The best part about the holidays is that it's not one day of celebration, but a whole month of festivities. You favorite bars and restaurants are taking part with a host of pop-ups, specials menus, themed cocktails and more to ensure your December is a fun success even before Dec. 25 rolls around. Check out these 17 places getting into the spirit of the season.
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Throughout December, Fred Segal has been hosting a dessert pop on Saturdays. On Dec. 18, stop in to treat yourself to pastries from Flouring LA. Run by chef Heather Wong, the desserts are made only using sustainably-sourced, organic ingredients from local farmers and vendors. It’s all for a good cause, too. For the duration of the dessert programming, Fred Segal will donate a portion of dessert sales to Priceless Planet Coalition. 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.
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In the leadup to Christmas, enjoy 12 days of specialized treats at the Beverly Hills Hotel’s Polo Lounge from their executive pastry team. Each day, they’ll feature a new festive soufflé flavor, such as candy cane, maple bourbon pecan and sugar cookie. You can also get one to go. Dec. 12-23
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Head to the Wayfarer DTLA’s basement bar for their holiday tea service or a festive cocktail. Wednesdays through Sundays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Lilly Rose’s renowned high tea becomes a choose-your-own experience themed to the season. Opt for a Christmas, Hanukkah or Winter Solstice tea filled with candy cane wishes, lots of latkes and special holiday spirits. If you’d like to just come in for a drink, their menu of 12 Christmas cocktails includes Santagria, Grinch Don’t Kill My Vibe, 8 Crazy Nights and more. Reservations required for tea, recommended for bar.
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The L.A.-based tea purveyor behind the tea programs at The Getty, Huntington Gardens and LACMA (among other places) is headed for Culver City. Now and until Dec. 26, Art of Tea is taking over the newsstand at Platform in Culver City. Stop by for a one-stop culinary gift shop of premium hand-blended teas and gifts. Coveted items include Art of Tea’s At-Home Matcha Kit and their award-winning teas, like dark chocolate peppermint and earl grey creme. It will also feature goods from Brightland, Morrow Soft Goods and Eunbi Ceramics. Wednesdays-Sundays, Noon- 6 p.m.
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From Dec. 17 to Dec. 24, immerse yourself in the holiday spirit at Bar Magnolia. The hotel’s lobby bar will be warmly lit by skylights, chandeliers and roaring fireplaces and decorated with a twinkling Christmas tree as you enjoy one of their special holiday cocktails, such as the Clausmopolitan or Jingle Juice. The week-long menu will also feature non-alcoholic, botanical spirit-based cocktails from Three Spirit. 11:30 a.m.- 10 p.m.
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Looking for the perfect culinary gift? Your search is over. Eataly’s holiday market offers dozens of pre-made themed gift baskets and customizable gift baskets with the ability to include items from there more than 50 varieties of Italian cakes and desserts and other treats.You can also stop in for fresh white truffles and sustainable caviar to bring with you to a holiday time gathering. Your friends will surely thank you.
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Experience the premier hotel’s annual holiday high tea every Sunday in December until Christmas. Taking place in the lobby lounge from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., indulge in the finest selection of teas from around the world, sweet treats and champagne all while taking in the lovely sounds of music by a classical harpist. Starts $110, $65 per child
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3D-animated dining experience. Need I say more? The downtown luxury hotel has joined forces with TableMation Studios for an immersive dining experience in their equally breathtaking 24th-floor panoramic dining room. The dinner is a true theatrical experience for all ages. $145, add $35 per person for optional wine pairing. Thursdays-Sundays beginning at 7 p.m.
See also: The 8 Best Restaurants Open for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in L.A.
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In the Beverly Hills area and looking for a festive drink? Stop in the Beverly Wilshire’s THEBlvd and order The Wise King, a holiday-themed cocktail made of tequila, peppermint schnapps and house-made hot chocolate. From 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily, you can also pop by the main lobby for complimentary hot apple cider and holiday-inspired cookies.
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Be sure to stop in to your favorite wine bar this month for head bar man Ignacio Murillo’s must-try seasonal cocktails. The lineup includes Passion Project (Damrak gin, passion fruit, lemon, turmeric, cardamom), Christmas Vacation (tequila, mezcal, pomegranate, house velvet falernum, lime), Ginger Brit (Bols genever, Pimm’s, lemon, house ginger syrup), the Jalisco Cosmo (tequila, Cointreau, house cranberry liqueur, ginger, thyme), Gold Dragon (gin, house aperitivo, dry vermouth & orange bitters) and the Green Goddess (green tea-infused vodka, cucumber, arugula, jalapeño, absinthe rinse). a.o.c. is open for Christmas Eve and will serve their traditional menus. Both locations are closed Christmas Day.
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Add some cheer to your breakfast plans and head to Hollywood. The Vine Street output is getting festive with the addition of the Mistletoe Mimose to its menu. Bringing together the classic brunch drink and the spirit of the season, the beverage includes elderflower liqueur, orange water, cranberry juice and sparkling wine and is garnished with a sugar rim and cranberry/rosemary sprig.
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Your favorite Valley Mexican restaurant is fully decked out in fir trees, string lights, tinsel, light-up Santa, reindeer, ornaments and garland galore. What’s more, their holiday menu includes specials like mole enchiladas and specialty cocktails. We recommend getting Keep the Change You Filthy Animal, which is Mexican (Mexican coffee), but you can also opt for a snowball margarita or holiday hot chocolate in a Santa mug.
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The Highland Park bar and grill is awash in Christmas decorations and has special cocktails to meet its cheeriness, such as the Fra-gee-lay (bourbon, St. George spiced pear liqueur, lemon, spiced simple, ginger) and The Most Wonderful Thyme of the Year (vodka, thyme liquor, lemon, thyme-infused simple syrup, cranberry juice). Both locations are also projecting classic Christmas movies.
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The Melrose pizzeria is indulging in the cool feel of December with the After the Frost, a vodka-based cocktail with Aperol, Blanc vermouth, lime, pressed grape and celery leaf. Be sure to also keep you eye out for the Anti-Christmas Cocktail.
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Stop in the West Hollywood hotspot for Scout’s Honor (monkey shoulder scotch, bourbon, branca menta, orange bitters, citrus cream float, dark chocolate shavings) . The strong, boozy beverage levels out with notes of peppermint, making it the perfect holiday indulgence.
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If you have a major sweet tooth, you’ll have to try this downtown bar’s Frozen Hot Chocolate (Bacardi Ocho, cocoa powder, simple syrup, coconut milk, coconut cream, whip cream). Cold, rich and refreshing, the dessert-meets-cocktail screams winter in Los Angeles. Afterall, it can be made vegan.
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We couldn’t finish this list without some eggnog and ETA’s goes all out. Starting as a traditional pre-prohibition, custard-style eggnog with organic, free-range egg yolk, cream, milk, and sugar, it then is imbued with a housemade Winter Spice Tincture. It also includes Mars Iwai Tradition Japanese Whiskey, Panama-Pacific 15-year Rum, Woody Creek Colorado Bourbon, Cyrano XO Armagnac and Clan Macleod Speyside Single Malt Scotch. Finally, the beverage is topped with fresh-grated imported Tonka Beans for their rum-raisin, nougat-like aromas.
Photography by: © 2021 Eddie Sanchez/Hungry in LA
