Twas a few weeks before Christmas, and all through North Beach, it was business as usual, the holidays just within reach. As people passed by Washington Square Park, they noticed a light where it had recently been dark. A temporary Christmas bar had popped up for the season, offering yummy bites and festive libations to all, within reason…OK, this is where the rhyming ends, but keep reading if you appreciate a good old-fashioned Christmas pun.
Deck the Halls is a seasonal spot (open through the New Year) by Nick Floulis, Shaher Misif and Ken Luciano that is bringing a little joy to the former location before it reopens as Lillie Coit’s sometime next year.
Deck the Halls is where the North Pole meets North Beach with décor that ranges from plaids to penguins to reindeers to ribbons, and is brought to life by a jolly and equally decked-out staff (some of whom might very well be actual elves). It’s the perfect place to eat, drink and be merry, or drown your holiday sorrows. If you’ve split up, swiped wrong or are simply looking to avoid the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, fear not, because the spirits of this bar are not of the frightening sort, especially the vodka, peppermint, vermouth and seltzer concoction the #TravelingDuckie Does Deck the Halls, which comes served in a sweet (not scary) snow globe.
Regarding the menu, it doesn’t matter if you’ve been naughty or nice, with this list; there are options for everyone, including snacks, beer, wine or specialty cocktails, such as the Cranberry Negroni (served in an ornament), Spiked Hot Chocolate and Manischewitz Cobbler. If you order the Pecan Flip, you better watch out, as this drink is literally lit (like, as in a fire).
While commercialism and Christmas clichés run rampant, this bar has not forgotten the true spirit of the season. Through Christmas Day, Deck the Halls will be raffling/auctioning off one to three items nightly as a part of their Advent Calendar. One hundred percent of Advent Calendar proceeds will be donated to victims of the North Bay Fires. They will also be donating a portion of the proceeds from their Gingerbread House cocktail, made with Flor de Caña Rum, cream and spiced ginger molasses (rumored to be served in an actual gingerbread house). Yes, this place screams Christmas (loudly), but I’ve been told they have some fun surprises planned to celebrate Hanukkah (December 12–20) as well.
At Deck the Halls, holiday cheer and cheers become one with small bites, beverages and holiday spirit that will warm your “hearth.” So whether you fancy yourself to be dashing, a dancer or a vixen, if you can’t find joy in this bar, then Scrooge you.
