Cocktails in San Diego are getting festive makeovers all over the city as local bars and restaurants unveil their holiday creations. From tiki twists on classic nog to sophisticated spins on winter favorites, these limited-time libations blend creativity with seasonal cheer.
Take a spirited journey through the city’s most delightful holiday sips, where each cocktail tells its own winter tale.
Here are can’t-miss seasonal cocktails from some of our favorite San Diego bars to add to your holiday season wish list!
Raised by Wolves
Raised by Wolves is bringing back holiday favorites like spiked Hot Chocolate, Mulled Wine, Hot Buttered Rum, Gingerbread Old Fashioned, and sparkling Holiday Punches alongside a new addition to the lineup.
The Merry Cobbler Chaiball mixes coconut, chai, Oloroso sherry, strawberry, Contratto aperitif, and seltzer for something that feels both festive and unexpected.
The speakeasy setting makes these drinks feel more special than your typical holiday bar offerings, and the fact that they’re bringing back the favorites means you can count on quality if you’ve tried them before. It’s one of those spots where the ambiance elevates the entire drinking experience beyond just what’s in the glass.
📍 4301 La Jolla Village Dr #2030, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Lana
Lana, Solana Beach’s newest restaurant gem, is offering vintage-inspired California Christmas vibes throughout December.
The space will be adorned with festive decor that feels like a winter breeze from the coast – soft lights, natural textures, elegant garland, and a gentle holiday glow.
Holiday drink specials complement the ingredient-driven coastal cuisine with cocktails like the Quincy Jones, mixing vodka, quince, lemon, and soda; You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out, featuring Whistle Pig Bourbon or Rye, Whistlepig Barrel Aged maple syrup, orange, and chocolate; and Say It’s Carol Singers, combining bourbon, chai tea, lemon, and honey.
The vintage California approach means you’re getting holiday vibes without feeling like you walked into a Hallmark movie set. It’s worth the drive up Highway 101 if you want something more understated.
📆 Throughout December
ℹ️ More info here
The Whaling Bar
The Whaling Bar, tucked inside the iconic La Valencia Hotel, is all dressed up for the season as the cozy cocktail and tapas lounge serves festive holiday cocktails alongside classic dishes with a contemporary twist.
New holiday cocktails include Kris Kringle’s Corn Coquito and Yule Mule, giving you seasonal options beyond the usual suspects.
The La Jolla location inside La Valencia means you’re getting that historic hotel vibe while you sip – it’s one of those spots where the setting elevates the entire experience. Perfect if you want to feel festive in a more refined atmosphere than your typical holiday bar scene.
📍 1132 Prospect St, La Jolla
ℹ️ More info here
El Chingón
El Chingón is serving up two holiday cocktails that bring some festive flair to the Gaslamp Quarter.
There’s a peppermint espresso martini made with El Chingón vodka, peppermint, cold brew, orgeat, and R&D Sarsaparilla Bitters that hits that sweet spot between caffeinated and celebratory.
Then there’s the boozy hot chocolate with Baileys Irish Cream, Mexican mocha, and marshmallows for when you want something warm and indulgent.
At $12 each, they’re priced right for holiday drinking without breaking the bank. It’s a solid downtown spot to grab a seasonal drink.
📍 560 Fifth Ave, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Craft & Commerce
Craft & Commerce has dropped their new holiday lineup with cocktails that skip the saccharine stuff and go straight for bold, layered flavors.
Christmas Island brings dark rum, Benedictine, Averna, and a little pine – built for anyone who’d trade the season for sand. The Yippie Ki Yay, MF delivers sweet smoke, honey butter mezcal, and tequila without asking if you’ve been good this year. The Jelly of the Month Club brings cranberry, tequila, and cinnamon under a crown of bubbles.
Running on Coffee & Xmas Cheer is the official drink of seasonal survival with espresso, vodka, walnut liqueur, and a float of earl grey cream. Son of a Nutcracker rounds out the lineup as a scotch-based sipper with pandan and spice – all warmth, no innocence.
These are available through the end of the year at the East Village spot.
📍 675 W. Beech St., San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Puesto
Puesto has dropped their winter menu with new drinks worth checking out. The Spiced Pear Margarita brings Levantó blanco tequila, spiced pear, organic agave nectar, fresh lime, and elderflower foam for something seasonal without being heavy-handed about it.
There’s also a Dirty Soda if you’re into that trend, and a N/A Passionfruit Margarita for those skipping the alcohol but still wanting something more interesting than water.
ℹ️ More info here
Havana 1920
Havana 1920 is bringing Cuban flair to the holiday season with two seasonal cocktails.
The peppermint espresso martini mixes El Chingón vodka with peppermint, cold brew, orgeat, and R&D Sarsaparilla Bitters for that caffeinated holiday kick. The boozy hot chocolate combines Baileys Irish Cream, Mexican mocha, and marshmallows into something warm and decadent.
Both run $12 each, making them an easy addition to your Gaslamp night out.
📍 548 Fifth Ave, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Moonshine Beach
Moonshine Beach, Pacific Beach’s largest live music and entertainment venue, is going all out with Coastal Country Christmas featuring wall-to-wall lights and over-the-top holiday decor.
The stacked cocktail menu brings Santa’s favorite sips, including Grinch’s Revenge with tequila, blue curacao, pineapple juice, and a maraschino cherry heart garnish, plus Frosty’s White Russian mixing vodka, Kahlua, peppermint simple syrup, cream, and a candy cane garnish.
It’s the kind of maximalist holiday experience that works at a live music venue where subtlety isn’t really the point. If you want your seasonal drinks served with a side of full-on Christmas spectacle and live entertainment, this is the move.
📍 1165 Garnet Ave, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
The Deck
The Deck at Moonshine Flats, known for its Smokehouse bar menu, craft beer, and supersized bucket cocktails, is exploding with holiday flair this season.
The seasonal lineup includes Merry Martini with vodka, triple sec, pomegranate juice, lemon juice, and a sugar rim; Fa La La Paloma mixing Viva Tequila, grapefruit juice, cinnamon simple, maple syrup, and a salt rim; and Save a Reindeer, Ride A Cowboy featuring Ketel One Vodka, triple sec, cinnamon pear puree, lemon juice, and a cinnamon sugar rim.
The Deck’s usual vibe leans into bold flavors and generous pours, so expect these holiday drinks to follow suit. It’s a great Pacific Beach option if you want your seasonal sips served with a side of Smokehouse menu.
📍 335 Sixth Ave, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Birdseye Rooftop
Perched above La Jolla with panoramic ocean views, Birdseye Rooftop is elevating the holidays with cozy décor, warm ambiance, and a menu designed to celebrate winter flavors from sunset to starlight.
Tales at Twilight brings a slow-sipping Old Fashioned with rye, salted caramel, and hazelnut demerara for $21 – rich, smooth, and perfect for enjoying the Pacific sunset.
& Everything Nice mixes dark rum, Xela amaro, coffee, and biscotti foam for a warm spice-driven cocktail with nostalgia at the rim at $20.
Here to Sleigh (served in a collectible glass) delivers cognac, cinnamon, gingerbread, and butterscotch as a decadent, boozy, irresistibly creamy gingerbread nog made for sharing (or not) at $32.
📍 1110 Prospect St, La Jolla
ℹ️ More info here
Happy Does
Happy Does is getting you into the holiday spirits all season long with a lineup of seasonal cocktails served in their festive decor by the cozy outdoor fireplaces. There may even be a chance of snow.
The Virgin Mary mocktail brings hibiscus flower syrup, cinnamon simple, fresh orange squeeze, and soda water for those skipping the alcohol. Rudolph Goes to Cabo mixes tequila blanco, grapefruit juice, cinnamon simple, and maple syrup. The Mariah Peary features Ketel One vodka, cinnamon-pear puree, triple sec, lemon juice, and a cinnamon sugar rim. Santy Dropper rounds out the lineup with vodka, triple sec, pomegranate, lemon, and rosemary.
The Gaslamp location with outdoor fireplaces gives you a solid spot to enjoy these without being stuck inside all night.
📍 340 Fifth Ave, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
Lala | Barbusa | Nonna
The Busalacchi Restaurants are bringing holiday cheer to India Street with a lineup of six festive cocktails available at all three locations – Lala, Barbusa, and Nonna – through the end of the year.
The seasonal menu includes Cinna Claus with tequila, Citronge, pomegranate, orange, and cinnamon; Grincharita mixing mezcal, Midori, Ancho Reyes, and lime; Slay Bells featuring vodka, pear, coconut, and pomegranate; North Pole Old Fashioned with bourbon, apple, honey, and lemon; Holly Jolly Spritz combining gin, St. Germain, prosecco, and cranberry; and Busa Espresso Martini made with peppermint Busa and vanilla Busa.
Whether you’re hitting up Lala-Land for the full festive setup or keeping it more low-key at Barbusa or Nonna, these seasonal drinks give you a great way to toast the holidays in Little Italy.
ℹ️ More info: Lala | Barbusa | Nonna
Kona Kai San Diego
Kona Kai San Diego is hosting 12 Days of Cocktails & Mocktails, offering a cheerful way to sip and gather throughout the season with waterfront views in Point Loma.
The rotating selection of holiday-inspired cocktails and mocktails is crafted with care and served in picture-worthy glassware – we’re talking everything from the berry-forward Sugarplum Alexander to cozy winter pours like the Salted Caramel Delight and Fireside Chat.
Flavors of citrus, maple, ginger, caramel, and warm baking spices bring the holidays to life, and every cocktail can be made zero-proof so everyone can participate.
The resort setting with bay views gives you something scenic to enjoy while you work your way through the seasonal menu.
📆 December 10 – December 25
📍 1551 Shelter Island Dr, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
North Italia
North Italia is transforming into Bar North Pole for a limited time with a festive drink menu of eight new creations, including six cocktails and two zero-proof options.
The “Naughty List” cocktails bring Sweater Weather with Pinot Grigio, Jingle Bell Rock with Aperol, Sleigh Ride with vodka, Santa’s Nightcap with rye, Rudolph’s Replacement with tequila, and The Naughty List with vanilla vodka.
For the “Nice List,” there’s White Elephant Gift with Seedlip non-alcoholic and Cocoa Claus with rich dark chocolate crème, so everyone can participate regardless of alcohol preferences.
It’s a solid option if you want seasonal drinks without committing to a full holiday-themed bar takeover, and you’re still getting North Italia’s regular food menu alongside the festive beverage program.
📍 7055 Friars Rd, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
The Haven Pizzeria
The Haven Pizzeria in Kensington, the neighborhood staple owned by longtime San Diego restaurateur Lauren Passero-Brookes (also of Daffodil Café), is offering festive holiday cocktails designed to bring major cheer to Adams Avenue.
The “Sleighin’ at The Haven” cocktail menu runs $15 each and includes Eggnog Martini with vodka, amaretto, and creamy eggnog with a holiday-red sugar rim; Cranberry Whiskey Mule mixing whiskey, elderflower, cranberry, and ginger beer; Apple Cranberry Margarita featuring tequila, apple cider, cranberry, and triple sec; Mistletoe Martini combining cranberry, vodka, and elderflower; Christmas Royale with tequila, crème de cassis, lime juice, and lambrusco; and Apple Cranberry Spritz bringing apple cider, cranberry, elderflower, and prosecco.
You can enjoy these alongside seasonal pizzas and specials, plus The Haven’s signature stone-baked pies, salads, and pastas in their cozy corner spot.
📍 4051 Adams Avenue, San Diego
ℹ️ More info here
See you there, San Diego!