughout the month of December.

The bars may share a love for alcohol and the holiday spirit, but each offers its own unique experience and specialty drinks.

The Society Garden

A perennial favorite for its courtyard and live music, the Society Garden’s Christmas pop-up bar is back for its fourth year.

The bar, known as the Miracle on Ingleside, opened on Dec. 1 and is set to run through Dec. 31.

Brad Evans, owner of the Society Garden, said he was inspired to start the pop-up bar after he and his wife, Meagan, saw a Christmas-themed pop-up bar in Atlanta.

Now, preparing the bar takes up most of the Evans’ fall, with preparations beginning as soon as the weather starts to cool. Meagan takes care of the decorations, while Brad makes the drinks. Brad said they get help preparing from friends, family and the bar staff.

Since the pop-up bar began, it’s taken December from an annual lull to the bar’s biggest month for business.

“It really turned one of our slowest months of the year because of the cold weather into our biggest month of the year,” Brad Evans said. “December’s turned into chaos for us, but it’s been a good chaos.”

Hung with tinsel and glittering lights, the bar’s decor is as festive as its drink selection.

Brad Evans said while a drink occasionally returns, most of the menu changes every year. Creating the drinks typically begins weeks or even months in advance of the holiday season.

“We start buying things and trying to come up with ideas, and we really don’t stop planning until the day it opens,” Brad Evans said. “We are tweaking drinks and trying out things and hanging Christmas lights and all that good stuff.”

This year the selection features the mistletoe margarita, which has all the tequila of a traditional margarita but is made with cranberries for a seasonal twist. Jingle Juice also puts cranberries front and center, with cranberry vodka paired with rosemary simple syrup for an added herbal smoothness.

If you’re looking for refuge from the cold, the Society Garden is serving hot drinks. The spiked hot chocolate offers a timeless chocolate flavor shot through with your choice of classic or peppermint bark flavored RumChata.

While the Society Gardens offers some walk-ins, your best shot to get in on the Miracle at Ingleside is to make a reservation online.

Sophia’s on Second

Sophia’s on Second opened a Christmas pop-up bar for the first time this year.

Inspired by the Society Garden, Chasen Smith, manager of Sophia’s on Second, prepared a slate of Christmas-themed cocktails in a cozy, candlelit atmosphere. The bar, known as Blitzen Bar, opened on Nov. 21 and runs through Dec. 29.

Nestled along Second Street in downtown Macon, Smith said it draws patrons from the crowds who flock to see the light show that plays each night.

“We just wanted to bring that kind of aspect downtown,” Smith said. “They’ve got the beautiful Christmas lights right there, and people walk around and look at them and we will give them an opportunity to come here and check this out.”

Smith said that’s because it’s the restaurant’s first year running a pop-up bar, it took months of preparation. Employees spent about a week and a half decorating and got help from Jarvis Willis Events & Designs, a local wedding and event planning company.

The final product looks straight from a Hallmark card, with garlands covering the ceiling and Christmas mugs lining the bar where wine and whiskey glasses normally are.

“We’re super excited to see everyone’s faces when they walk in,” Smith said.

The seasonal menu took around a month to curate, and each drink name references a Christmas movie.

The most popular drink is gingerbread espresso martini. The sharp coffee flavor is tempered with sweetness from the vanilla vodka and the cookie floating on top.

The menu also features Cousin Eddie’s Eggnog, a rich spiked eggnog topped with whipped cream and caramel.

Like the Society Garden, Sophia’s on Second offers walk-ups, but Smith recommends making a reservation online to guarantee a spot.

This story was originally published December 13, 2024 at 1:02 PM.