Christmas Pop-Up Bar Tinsel Is Back With Even More Glitz

Tinsel, a Christmas-themed pop-up bar in Midtown Village, is back for year two, with over-the-top holiday decorations and Santa-ready cocktails with names like Gingerbread Man and Deck the Halls.

The glittering pop-up is from Teddy Sourias, who owns Bru Craft & Wurst, U-Bahn, Cinder Copper & Lace, Finn McCool’s next door, the seasonal Uptown Beer Garden, and the new Tradesman’s and its underground lair. Last year, Sourias took over the former jewelry store at 116 S. 12th Street with plans to turn it into a permanent venue but, for now, it’s a Christmas bar again.

The space is divided into three small rooms decorated with what looks like all of the Christmas gear available in Philadelphia. But this isn’t all elves and toys: Look for likenesses of Christmas meanies Krampus, the Snow Miser, the Grinch, Oogie Boogie, and Winter Warlock, among others. Presents, bows, ornaments, and icicles hang from the ceiling and the staircase has been turned into the entrance to Santa’s workshop. There’s also a glitzy throne for Santa.

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The cocktail list includes drinks like Let it Snow (Jim Beam Double Oak spiced bourbon and maple syrup) and Through the Candy Cane Forest (vodka, peppermint schnapps, and white chocolate liqueur). The beers on draft skew wintery, including Troegs Mad Elf and Sly Fox Christmas Ale.

If you have cash left over after Christmas shopping, splurge on the snow globe drink, which is a vodka-cranberry in a “souvenir” snow globe “with edible snow” for $18. Spend $13 on vodka or rum with cranberry and cinnamon served in a Tinsel-branded soup can and the bar will donate $1 to MANNA.

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Sourias is also offering drink discounts to “professional Santas” — e.g., mall Santas and those working at Christmas Village — so let’s keep our fingers crossed this place fills up with Saint Nicks.

Tinsel opens Thursday, December 6, and runs through January 1. Hours will be Monday and Tuesday from 5-10 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 2 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from noon to midnight, and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m.

Across town, Christmas pop-up bar Miracle has taken over Nick Elmi’s ITV on East Passyunk Avenue, now through December 22.

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