These Toronto bars are getting festive for the holiday season

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, few things appeal to the holiday hive-mind quite like the promise of festive tipples served against a backdrop of kitschy, over-the-top decor. Happily, Toronto has a host of holiday pop-ups designed to slake our thirst for garlands, glitter and booze-fuelled glee. Divided into two camps—those inspired by winter’s cool elegance and those clinging fiercely to a Clark Griswold–approved aesthetic—these are the bars in which to make merry between now and the new year.

Related: Six of the city’s best private dining rooms for hassle-free holiday parties

A Christmas Carol at Compton Ave.

A pop-up with the power to whisk visitors from Dundas West to Dickensian London, this one feels like the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future all rolled up into one jolly good time. Fall under the spell of oodles of greenery, plush fabrics and the room’s moody mid-19th-century glow as you nibble on British-inspired small plates and sip drinks that showcase the bar’s substantial spirit collection. Try the rummy Home Alone or the nutty and gingery Muffin Man’s Old Fashioned. With $1 from each cocktail supporting the Salvation Army, every visit will have you feeling as giddy as Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas morning. comptonave.com

Giggly Christmas at Project Gigglewater

Christmas curmudgeons who bristle when Mariah shriek-announces the arrival of the holiday season on November 1 may take a while to warm up to this aggressively decorated pop-up from the Project Gigglewater team. Just remember: the holiday hoopla doesn’t interfere with the team’s expert approach to mixology, meaning that you can still sip on a classic, like the Vieux Carré or the Clover Club, or reach for one of the bar’s winter-themed creations. Drinks that maximize the seasonal pantry, these hit a delectable range of flavours including mint, chocolate and ginger in the North Pole Express and pumpkin spice and coffee in the Papa Santa Latte. Order one plus a turkey dinner–inspired Holiday Stuffing Corn Dog and any Grinchy hearts are guaranteed to grow three sizes. projectgigglewater.com

Holiday Hills at Stackt

Stackt Market’s winter wonderland feels like a Hallmark movie come to life. The best part? Tucked between the shops, displays, entertainers and installations are cocktail bars doling out all kinds of holiday-inspired beverages for mulled wine stans, eggnog enthusiasts and espresso martini devotees. Side each one with warm chestnuts or DIY s’mores, made possible by outdoor firepits. Starts November 14, stacktmarket.com/holiday-hills

Holiday Market at Epoch Bar and Kitchen Terrace

Reimagined as a European-style market with a touch of medieval charm, Epoch’s outdoor terrace invites visitors to shop, explore and carouse—though, given the ritzy setting, you’ll want to do that last one as genteel-like as possible. Take in the aroma of roasted chestnuts and cinnamon while visiting merchants peddling a range of artisanal goodies and gifts. Then gorge on elevated seasonal snacks like pulled ham hock sliders and duck confit tourtière. A selection of warm and cold cocktails, including peaty hot toddies brightened with yuzu and creamy concoctions fortified with sweet liqueurs, promises to ward off any remaining chill. epochtoronto.com

Java Jingle at Little Sister

With its new winter wonderland theme, this seasonal sibling to Little Sister is trading kitsch for class and doing away with the inflatables and bedazzling lights from years past for a sleeker, more refined look. But don’t despair: the team has held fast to the elements that matter most, like tropical accents; a full menu of Dutch-Indo fare; and limited-edition cocktails, mocktails and seasonal shots. Made with Bajan Bumbu rum, eggnog, coconut cream, coconut and pineapple liqueurs, the Noggy Colada is a paradisiacal riff on a classic—and the exact drink Santa will be nursing the second he hits the beach. Starting November 13 (Portland) and 14 (Yonge), littlesisterto.com

Related: These Advent calendars are filled with things like cheese, wine and beer

Louis XIII Winter Terrace at One Restaurant

Anyone whose nerves are frayed by the inevitable excesses of the season should seek out the luxe embrace of One Restaurant’s Louis XIII Winter Terrace, whose festivities are fuelled by the namesake fancy cognac. Anchored by a firepit and a decorated tree, the outdoor area will be strewn with lights and plenty of on-brand decor, lest you momentarily blank on the brandy you were promised at the door. Available in one- and 1.5-ounce pours, the illustrious elixir arrives with canapés expertly designed to pair with every precious drop. Plus, if a mere taste of sophistication isn’t enough, visitors can extend their stay with the Hazelton Hotel’s lavish Louis XIII Holiday Package. Starts November 19, onerestaurant.ca

Miracle Toronto

Unlike Coco Chanel, the award-winning team from Civil Liberties and Civil Works believes in an overabundance of accessories—especially when it comes to the holidays. At Miracle (now with two locations, Bloor and Harbourfront), they blot out reality with reams of wrapping paper and tinsel, baubles, nutcrackers, wreaths and fairy lights. Helping to further the effect is the team’s expertly crafted and correctly kitschy sippers, like the cognac-laced Jingle Balls Nog and the creamy, rum-fortified Coconut Hot Chocolate. That a portion of the proceeds go to Nellie’s Women’s Shelter makes every visit that much merrier. Starting November 14 (Bloor) and 20 (Harbourfront), miracletoronto.com

Mistletoes and Margaritas at Papi Chulo’s

If there’s a dearth of holiday decor in the city, it’s likely caused by this flashy pop-up (and its three festive affiliates). Celebrating its fifth year, Papi Chulo’s Mistletoes and Margaritas is Ossington’s destination for tacos, cocktail towers and strawberry-flavoured tequila shots (disturbingly dubbed Santa’s Panties). Yes, securing a table requires patience, preparedness and persistence (the venue has a no-reservations policy), but once you make it inside, you’ll have 90 blissful minutes to get your fill of Tex-Mex snacks and festive fun. Feliz Navidad, indeed. papichulos.ca

Nordic by BarChef

Bedecked in evergreens and animal pelts, this fantastical yurt is the city’s best bet for those looking to embrace holiday hygge. Propped up in the middle of the Well, it’s animated by fire and the rush of blistering cold rather than by piles of glitter. Cocktail savant Frankie Solarik and his BarChef crew are behind this seasonal pop-up, so guests can expect drinks that exploit the nostalgia of the season in suitably inventive (and delicious) ways. Never toasted the holidays with cedar-scented Calvados-spiked eggnog? Now’s your chance. barchef.com/nordic-by-barchef

The White Garden at Queens Harbour

With its expanses of faux snow, tree-lined ceilings and opulent use of decorative fur, this pop-up at a massive new lakeside restaurant is easy to mistake for Narnia. But the fanciful installation is far more inviting than the fantasy land thanks to a menu of luxe eats, lavish cocktails and—most importantly—a welcome lack of permafrost. Faced with fig-topped baked brie, chocolate-glazed cheesecake and a spiced rum concoction called the Golden Hour, even the White Witch herself would mellow out. Starting November 13, queensharbour.ca

KŌST Chalet

Despite a distinct lack of slopes nearby, this après-ski-style pop-up at Bisha Hotel brings the warmth with an abundance of cheese, chocolate and cheeky cocktails. See your fur-trimmed self to the building’s 44th floor and find a parade of cozy comforts, from silken fondue and short rib poutine to specialty cocktails curated by Grey Goose. Starts November 20, kosttoronto.com

Christmas on King at Portland Square

Ink Entertainment is turning its newest King West venue into a must-visit destination for holiday magic. At this bustling holiday market—featuring vendors, seasonal activities, and even the big guy in red—visitors can get their fill of festive bites, seasonal drinks and wholesome holiday fun. All-ages Sundays are just the ticket for beleaguered parents seeking a glimmer of Christmas cheer. Starts November 20, christmasonking.com

Winter Chalet at Evangline

A year-round magnet for the city’s chicest denizens, the Ace Hotel’s rooftop bar will soon draw those seeking cold-weather comforts modelled after Chamonix, Zermatt and Europe’s other A-list ski resorts. Engage in a little rooftop curling, then snuggle up by the fire for fondue (cheese or chocolate), rounds of warming or refreshing drinks and all the trappings of a proper après moment. Starts December 2, evangelinetoronto.com