Friday night, Capitol Hill’s Christmas Dive Bar reopened its pretty paper-wrapped doors:

Joey Burgess and Murf Hall of Burgess/Hall, husbands, business partners, and owners of many of Capitol Hill’s most recognized businesses, including Elliott Bay Book Co., Oddfellows/Little Oddfellows, Queer/Bar, and Cuff Complex, dreamed up the idea for their pop-up dive bar and together brought their vision to life.

“Welcome back to your second home for the holidays where every square inch is a sensory explosion into the Christmas spirit,” said Murf Hall, co-owner of Burgess/Hall and huge Christmas buff. “

From a bow-covered photo wall to Christmas classics on screen to a canopy of ornaments all presiding over a full menu of seasonal cocktails and snacks, we have everything you’d expect from a place called Christmas Dive Bar. Jingle bells, classic blow molds, and vintage décor adorn the bar, vintage chandeliers hung with ornaments, and dozens of rolls of wrapping paper covering the walls create the perfect vibe for the holiday season.”

CDB guests can select from dozens of holiday-themed cocktails and throwback snacks, such as Beanie Weenies or popcorn from a Christmas tin. They’ll also enjoy ugly sweater parties, an Après-ski party, taking photos with Dirty Santa, and much more festive fun.

“Forget the milk and cookies; this year, Christmas is all grown up, and we’re ready to deck your halls one drink at a time,” said Joey Burgess, co-owner of Burgess/Hall. “Don your gay apparel and join us for some raucous reindeer games. We can’t wait to share the holiday cheer with you!”

The second season for the pop-up bar concept follows its 2023 launch as the business family behind Queer/Bar, The Cuff, Oddfellows, and Elliott Bay Book Company transformed the group’s The Woods venue for the holiday season. Over the summer, they experimented with The Mystic Motel, a Wes Anderson-worthy temporary theme for the space riffing on the grown-up spring breaks of Palm Springs and adventures in the desert.

Now, this holiday season, the Christmas Dive Bar will grow, adding a third-floor Christmas Lodge “perfectly curated for groups and oozing with festive nostalgia” including “disco balls galore, charming wood rafters, a giant bar stocked to the brim with everything needed to get your holiday cheer on.”

With a seasonal menu of Ho Ho Hot cocoa, Gingerbread Old Fashioneds, and Espresso Nog-tinis, plus holiday party-appropriate snacks like Mom’s Meatballs or Cherry’s XMAS Chex-Mix, this year’s Christmas Dive Bar stay will run daily “5 PM to late” through “the New Year.”

Christmas Dive Bar is located at 1512 11th Ave. Learn more at christmasdivebar.com.

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