Sip a Tropical Christmas at Sippin’ Santa in Pacific Beach

Santa swaps his sleigh for a surfboard this holiday season in Pacific Beach! Sippin’ Santa takes over The Grass Skirt, the tiki bar and speakeasy on Grand Avenue, transforming it into a tropical Christmas pop-up filled with playful, retro-kitsch holiday cheer through the end of the year.

If you like your holidays with a little more sunshine, put this one on your list. The idea behind the whole Sippin’ Santa concept is palms decked with ornaments in place of the pine tree, with hibiscus garlands hung alongside the tinsel. Add a bar built for settling in, and you have a holiday night out that feels nothing like the usual.

A bar top lined with colorful tiki mugs, including a Santa, a pineapple and a shark, in front of glowing Christmas lights.

A Pop-Up With a Big Family

Sippin’ Santa was born in 2015 at Boilermaker in New York City, as the tropical companion to a Christmas pop-up called Miracle. Since 2018 it has partnered with tiki expert Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, who created the holiday cocktails served at every location.

The concept’s site says it now reaches more than 60 locations across North America, and San Diego’s stop is The Grass Skirt.

Settle In at the Tiki Bar

The Grass Skirt is all booth seating and fire features, the kind of room where the sun never quite sets. There is also a full kitchen with a menu of plates and pupus, which means one cocktail can easily turn into dinner. The bar belongs to SDCM Restaurant Group, which also runs Kettner Exchange, Firehouse and Waverly.

Plan Your Night

The Grass Skirt opens at 5 PM Tuesday through Sunday and stays closed on Mondays. Regular hours run until midnight on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, and until 2 AM Thursday through Saturday. Sippin’ Santa’s site says holiday hours and private party closures vary by location, so check The Grass Skirt’s Instagram before a late visit.

Reservations for one to six guests are booked through OpenTable. Parties of seven to 19 can send a large party inquiry on the restaurant’s reservations page.