Atlanta’s Coziest Holiday Bar Is Where You Least Expect It—And Free Churros Are Involved
Copa Navidad
When I say Boqueria is one of my favorite restaurants, I mean it wholeheartedly. Because where else can you get a wickedly delicious grilled cheese stuffed with burrata and Serrano ham, and a mini Espresso Martini? With that being said, I was a little hesitant upon learning that the tapas restaurant would be hosting a holiday pop-up. Atlanta has been flooded with holiday bars in recent years and some of them could use a little added spirit, if you know what I mean. But I was pleasantly surprised.
First off, Boqueria’s holiday pop-up bar is located outside on the restaurant’s patio. The center of the pop-up is a festive cocktail coach you can walk up to to order your drinks. Also, is it even a holiday bar if there’s no need to cozy up by the fire? Exactlyyy. So it being outside was refreshing to me, and there were plenty of heat lamps to keep you toasty. There are also plenty of Instagrammable moments by the cocktail coach.
In total, there are four holiday cocktails available at Boqueria. Two of them are available inside the restaurant (Churro-Tini and Brandy Nutella Hot Chocolate) while the other two are available at the cocktail coach (Red Hot Sangria and Copa Navidad).
Churro-Tini
The Churro-Tini ($18) swiftly became my favorite sip. A boozy combination of El Dorado 8-Year Rum, Licor 43 Creme Brulee, Amontillado Sherry, chocolate bitters and cinnamon, the Churro-Tini tasted just like its name suggests—a churro in cocktail form. It’s even garnished with a churro! I recommend taking a bite of your churro then taking a sip of your cocktail for added flavor. The Churro-Tini also kinda reminded me of what your leftover Cinnamon Toast Crunch milk would taste like if it was spiked.
Brandy Nutella Hot Chocolate
As far as the Brandy Nutella Hot Chocolate ($17), the Torres 10 Brandy is the real star of the show. The dark chocolate paired with the brandy gave a richness typically reserved for royalty. If you can only order just one cocktail, get the Brandy Nutella Hot Chocolate….you won’t be disappointed. I also didn’t find it to be overly sweet, which is my biggest gripe with boozy hot chocolates.
With a selection of “holiday trimmings” that include a candy cane, sprig of rosemary, a holiday ribbon and more, the Copa Navidad ($19) is easily the most Instagram-worthy of Boqueria’s holiday cocktails, but it didn’t impress. To me, it tasted like a slightly elevated version of a tequila punch you can get at just about any other restaurant. Maybe if they used mezcal instead or included one or two unexpected ingredients it would have upped the wow factor.
Red Hot Sangria
Last up is the Red Hot Sangria ($16). Boqueria is known for its selection of sangrias, so why not offer a warm sangria for the holidays? As a sangria lover, I enjoyed this festive twist on a staple. There was “lots of cinnamon,” but I could have used some additional holiday spice or flavor.
And no, I didn’t forget about those free churros! According to my server, if you snap a photo at the cocktail coach pop-up and share on social, you can receive a free order of churros. (Just be sure to ask about the specifics.)