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Absolute must-see! For a limited time only, this is one of Philly s most festive Christmas theme cocktail bar! From over the top Christmas decor, festive elf bartenders and delish holiday themed drinks it's the perfect spot to kick off a season of cheer!
Tinsel is the blueprint for a holiday bar but this year they were outshined by Craftsman Row and Elephant Martini Bar aka White Elephant imo. I was looking for another Campbell soup Tinsel cup to add to my collection, but they were out. However, they had take home Tinsel mugs instead which was cool. The vibe was kinda dry and the 1st drink I tried tasted like medicine, but I can't remember the name. The Kevinn!!! was a little too sweet, but so much better than the other cocktail. Regardless, I'll return to Tinsel next year
A cover just to get in?!? I passed and took myself to Craftsman Row again instead. Tinsel is highly toted in social media as a must-see in Philly for the holidays but there are so many other places to go & see that are decorated without having to pay.
My first experience at this Happy Place recommended by Tamika. Unique drinks; I had the KEVIN!!! w. Tito's prepared by the awesome Brad. Thank you Jody Fun pics with Mira and Sly Sensory stimulating holiday setting that put a smile on my face.
Small bar. Tons of Christmas decorations We stopped by here for their 25 days of tinsel. It's a cute bar to stop by but it's super crowded. The drinks are price reasonably since you can keep the mugs. The floor is super sticky so don't wear any nice shoes. Lastly, there's actually 2 bathrooms in this place. One in the back and one by the bar. Not many knows the one by the bar since it just looks like a closet so it's clutch since you don't need to wait in line.
I LOVED Tinsel!!! My first time in Tinsel was back in 2019, pre-covid of course. I found out about Tinsel with the search of Halloween pop-ups around Philly. There i found Tinsel and something else(Forgot the name since it is not memorable). I had a bad experience from the other Halloween pop up, that's when I decided to try Tinsel with that 2-3 hours wait. Did I mention the LONG WAIT is the reason why I didn't go to Tinsel in the first place? YES, that line back in 2019 was a 2-3 hours wait. Me and hubby did went on the weekend so it was JAMMED! Avoid weekend if you don't like a crowd. With that being said, this year me and my Behind The Bow(BTB) friends went to Tinsel on a Tuesday night. There was literally no line and no one at the door to collect that $5 cover charge, woo-hoo! The bartenders were nice and accommodating as well. We all order blood bags. And I end up buying some of their Halloween cups at $5 each, which is great bc I might not want the drink that they normally comes in.
As soon as you walk in a smile will come across your face. It's a burst of Christmas everywhere! If your fave holiday Christmas this is the bar for you. Our bartender Brad was so informative, friendly, and Funny! He helped us choose from the selection of cocktails. I ordered the Can good cocktail and $1 from that drink is donated to charity!
The place was empty when I went but it was after Christmas. It's two floors and the whole place looks great. Lots of spots to take pics. The drinks are pricey but what I expect $16-$20. Most of them come in the Santa boot cup. Worth visiting once for the holiday spirit. No food at the bar.
Honestly, if you're looking for a pop up Christmas bar with throw up type (that's a good thing in my eyes) decorations everywhere that make you feel like you just walked into somewhere surreal than this is it!!! They have this awesome little "photo booth" room with a blue chair that's super cool to take pictures in, their drinks are pretty tasty and pretty costly too but you're paying for an experience here so just splurgeeeee a little! We had these little shots that were like crème de mente and vodka actually pretty tasty and was in this little ornament type of container. Majority of their drinks are done in their collectible tin type cans which is super cute! Overall, it's a vibe... a Christmas vibe!! You get what you're going for... so stop being a ginch and stop by!
Came here on a Saturday afternoon around 4 PM. It was relatively empty and we got to take some pictures before it got super packed. The place is nicely decorated but super small and tight once it starts filling up. I had a blood bag drink (basically vodka and Red Bull served in a blood bag). The drink was cute and the blood bag was super creative. The bartender was super friendly and attentive, even when the place started filling up.
What a fun pop up bar! It's like Christmas threw up in this bar (in a good way) Any Christmas movie decor you can think of, it's here. So many photogenic spots and the music is wonderful! It was decently busy and we got served quickly by the nice bartenders! We asked them several questions about the drinks and they helped us decide on the drinks we like. You can order off the menu too! But keep in mind that the drinks are PRICEY! Worth it if you are in the area and feeling like getting in the Christmas and holiday spirit!
We stopped by here around 3pm on a Saturday. When we got there, there was no receptionist or security at the door so we just walked in. When we left, there was a security guy checking vax cards. What's the point in checking if you're going to let a bunch of people through without it? It was PACKED and HOT inside and the ambience was just not it. It's a divey Christmas pop up with crazy and unorganized decorations. Terrible drinks that are upcharged worse than NYC prices ($20 for a hot chocolate and skrewball shot, anywhere else in philly is 10-15 at max). The drink we did get was $15, and it was the most foul cocktail I've had - it was tiny (two gulps at best), full of ice, and ridiculously sweet. The cream base was separating from the liquid base which made it less appetizing. Spend your money else where.
If you are looking for a cute pop-up Christmas bar then definitely go to Tinsel! I loved the different takes on Christmas showcased through out the bar and even the entry way transformed you into a icy winter wonderland. I was very packed and people were walking around with cute little Christmas themed cups from ornaments to mugs. We didn't stay to partake in a drink since it was PACKED around the bar downstairs and we were warned to not even go upstairs. So photo op it became. They even had Abominable Snowman but he was surrounded by so many I had to grab a picture from a distance and couldn't ask if he really bounces. If crowds are your thing, then definitely swing by Tinsel read more
We stopped into Tinsel on December 4, 2025. It's a well-known holiday pop-up bar decorated wall-to-wall with Christmas decor. Half the fun is looking around and trying to figure out which movie or TV show inspired each decoration. Christmas music plays nonstop. There's a fixed drink menu and no seating, so it's very much a stand-and-hang-out kind of place. From what we heard, it can get pretty packed later in the evening, but we arrived right when it opened at 4:00 PM and had no wait at all. It ended up being a great place to kick off the night. The cocktail list is entirely Christmas-themed--festive and fruity flavors. The cocktails are served in Christmas themed vessels. If cocktails aren't your thing, they do offer beer and seltzer options as well. It's a fun, high energy stop that's perfect for soaking in some holiday spirit. read more
11 months ago
This bar was decorated to the MAX!! Loved it- we went for Halloween, and had so much fun! Wished the music was a little more hype but still great. The drinks were lowkey a bit expensive but that's kinda expected when there's no cover and when you're getting a super fancy cocktail read more
2 years ago
9 months ago
Absolute must-see! For a limited time only, this is one of Philly s most festive Christmas theme cocktail bar! From over the top Christmas decor, festive elf bartenders and delish holiday themed drinks it's the perfect spot to kick off a season of cheer! read more
Tinsel is the blueprint for a holiday bar but this year they were outshined by Craftsman Row and Elephant Martini Bar aka White Elephant imo. I was looking for another Campbell soup Tinsel cup to add to my collection, but they were out. However, they had take home Tinsel mugs instead which was cool. The vibe was kinda dry and the 1st drink I tried tasted like medicine, but I can't remember the name. The Kevinn!!! was a little too sweet, but so much better than the other cocktail. Regardless, I'll return to Tinsel next year read more
2 years ago
A cover just to get in?!? I passed and took myself to Craftsman Row again instead. Tinsel is highly toted in social media as a must-see in Philly for the holidays but there are so many other places to go & see that are decorated without having to pay. read more
9 months ago
The atmosphere was amazing! Very Christmasy! The drinks and service were good too! Looking forward to going next year. read more
My first experience at this Happy Place recommended by Tamika. Unique drinks; I had the KEVIN!!! w. Tito's prepared by the awesome Brad. Thank you Jody Fun pics with Mira and Sly Sensory stimulating holiday setting that put a smile on my face. read more
Small bar. Tons of Christmas decorations We stopped by here for their 25 days of tinsel. It's a cute bar to stop by but it's super crowded. The drinks are price reasonably since you can keep the mugs. The floor is super sticky so don't wear any nice shoes. Lastly, there's actually 2 bathrooms in this place. One in the back and one by the bar. Not many knows the one by the bar since it just looks like a closet so it's clutch since you don't need to wait in line. read more
I LOVED Tinsel!!! My first time in Tinsel was back in 2019, pre-covid of course. I found out about Tinsel with the search of Halloween pop-ups around Philly. There i found Tinsel and something else(Forgot the name since it is not memorable). I had a bad experience from the other Halloween pop up, that's when I decided to try Tinsel with that 2-3 hours wait. Did I mention the LONG WAIT is the reason why I didn't go to Tinsel in the first place? YES, that line back in 2019 was a 2-3 hours wait. Me and hubby did went on the weekend so it was JAMMED! Avoid weekend if you don't like a crowd. With that being said, this year me and my Behind The Bow(BTB) friends went to Tinsel on a Tuesday night. There was literally no line and no one at the door to collect that $5 cover charge, woo-hoo! The bartenders were nice and accommodating as well. We all order blood bags. And I end up buying some of their Halloween cups at $5 each, which is great bc I might not want the drink that they normally comes in. read more
2 years ago
As soon as you walk in a smile will come across your face. It's a burst of Christmas everywhere! If your fave holiday Christmas this is the bar for you. Our bartender Brad was so informative, friendly, and Funny! He helped us choose from the selection of cocktails. I ordered the Can good cocktail and $1 from that drink is donated to charity! read more
The place was empty when I went but it was after Christmas. It's two floors and the whole place looks great. Lots of spots to take pics. The drinks are pricey but what I expect $16-$20. Most of them come in the Santa boot cup. Worth visiting once for the holiday spirit. No food at the bar. read more
5 years ago
Honestly, if you're looking for a pop up Christmas bar with throw up type (that's a good thing in my eyes) decorations everywhere that make you feel like you just walked into somewhere surreal than this is it!!! They have this awesome little "photo booth" room with a blue chair that's super cool to take pictures in, their drinks are pretty tasty and pretty costly too but you're paying for an experience here so just splurgeeeee a little! We had these little shots that were like crème de mente and vodka actually pretty tasty and was in this little ornament type of container. Majority of their drinks are done in their collectible tin type cans which is super cute! Overall, it's a vibe... a Christmas vibe!! You get what you're going for... so stop being a ginch and stop by! read more
4 years ago
Came here on a Saturday afternoon around 4 PM. It was relatively empty and we got to take some pictures before it got super packed. The place is nicely decorated but super small and tight once it starts filling up. I had a blood bag drink (basically vodka and Red Bull served in a blood bag). The drink was cute and the blood bag was super creative. The bartender was super friendly and attentive, even when the place started filling up. read more
3 years ago
What a fun pop up bar! It's like Christmas threw up in this bar (in a good way) Any Christmas movie decor you can think of, it's here. So many photogenic spots and the music is wonderful! It was decently busy and we got served quickly by the nice bartenders! We asked them several questions about the drinks and they helped us decide on the drinks we like. You can order off the menu too! But keep in mind that the drinks are PRICEY! Worth it if you are in the area and feeling like getting in the Christmas and holiday spirit! read more
We stopped by here around 3pm on a Saturday. When we got there, there was no receptionist or security at the door so we just walked in. When we left, there was a security guy checking vax cards. What's the point in checking if you're going to let a bunch of people through without it? It was PACKED and HOT inside and the ambience was just not it. It's a divey Christmas pop up with crazy and unorganized decorations. Terrible drinks that are upcharged worse than NYC prices ($20 for a hot chocolate and skrewball shot, anywhere else in philly is 10-15 at max). The drink we did get was $15, and it was the most foul cocktail I've had - it was tiny (two gulps at best), full of ice, and ridiculously sweet. The cream base was separating from the liquid base which made it less appetizing. Spend your money else where. read more
Spooktacular good times! Came to Nightmare Before Tinsel at the recommendation of a friend during our visit to Philly. IT. WAS. AWESOME!!! We had no wait to get inside on a Sunday- even the weekend before Halloween- so I was honestly very surprised. COVID procedures well-followed (aka, bring that vaccine card! and check whatever is required in advanced online!), staff was super friendly, and we were off to explore and booze it up. I got the Pumpkin Spice coffee drink- we ended up sampling each other's drinks, all my friends got different drinks. The drinkware is SO FUN- and you get to KEEP IT!!! Talk about a great souvenir from my trip! Best of all would be the decor- all the details, from the screaming skeletons and motion activated monsters on my way to the bathroom... I mean, the P*sser and Sh*tter (yes, that's what they called them). BOO and BOOZE- can it get better? read more
In spirit of Halloween, we decided to check out Nightmare at Tinsel. You have to purchase tickets on their website which costs $15/person. This also comes with a free alcoholic beverage and dessert per person. The drinks menu on their website sounded cool and amazing, and convinced me to buy the tickets. I did not realize we would be walking through a haunted bar with someone scaring you from behind a window (modern COVID problems require modern solutions), and mannequins dropping from the ceiling. It was cool but only lasted probably 5 minutes -- as keep in mind, this is still a bar in Center City. The guy who was doing the scaring was really nice and took pictures for us in the last room before we exited the bar. As we walked outside, we proceeded to pick up our free drinks. We were told the drinks on the menu do not apply to the tickets, instead we could choose from 3 options. An IPA beer, a 'vodka-based' drink and I forget what the third one was. So we went for the 'vodka-based' drink. FYI, you cannot sit in one of their outdoor booths unless you are ordering food. So boo for that. As we walked on and I had the first taste of our free 'vodka-based' drinks, I was disgusted. This drink tasted like jungle juice, which I have not had in many, many years and did not want to be drinking this afternoon. We ended up throwing out the drinks. As for the free dessert, it was a baked dirt pudding cup, with a sour worm sticking out. It looked cute, but tasted like it was made by a terrible supermarket bakery. Ugh. Turned off by the bad drinks and dessert, we walked over to El Vez to pick up some margaritas to wash down the bad taste in our mouths. read more
Yearning for holiday fun during this crazy pandemic -- walking over to Tinsel was an experience! The Christmas decor was very interesting inside! There's so many lights and Christmas stuff everywhere! There's even snow falling lol! They have a place you can post up and snap some pics with your homegirls (your boo or homeboys)! We ordered the elf energy drink that came with an elf (my homie had Santa) -- hanging off of a replica of a snow globe! So freakin cute! Not only was it cute -- the drink offered some energy and a bit of a buzz! Yaasss! Due to COVID-19 current restrictions, we had to take our drinks to-go. Luckily, outside there was one lonely bar high table that we were able to post-up. My only drawback of Tinsel is that social distancing wasn't more enhanced. It's challenging for places like this but we have to make sure that we're all safe! read more
3 years ago
Not really worth the hype, it was beyond packed you couldn't really move inside, much less get near the bar, once we finally did the drinks were more cute than good and it was hard to get near all the photo areas because of how crowded it was. It's a really cute idea and I think it would be better if it was either bigger or they let people in for time slots or something along those lines where it wasn't so packed you can't move. It was cute to see but I don't feel like I need to go again. read more
4 years ago
Pretty cool Christmas pop-up. We were impressed by the ceiling to floor decorations and the amount of detail. The drinks were pricy of course and you can keep the glassware--be aware that not every drink comes in a cute souvenir cup so plan accordingly. Definitely a fun stop before the happy hour crowd gets going. read more
3 years ago
We came here the first year it was open but decided to come back since it looked like they added a lot more decorations. We went to nightmare before tinsel and were very impressed. Tinsel this year was decorated in the same way as nightmare, instead of satan's throne they have a Santa's throne, they have decorations hanging from the ceiling, Christmas movies playing etc. I enjoyed taking photos with all the over the top decorations, but my husband hated me bugging him to take them. The thing that bothered me was that there was a $5 cover. I knew they had cover on Saturday nights but was not expecting a cover at 6:00 on a Friday night, I think that was a little too early for a cover. We would have went during the week but were already in the area for a friend's birthday so that's why we went Friday. We just paid it cause we were already in line but next time we will come during the week. Surprisingly though it was actually less crowded than it was when we were there on a Thursday night for nightmare before tinsel. Maybe they are enforcing the room capacity limits more so now than before, or the Halloween one is more popular. It was nice that we could actually walk around this time. Drinks we had were good but overpriced, and I would have liked them in glasses rather than plastic cups. I wanted a keepsake so I got the canned good drink which had cranberries, Red Bull, Cruzan rum and cinnamon in a can that says tinsel on it. I saw some people with drinks in a Santa plush with a round circle and thought it was the snow globe and was about to get it, but glad I asked first. Turns out that was the fishbowl drink and was $35. The snow globe was a small glass bowl so I didn't get it. Overall had a good time. Like people said this is a bar to go to for the experience, not to get the best drinks. read more
3 years ago
I only had one of the soup can drinks but the place is a must see for the holidays. I wish I could take the kids in the day time for some hot chocolate, So cool. read more
Tinsel has been the go-to holiday bar in Philly for about 4 or 5 years now. Open in the winter and decked out for Christmas, and, spooked up for Halloween. I've gone for both holidays, each year it's been open. Generally the decor is the same year after year but they do vary it somewhat. If my memory is correct, the drink menus are also pretty similar year after year but that's okay, because you're likely only going here one or two times per year, so by the time you return the next year, it will have been a while since you experienced everything. Tinsel is not big, it's a pretty narrow space, but decently long. There is some sitting/standing room at the bar, and then standing room throughout the rest of the space. Are their drinks amazing? Hmm. They're not necessarily top knotch quality or taste but they are unique and on-theme, so that's a plus. Prices are about average for Philly, maybe a dollar or two higher than 'normal.' The experience is so much fun though, and obviously Insta-worthy. Tinsel (and The Nightmare Before Tinsel, if you're coming for Halloween) is a great spot to get in the holiday mood. I love it here and will certainly come back year after year. Note that this year vax cards are required for entry. read more
~2018 Holiday Review!~ Our group of 4 popped into Tinsel for a little yuletide cheer. "Packed" doesn't even begin to describe it...and it was only 6:30 PM on a Saturday! We (very slowly) made our way to the bar for some seasonal cocktails to wet our whistles. Three of us ordered The Canned Good with vodka (really good) and one of us ordered the white sangria (not great). We stayed for one drink, took a few selfies, and went on our merry way (pardon the pun). This is not the kind of place where you'll be spending your evening - this is more of a one-and-done kind of joint. Maybe a two-and-done if you're lucky enough to get back up to the bar amidst the crowd. And there are NOT 3 rooms at Tinsel - there is only one room (unless you're counting the 2 bathrooms as additional rooms). Expect to experience that "sardine" feeling. If you are claustrophobic, then proceed with caution. Don't let the line deter you. It moves quickly and you'll be happy to have a picture to prove that you survived the madness. If this place does not put you into the holiday spirit, then nothing will! Ho Ho Ho! read more
*2018 Season Review* The Tinsel Pop-Up Bar is an experience you need to prepare in advance before you visit! I remember hearing about Tinsel last year, but missed the window to visit. Ok-so here is the deal--you can't miss the place--the decorations spill out into the street! If you are lucky enough not to have to wait in line--Once inside the place is packed & you can't see the bar! You will quickly decide if you will stay or go--if you stay-the small space doesn't scream-stay with us for a spell! Lol -- This is a POP-IN--Drink--POP-OUT --Kinda Spot! Lol The Christmas flavored drinks are tasty and expensive-but it's apart of the TINSEL Experience! Go For It! Glad I went--but also glad to leave...the crowds..the decorations... Baby give me a Xanax; more drinks or something to calm me down..Lol Check it out if you are in the area! See what you think? read more
Ok so the Tinsel Bar is very cute at Christmas at the decorations are awesome. We went today 2/5/23 to see the Eagle's decorations. No where near as impressive at Christmas. The carpeted floors, bar and tables were all sticky. The drinks are very small in plastic cups and for an extra $2 you can get a bigger plastic cup. The drinks were good but expensive. 4 drinks was roughly $72. To me definitely not worth going to. There is a parking garage next door charging $40 for a little above 2 hours. The good thing was a great Mexican restaurant next door called Sueno's. read more
Your Christmas pop up bar is back for the season. I've here for the last 3 or 4 years at least once but this is my first review. If u don't already know it's a holiday bar that is usually open for Christmas and Halloween. It's always decorated really nicely. I decided to stop by after work. They have a cover charge to enter for $5 and their drink prices went up a little bit which is expected as everywhere is but I tried one of their Grey Goose drinks that comes in like a Campbell's Soup looking can and the drink was really good I forget the name of it though. It does get a little tight in there with it being a small place so u might want to drink and get there early or during a weekday read more
4 years ago
Super cute and instagrammable experience but that's it. It is small and was jam packed on a Monday! Drinks were just ok and I would probably only return to take some of my out of town friends. read more
I love anything themed and Tinsel does over the top holiday decor well. Its literally decorated with a ton of Halloween decor I'm assuming until Mariah Carey hits the switch for the Christmas season and then it looks like the bar that Santa's elves chill in after a long shift. It's literally over the top. Tinsel is a center city bar so the prices are expected but the drinks aren't bad. Staff is cool and music is basically the top 100 so not too bad either. This is definitely a social media worthy place to visit. read more
4 years ago
Eagles Bar has awesome Vibes, and the bartenders make strong drinks. Eagle's memorabilia is all over the place. I came here before the game before heading to the tailgate parties. The train is down the street so pretty easy to head to Lincoln Financial Stadium. read more
4 years ago
This place is really popular with college students especially for Christmas. I think the concept is really cool and they do go all in with their decorations. Seeing other reviews with some complaints, I think it's important to remember that it's the experience and the instagramable aspect of the bar that make it attractive to most. That being said, don't underestimate the drinks! They are very strong! read more
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116 S 12th St
Philadelphia, PA 19107
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