What better way to embrace the holiday season than by sipping your way through a few festive cocktails? From the Oceanfront to Inland, and everywhere in between, Virginia Beach is alive in December with seasonal cheer—from twinkling light displays and festive celebrations to Santa sightings all across town. As you soak up all the magic this month brings, here are some spirited sips on local menus sure to leave you feeling merry and bright.
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas Eggnog
Orion’s Roof
Head “up on the housetop”—well, the rooftop—at Orion’s Roof atop the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort, where holiday cocktails come with sweeping panoramic views. Begin with the ’Twas the Night Before Christmas Eggnog, elegantly served in a martini glass and crafted with local distillery Tarnished Truth’s bourbon eggnog liqueur, dark chocolate liqueur and a touch of Angostura Mist, finished with a cinnamon stick and toasted marshmallow. This season, they’re also shaking up the Cavalier Gingerbread Old Fashioned, made with Tarnished Truth Honey Finished Discretion Bourbon, spiced gingerbread and black walnut bitters, topped with the cutest little gingerbread man cookie.
Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
The Shack on 8th
For coastal breezes and loads of holiday cheer, check out the annual Winter Wonderland at The Shack on 8th in Oceanfront. Open daily, this favorite local event features a Christmas tree farm, a Vendor Village and a lineup of festive cocktails. Need a warm-up? Wrap your hands around a Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, made with their famous homemade cocoa, bay leaf salted caramel and whipped vanilla vodka, topped with whipped cream, caramel drizzle and a chocolate-covered pretzel. Craving more? They’re pouring a dozen holiday cocktails, including Frosty’s Eggnog and an Apple Cider Old Fashioned, made with bourbon, apple cider, orange juice, bitters and agave nectar.
Cranberry Claus Cocktail
Chick’s Oyster Bar
At Chick’s Oyster Bar in Chesapeake Bay, the holiday cocktails are unapologetically playful and brimming with seasonal charm. With so many great choices, settling on a favorite is virtually impossible. The Cranberry Claus Cocktail blends Captain Morgan spiced rum, apple puckers, cranberry juice and ginger ale, finished with a cranberry garnish. For something bolder, try the Reindeer Fuel Shooter—bourbon, Frangelico and a splash of cranberry juice, shaken over ice and topped with Red Bull and lime. For tropical holiday vibes, the Kalikimaka mixes tropical vodka, blue curaçao, pineapple juice and a squeeze of lime, topped with soda water and a pineapple-and-cherry garnish.
Mistletoe Kiss
Sage Kitchen
Tucked inside Anderson’s Garden Center in Pungo, Sage Kitchen serves up cheery holiday vibes with fresh ingredients and creative twists. Start with the Mistletoe Kiss, a flirtatious blend of vanilla vodka, cream of coconut and lemon-lime soda topped with house-grown thyme and pomegranate seeds. In the mood for something bubbly? Served all day, their Grinch Mimosa, made with prosecco, blue curaçao and fresh pineapple juice, brings a bright pop of holiday flair, while the Poinsettia Mimosa blends prosecco with cranberry and pineapple juices for a sparkling, seasonal cocktail.
Hot Mulled Cider
The Casual Pint
When you’re ready to get jolly in Virginia Beach, even the breweries are getting in on the season. Tucked Inland, The Casual Pint is serving up Hot Mulled Cider all month long. It’s only available Thursday through Sunday and we’ll just say, it’s guaranteed to chase off the chill. It’s made with hard apple cider, apple-flavored wine and a kick of Fireball liqueur. Want to keep the cheer rolling all season long? Through mid-December, pick up one of their craft beer advent calendars, a box of 24 hand-selected brews.
S’mores Old Fashioned
Coastal Grill
Coastal Grill may be best known for soft shell crabs and an exceptional wine list, but this Inland seafood favorite also shines bright when it comes to holiday cocktails. A seasonal menu features four festive creations, and choosing a favorite isn’t easy. Start with a S’mores Old Fashioned, a bourbon-based beauty layered with marshmallow syrup and chocolate bitters for surprising depth beyond its sweet name. Craving something brighter? The White Margarita blends tequila, agave lime juice and coconut milk with a sugared rim. Two more festive favorites complete the lineup: the Caribou and the Figgy Fizz.
Peppermint Mocha Martini
The Porch on Long Creek
Sip your way through the season at The Porch on Long Creek, where three delightfully over-the-top holiday cocktails take center stage. Start with the Peppermint Mocha Martini, a decadent mix of Bailey’s chocolate liqueur, Kahlua, Rumple Minze peppermint liqueur and espresso, finished with espresso beans. Craving something sunny? We hear you. The Caribbean Christmas brings tropical cheer with Captain Morgan spiced rum, spiced cranberry cordial, lime, mint and club soda, topped with cranberries. Last, but certainly not least, the Cranberry Kringle is a bright blend of Fords gin, spiced cranberry cordial, lemon and sparkling wine, crowned with festive cranberries.
Muddy Buddy
Esoteric
You’ll want to plan more than one stop at Esoteric in The ViBe Creative District. Their holiday cocktail lineup features nine hand-crafted creations. A staff favorite, the Muddy Buddy, blends Tito’s vodka, Licor 43, cream, peanut butter and chocolate syrup into a sweet and spirited holiday treat. Two more buzz-worthy cocktails include Buddy the Elf’s Maple Sour, made with a bourbon-rye blend, lemon, maple syrup and egg white, and Not My Gumdrop Buttons, which mixes vanilla-infused vodka, Averna, Chila cinnamon cream rum, oat milk and gingerbread syrup. And that’s just the beginning. The Snow Miser, Milk & Cookies and Sleigh the House Down are ready for you to discover them.
Silver Bells
Civil Libation
Who’s ready to get merry and bright? Head Inland to Civil Libation, where the holiday cocktail lineup brings plenty of sparkle to the season. Start with their signature Silver Bells, a fruit-forward mix of raspberry vodka, blackberry liqueur, lime and hard cider that goes down smooth. Another holiday favorite is The Naughty List, made with Toki Black whisky, Jim Beam bourbon, honey and orange bitters, finished with an activated charcoal whiskey rock that gives it a dramatic, inky hue. For full-on holiday indulgence, don’t miss their playful nod to everyone’s favorite Christmas movie, “Die Hard.” The Yippee Ki-Yay MF is a blend of caramel whiskey, Amarula cream liqueur, hot chocolate and coconut whipped cream.
Holly Jolly Spritzer
New River Taphouse
New River Taphouse may pour more than 20 rotating brews, but this season, its holiday cocktails are stealing the show. Kick things off with the Holly Jolly Spritzer, made with our fair city’s own Beach Vodka, cranberry juice, lime, ginger and edible shimmer—served in a Christmas ornament and topped with champagne and club soda for extra sparkle. Next, dive into the Pumpkin Pie White Russian, blending graham-cracker–infused Beach Vodka, Kahlua Drunkin’ Caramel Swirl Cream liqueur and house-made pumpkin cream, finished with pumpkin whipped cream. Two more crowd-pleasers round out the list: the Apple Fritter Old Fashioned and the White Christmas Mojito.
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Written by Erin Gifford
Erin Gifford is a Virginia-based travel and outdoors writer. She especially enjoys writing about road trips, outdoor recreation and national parks. Her credits include Parents, The Washington Post, Thrillist, TIME and AFAR.com. She has written three hiking guidebooks for Falcon Guides and has created a hiking website, GoHikeVirginia.com. She also runs half marathons and is working toward completing one in all 50 states (so far, she has checked off 36 states).
