The Best Bars And Restaurants In The US To Get You In The Holiday Spirit

Although it didn't get its name until 1922, Pete's Tavern is one of the oldest pubs in New York City and has been serving drinks since 1864. Open all year round (except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day) Pete's Tavern is especially famous for its incredible holiday decorations, which go up every year and are sure to put you in the festive mood. The bar is something of a New York institution and keeps things classic every Christmas with red and green lights.

When the weather turns crisp in New York, you can drop into Pete's and warm yourself up with a dram from their toasty winter warmers menu. This menu includes holiday classics like mulled wine, hot toddy, and the Gift of the Magi black tea, which is flavored with hot buttered rum. Mainly a casual spot, Pete's Tavern has a warm, lively atmosphere and is open from noon until late, serving drinks until midnight at weekends.

The menu at Pete's Tavern is cheap and cheerful, with appetizers mostly under $20 and entrees between $25 and $45. Its central location in Gramercy Park on East 18th Street and Irving Place puts it just a short distance from popular entertainment venues, like Irving Plaza and The Stand Comedy Club. During the festive seasons, Pete's keeps back tables for walk-ins so booking isn't required.

It may not have freezing temperatures or regular snowfall, but Los Angeles, California, has plenty of great bars and restaurants decked out for the holidays to get you in the spirit. If you fancy sipping a holiday cocktail in a stylish, modern setting, The Lobby Riverside on Main Street is an ideal place to visit. The bar staff will blow your mind year-round with quirky cocktail art, but at Christmas, they pull out all the stops. Seasonal hits include the amazing Merry Fetchmas — a "Mean Girls"-inspired cocktail — or a Baileys and cherry liqueur creation known as a Dirty Snowman.

While the cocktails are on the pricey side ($18 for the Dirty Snowman), the food is pretty affordable, with filling mains like burgers and short-rib mac and cheese coming in at around $20. It's also got a ton of vegan options and a seriously hearty brunch menu. If you're planning to eat at The Lobby, it's a good idea to make a reservation. The Lobby also runs a happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday offering deals on draft beer, wine, and some cocktails.

During the holidays the bar also gets bedazzled with Christmas baubles and twinkly lights. It's the perfect setting for a glam Christmas night out.

Kennebunkport in Maine is a coastal town that really gets into the holidays. During December the town is decorated to the nines with holiday cheer and even holds an annual Christmas Prelude festival, which includes a tree lighting ceremony, candlelight caroling, and even Santa sailing in on a lobster boat. If you want to get in on this holiday action, one of the best places to visit is the Kennebunkport Inn with its on-site restaurant, The Burleigh. This homely eatery is open throughout the holiday season, excluding Christmas Day.

During this period, it runs a holiday menu, complete with Christmas cocktails like the Jingle Juice — gin, sparkling wine, and lemon — and the Bad Santa, which is whisky, cider, and bitters. The dining room is beautifully decked out, including tons of decorations on the ceiling. Next door, you can step into the Tinsel Bar, which is transformed into a Nutcracker-esque dream during the festivities. Naturally, they also play Christmas music in the snug to get you in the mood, and you can head down on Sundays to hear the live piano performance.

The Burleigh is open for dinner from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m.. It's a smart casual vibe and large plates cost around $28 to $35. Diners are advised to book a table as the festive season in Kennebunkport tends to be busy.

Hey Nonny on South Vail Avenue is an Arlington Heights music venue and bistro that goes all out for the holidays. Every year, the dining room is decked out with decorations based on classic Christmas films, like Christmas Story (including the famous leg lamp) and the venue itinerary fills up with incredible Christmas acts. From the bar, you can indulge with a festive s'mores-inspired cocktail made from whiskey, mezcal, chocolate bitters, and toasted marshmallows.

Guests can eat dinner inside the venue if they're booked in premier seating. Alternatively, you can book cabaret seats and order from the snack menu. If you want to eat in the bistro, it's also a good idea to book, although you don't need to do this if you've already reserved your premier seats. Limited outdoor dining is available on the patio and the venue is open from 5 to 10 p.m. weekdays — except Mondays – and 4 p.m. until midnight Friday and Saturday.

Hey Nonny's dinner menu features classic bistro dishes, like chicken parmesan and pork chops at affordable prices. A main course at Hey Nonny generally costs between $20 and $40. If you want a holiday splurge, you could go for the $42 braised Tomahawk ribs.

Located inside Vivo! Dolphin Mall on 12th Street in Miami, Florida, the Tinsel Tavern is part of the center's fabulous Christmas village. Holiday visitors to the mall can wander around the stalls, which are stocked by local artisans and boutiques, or grab a cocktail at the Tinsel Tavern pop-up bar. Guests can sit in the bar or book an igloo for up to six people. Although the tavern does encourage walk-ins, anyone who books a table will also get a discount on Christmassy hot chocolate or a warm cider.

Try a festive coquito  — a Peurto Rican version of eggnog made with coconut milk, spiced rum, condensed milk, and vanilla – or break out your best seasonal look for the ugly sweater party. The Christmas Village is open until late Thursday to Saturday.

Christmas at Butch McGuires has a longstanding history and is well-known in West Division Chicago for its welcoming atmosphere around the holidays. Butch McGuires is a family-run joint and its former owner and namesake, Butch McGuire, made a point of getting this saloon bar good and festive every year. From a humble beginning with a couple of balloons, now a festive double-decker train travels throughout the bar. The restaurant serves a great range of cocktails like the Peppermint Patty made with hot chocolate, whipped cream, and peppermint schnapps.

Food at Butch McGuires is classic and affordable. You can grab a cheeseburger for $16 to $18 or chow down on a full rack of ribs for $28. Butch McGuires is open every day, with the kitchen staying open until 9 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Since the establishment is a pub as well, the bar is open until 4 a.m. in the week and 5 a.m. on Saturdays.

Entry to Butch McGuires is free unless you're specifically attending an event there. You don't need to book a table to eat and drink there but, again, for certain parties, live performances, or events hosted at Butch's tickets may be required.

The Around The Corner Bar is a famous Lakewood, Ohio, sports bar that's been popular on Detroit Avenue since it opened in the 1970s and positively explodes with festive cheer at the holidays transforming into the Christmas Corner Bar in December. Christmas karaoke kicks off at the beginning of the month and private igloos are offered for groups. The cozy fireplace decked with shimmering lights and green garlands plus the Christmas cocktails will help get the Grinchiest of souls into the Christmas mood. Try a Gingerbread Mantini made with vodka, Franangelico, and ginger beer, or indulge your sweet tooth with a Raspberry Rudolph — raspberry vodka, grenadine, and marshmallow.

The bar hosts live music and dance parties throughout the season and is open until 2 a.m. every night. The food is affordable and is exactly the sort of thing you need to mop up those festive drinks — think chicken Philly wraps and hamburgers — and can be ordered as takeout. They also have a kid's menu if you're visiting with family.