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Salt Lake City's Most Dazzling Holiday Pop-up Bars

Posted on December 4, 2024   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Ali Vallarta

Ali Vallarta

Bar decorated for Christmas.

After work drinks at Varley’s Christmas pop-up. (Ali Vallarta/City Cast Salt Lake)

City Cast Salt Lake podcast host Ali Vallarta here, reporting out from every holiday pop-up bar in Salt Lake City 🎄Ready to be dazzled by kitschy decor, fiery drinks, and frothy nog? These three gems are only here for December.

Cozy fireplace and stockings in a bar.

Cozy nooks at Varley. (Ali Vallarta/City Cast Salt Lake)

Miracle on First at Varley | 55 W. 100 S. in SLC

Belt out Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” every Wednesday through Dec. 18 at Christmas karaoke. The national event planners at Miracle Pop-up Bar decked Varley’s halls and even built two cozy fireplace nooks by the windows. As always, the menu here is great.

Three bartenders creating a fiery cocktail.

My blazing cocktail, the “Holy Mountain," from Season’s Drinking at The Ruin. (Ali Vallarta/City Cast Salt Lake)

Season’s Drinking at The Ruin | 159 S. Main St. in SLC

We get an all-star team for this one: delicious cocktails from REMORA, a breezy snack menu from Noche SLC, and twinkling decor that asks, “How can so much tinsel be this tasteful?!” The main attraction here is getting your drink set on fire, but don’t miss Scoop’s nog with cacao nibs.

Santa Claus in a bar with Christmas decorations on the wall.

Santa? I know him! He was at Flanker the other night. (Ali Vallarta/City Cast Salt Lake)

A Christmas Parlor at Flanker | The Gateway (400 W. 200 S.) in SLC

The journey to Flanker’s over-the-top Christmas Parlor starts with a secret doorway to Jack Frost Freezer Company — and things only get kitschier! From the drinkware to the TV screens, not a detail was spared in this delightful speakeasy.

City Cast

We Drank at Every Bar in Salt Lake. Here’s What We Learned.

00:00:00

đŸčI’ve been on the bar beat since my 2023 New Year’s Resolution to have at least one drink at all 216 bars in Salt Lake County. ICYMI, here’s what I learned.

Any new bars you're loving?

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