Sippin’ Santa Ottawa

There’s a unique kind of Christmas magic that settles over Ottawa as the snow begins to fall, but this past year, I found a spot that swaps the white snow for white sand—at least in spirit! Forget the cold for a minute and picture this: You step off chilly Elgin Street and, in an instant, you’re immersed in a world where Santa has traded his sleigh for a surfboard.

That’s exactly the feeling you get when you walk into Sippin’ Santa Ottawa at The Standard. It’s an immediate, wonderful sensory overload of festivity. Everywhere you look, there’s more Christmas decor, twinkling lights, and a sea of happy people celebrating the holidays. Everything about this pop-up bar experience is Christmas-themed, but with a fun, tropical, tiki twist. Honestly, my favourite part that elevates the whole experience is that their custom cocktails come in the best festive, playful glasses—they are just as aesthetic as they are delicious. It’s the perfect place to get your Christmas spirits raised, literally!

About Sippin’ Santa Ottawa

The Sippin’ Santa concept is the tropical, rum-fueled sister pop-up to the globally recognized Miracle Christmas cocktail bars. Developed by cocktail expert Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, the idea is to blend the nostalgic, kitschy fun of over-the-top Christmas decorations with the vibrant, imaginative world of classic tiki cocktails. The result is a cheerful, temporary escape that runs for a limited time each holiday season, transforming established local venues into a tropical winter wonderland.

In Ottawa, this yearly transformation takes place at The Standard Luxury Tavern (located at 360 Elgin St.), a beloved staple of the Elgin Street dining and nightlife scene. The Standard is known for being a vibrant spot year-round, but Sippin’ Santa takes over to create an entirely different atmosphere. The pop-up itself has become a highly anticipated annual event, allowing local residents to experience a Christmas in Hawaii right here in the nation’s capital. Each location, including Ottawa, adheres to the Sippin’ Santa ethos of providing highly creative, proprietary cocktails served in unique, custom glassware, all while immersing guests in a unique blend of holiday cheer and tropical escapism.

The Experience

Stepping into Sippin’ Santa at The Standard is truly like finding a secret, joyful portal to a warmer climate. Last year, the energy in the room was contagious—the kind of bustling, laughter-filled atmosphere that defines the holiday season. The team does an incredible job of decking out the space with lights, garland, and ornaments, but it’s the unexpected tiki-holiday fusion that makes it unique. Think Santa Claus wearing a lei and a backdrop that feels more beachside luau than North Pole workshop. The attention to detail in the décor perfectly sets the stage for the menu, which is where the real fun begins.

The whole point is to indulge in creative, highly specialized cocktails that you simply won’t find anywhere else. Everything from the ingredients to the presentation is carefully curated to feel like a festive, tropical indulgence. It’s a wonderfully different way to celebrate the season, proving that “holiday cheer” can come in a glass shaped like a coconut, a barrel, or even a deep-sea predator!

Why You Should Go

If you are looking for a unique, highly memorable, and incredibly fun way to celebrate the holidays with friends or family, Sippin’ Santa Ottawa is an absolute must-visit. Here are 4 top reasons why I recommend you put it at the top of your December to-do list:

• The Aesthetic, Creative Drinks: This is the main event! They take classic tiki ingredients—like rum, passionfruit, and exotic spices—and put a fantastic Christmas twist on them. The mixologists are truly artists, crafting complex and delicious holiday-themed drinks that are beautifully balanced.

• Collectible Mugs and Glasses: Perhaps the greatest takeaway—literally! The cocktails are served in super aesthetic, Christmas-themed mugs and glasses, and you can actually purchase them to bring home with you. This isn’t just a souvenir; it’s a tangible piece of holiday spirit that you can use for your own home bar for years to come. The pop-up often features nostalgic and limited-edition designs that become collector’s items.

• Great Food to Pair with Your Sips: While the cocktails are the star, The Standard provides excellent food to anchor your evening. You don’t have to worry about drinking on an empty stomach; the venue has a reputation for great pub-style and elevated tavern fare that perfectly complements the tiki-holiday theme.

• You Can Book a Table and Skip the Wait: The holiday season brings crowds, but the best part about Sippin’ Santa Ottawa is that they take reservations. This means you can plan your night out and avoid the inevitable long wait times that plague popular holiday pop-up bars. This convenience makes the experience stress-free and ensures you get to enjoy the festive atmosphere on your own timeline.

The Must-Try Drink

Every drink on the menu is an adventure, but there was one cocktail that stole the show for me: the “Frost Bite.” More than just a delicious drink—which it absolutely is—the presentation is what makes the Frost Bite so special and memorable. It’s served in a festive Christmas Shark Mug! There is something hilariously perfect about sipping a frosty, holiday-themed cocktail out of a bright-red, Santa-hat-wearing shark. It embodies the entire Sippin’ Santa concept: a blend of serious, high-quality mixology with a brilliantly kitschy, tropical sense of humour. The drink itself is often a vibrant, refreshing rum-based cocktail that gives you a little chill, a little spice, and a lot of holiday fun. It’s the perfect conversation starter and the ultimate Instagram-worthy sip of the season.

Sippin’ Santa Ottawa at The Standard is more than just a bar; it’s a wonderfully unique, limited-time event that offers a much-needed dose of escapism during the busy holidays. It’s the perfect way to gather your friends, celebrate the season with a little tropical flair, and maybe even start a new tradition of collecting the unique, festive glassware. The dedication to over-the-top decor, exceptional cocktails, and guest experience (hello, reservations!) makes this a highlight of Ottawa’s holiday season. Don’t wait, as this pop-up is only here until the end of the year!