Houston’s Holiday Wonderland is Back: Jingle Bell Bar Takes Root at Botonica
Guests can explore enchanting themed rooms, festive sips, holiday treats, and weekly events all season long through Dec.28
Jingle Bell Bar, the signature holiday installation, will return for a transformation of Botonica, the Latin-inspired cocktail bar in River Oaks. Just in time for Thanksgiving, the immersive experience will run through Sunday, December 28, and feature curated themed rooms, seasonal cocktails and spirit-free sips, festive bites, live entertainment, crafty workshops, and more.
Jingle Bell Bar is created by hospitality professionals Alexis Mijares, co-founder and Beverage Director, and Angelique Cook Cavazos, co-founder and Artistic Director– the team also behind Cursed Cauldron. The pop-up unfolds across three themed rooms, each designed to immerse guests into different festive worlds:
- “Classic Christmas” – the main downstairs bar will be timeless, twinkling, and adorned in red, green, gold, and silver decor
- “Candy Cane Lane” – the downstairs lounge will be a sugar-spun, whimsical pastel wonderland full of gingerbread, candy, and confections
- “The Ski Lodge” – the upstairs mezzanine bar will be a cozy snow-filled woodland escape
“With Botonica opening this year, Jingle Bell Bar now has a permanent home! Now we get to build on what we’ve created year after year,” said Mijares. “Layering in more decor, adding more details, and deepening the experience people come here for. It feels really special to see Jingle Bell Bar becoming a holiday tradition for the city!”
“Creating the look and feel of Jingle Bell Bar is one of the highlights of my year,” Cook-Cavazos said. “Designing across Botonica, The Cursed Cauldron, and this gives us three totally different worlds to play in, but Jingle Bell Bar is where we get to lean into pure holiday joy. Each room has its own mood and story, and watching guests enjoy & create memories in these spaces — from classic Christmas warmth to candy-coated whimsy to a snowy lodge escape — is the most rewarding part of building this experience.”
The holiday cocktail menu, created by Mijares, will return with seasonal drinks including the Mistletoe Martini, Festivus Old Fashioned, Snowbird, Yule Mule, Nutcracker Nog, and Prancer’s Milk Punch. Flavors range from preferences of all palates, like the warm & cozy Winter Wassail, made with Proper Twelve Irish Whiskey, apple cider, cranberry, orange, cinnamon, clove, ginger, and honey; to an effervescent Sleigh All Day, made with Nolet’s Gin, elderflower, spiced pear, lemon, and sparkling wine. Non-alcoholic options for those who want holiday sips without the booze include Mrs. Claus Cocoa, Fruitcake Fizz, and La Tortola, made with non-alcoholic tequila, grapefruit, lime, gingerbread, and sparkling apple cider.
A seasonal food menu will also be available, with items such as Grandma’s Onion Dip, Festive Flatbreads, Santa’s Cookie Platter, Charcuterie Boards, Reindeer Chow, Rum Cake, and Tamales.
Weekly special programming includes:
- Tuesdays: $2 East Coast Oysters
- Wednesdays: Jingle Bell Burlesque (12/10, 12/17, 12/24)
- Thursdays: Jingle Bell Juke Live Music Nights (12/11, 12/18)
- Sundays: Santa’s Workshop Craft Classes + Holiday Movie Nights with Cookie Decorating
Hours Through December 28:
- Tuesday through Friday 4pm – Midnight
- Saturdays & Sundays 2pm – Midnight
- Closed on Mondays, except open 4 p.m.-12 a.m. Monday, 12/22 (Christmas week)
Botonica is located at 2031 Westcreek Lane. Visitors are encouraged to dress in their holiday glitz and glam. Entry is free, and walk-ins are welcome based on availability; however, reservations are highly recommended. Select events require tickets. Parking is limited, with the option of valet. Rideshare and reservations are encouraged. Jingle Bell Bar is 21 and up.
For more information, menus, programming, tickets, and updates, visit www.JingleBellBarHTX.com or follow @jinglebellbarhtx on Instagram for the latest.
Featured photo: Angelique Cook Cavazos