Downtown Bar Becomes a Bewitchingly Festive Cocktail Destination for the Holidays

WITCHCRAFT, COCKTAILS AND … Christmas?! Hot on the heels of the successful run of their Halloween pop-up bar at Ninja Ramen, hospitality pros Alexis Mijares and Angelique Cook Cavazos, who conjure their collective magic as The Cursed Cauldron, unveil YULE — a holiday-themed cocktail pop-up at Swallow’s Nest inside Finn Hall, located at 712 Main St., in Downtown Houston. YULE runs Dec. 13 to Dec. 30, 3pm-12am daily.

Inside Swallow’s Nest, guests will enjoy a variety of specially brewed, creatively named holiday cocktails (We’ll get to those in a second!) while immersed in a veritable winter wonderland of elves, fairies, and other magical creatures, and otherworldly holiday decor. (Think holly, candles, and pentagrams made of tree branches.)

YULE’s menu of bewitching beverages features Nutcracker Nog, made with Cognac, rum, Madeira, butter pecan, Almond milk, cream, vanilla, egg, nutmeg, and allspice; Snow Queen Spritz, an alchemic blend of vodka, elderflower (Naturally!), white grapefruit, sparkling wine, and Topo Chic and served in a light-up glass; and Winter Solstice Wassail, a contemporary spin on the traditional Yuletide beverage, combining dark rum, apple brandy, cranberry, orange, apple, cinnamon, and honey, served hot. Yummy non-alcoholic options include Cauldron Cocoa.

The December run of YULE includes a calendar of captivating activations, including burlesque performances, carolers, and elves workshops where in between cocktails you can try your hand at Yule log, wreath, and/or ornament-making. Other cool events on tap include cookie decorating and vision board making for those who wish to manifest their hopes and dreams for 2024 and beyond.

“I truly love to see fellow women-owned businesses doing big things, and it’s even more impactful when we come together,” said Terra Velasquez, owner of Swallow’s Nest and Southern Coast Hospitality in a press statement. “I love the way this pop-up concept has aligned with what we do and created a spark of magic between us.”

YULE will be closed on Christmas Day. (Sorry, Santa!) For deets and updates, follow @cursedcauldronhtx on Instagram.

Nutcracker Nog

Yule Mule is served in a Nordic tea cup

White Witch cocktail