What's new for 2026: Cape May finally lands on the list with Harry's Jingle Bar, Renault Winery's Vintner Wonderland joins as a South Jersey destination stop, and Ocean Casino layers on Linguini By The Sea's Winter Wonderland restaurant transformation. On the Boardwalk, Candy Cane Lounge returns with a fresh "Present Situation" theme, Jingle Bell Bar moves into Nola's Bar & Lounge, and ICONA Avalon swaps last year's Sandbar Village format for Avalon Brew Pub's Christmas Takeover.
The holiday season is here, and along the Jersey Shore it's arriving the way we like it: twinkling lights, cold salt air, and bars that go all-in on festive décor and seasonal cocktails. From Cape May's beachfront to the Boardwalk casinos—and a few beloved stops in between—local spots are turning their rooms into winter wonderlands so you don't have to guess where the magic (and the good drinks) actually are.
New Jersey Lifestyle's job is curation. We name the places worth your time so a holiday drink tour feels intentional, not accidental. Grab the ugly sweater, loop in your crew, and work your way through our top holiday stops for 2026.
1. Candy Cane Lounge | Bar One, Resorts Casino Hotel — Atlantic City
Dates: Opens November 6, 2026
Location: Bar One, Resorts Casino Hotel, 1133 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Atlantic City's favorite seasonal pop-up is back at Resorts with a fresh gift-wrapped twist. The Candy Cane Lounge – Present Situation fills Bar One with holiday-themed cocktails, décor, dancing, and live entertainment. Look for weekend holiday-character performances around the property in December, plus Bar One's regular weekly lineup (bingo, trivia, karaoke). Opening-week entertainment is already posted; the grand opening celebration is listed for Friday, November 13.
Source: Resorts — Candy Cane Lounge · Resorts holiday season hub
2. Jingle Bell Bar | Nola's Bar & Lounge, Ocean Casino Resort — Atlantic City
Dates: Opens November 14, 2026, through January 5
Location: Nola's Bar & Lounge, Ocean Casino Resort, Atlantic City (steps from the casino floor)
Jingle Bell Bar returns—this year taking over Nola's Bar & Lounge rather than its former 1927 Lounge home. Expect holiday cocktails, nostalgic décor, twinkling lights, photo ops, and themed entertainment. Visit Atlantic City notes a special performance by The Boy Band Project on December 5. Pair it with Ocean's wider holiday footprint (Santa's Hideaway Adventure, holiday rooms, and Holiday Village market dates) if you're making a full Boardwalk night of it.
Source: Visit Atlantic City — Holiday Happenings · Visit Atlantic City — Fall/Winter release (Jingle Bell details)
3. The Frosted Crown | Queen Jayne's Lounge & Royal Drinkery — Somers Point
Dates: Opens November 4, 2026
Hours: Wednesday & Thursday 4–10pm; Friday & Saturday 4–11pm; bonus nights Tuesday, Nov 24 and Tuesday, Dec 22; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day
Location: 264 New Road, Somers Point, NJ 08244 (next to Passion Vines)
Somers Point's intimate speakeasy transforms again into The Frosted Crown—ornaments, nutcrackers, twinkle lights, and a seasonal cocktail program in a room small enough to feel personal. Happy hour runs 4–6pm Wed–Sat on regular Queen Jayne's hours. Reservations are encouraged via Resy; walk-ins welcome. Private buyouts available Sundays and select dates via events@queenjaynes.com.
Source: queenjaynes.com · Resy: search Queen Jayne's Somers Point
4. Harry's Jingle Bar | Harry's Ocean Bar & Grille — Cape May
Dates: November 13, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Location: 1025 Beach Avenue, Cape May, NJ 08204 · (609) 884-2779
Floor-to-ceiling décor, a deep holiday cocktail list (from Candy Cane Crush to a smoked Fireside Fig Old Fashioned), and a real event calendar make Harry's Jingle Bar the Cape May stop that finally fills the South Shore gap left by statewide roundups. Weekly hooks include Locals' Night Tuesdays ($11 holiday cocktails, $5 beers, $8 sangria) and Jingle Belles & Cocktails Wednesdays ($11 holiday cocktails all night). Special nights span Breakfast with Santa, an Ugly Sweater Party, Jingle Karaoke, Brunch with the Grinch, and a post-Christmas "Holiday Hangover."
Source: harryscapemay.com · Montreal Beach Resort announcement
5. Deauvillage | Deauville Inn — Strathmere
Dates: December 1 – January 6
Location: 201 Willard Road, Strathmere, NJ 08248 · (609) 263-2080
Give the gift of Deauville: the waterfront inn becomes Deauvillage—holidayland right on the sand with festive cocktails, cozy vibes, and good eats all season. Brunch with Santa is listed for December 6, 7, 13, and 14; Christmas Eve dinner is on the calendar for December 24. Confirm brunch tickets, pricing, and seating directly with the inn before you go.
Source: deauvilleinn.com/deauvillage · Jersey Shore — Brunch with Santa
6. Christmas Takeover | Avalon Brew Pub, ICONA Avalon — Avalon
Opening night: Friday, November 27, 2026, 6–8pm
Related: ICONA Elf Experience hotel package November 20 – December 20, 2026
Location: ICONA Avalon, 7849 Dune Drive, Avalon, NJ 08202
ICONA's beachside holiday energy returns in a new shape for 2026: Avalon Brew Pub's Christmas Takeover pop-up, launching with a family-friendly opening night of holiday music, seasonal drink specials, complimentary kids' hot chocolate with every meal, a photo backdrop, and prizes. Guests booking the Elf Experience package also get breakfast access at the Christmas Takeover (kids-eat-free details apply—confirm with the resort). The prior Sandbar Village ice-rink Winter Wonderland format was not listed for 2026 on ICONA's events pages at press time.
Source: ICONA — Christmas Takeover opening night · ICONA Avalon events · ICONA Elf Experience
7. Vintner Wonderland | Renault Winery & Resort — Egg Harbor City
Dates: November 13, 2026 – January 18, 2027
Hours: Fri 3–9pm; Sat 11am–9pm; Sun 11am–7pm (extended holiday hours on select dates; closed Christmas Day)
Location: 72 N. Bremen Avenue, Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215
Skate, sip, and linger at Renault's winter village—real outdoor ice, artisan market, Santa visits, seasonal food and wine, plus private igloos, heated cabanas, and fire pits. Village admission and parking are free; skating and private gathering spaces need tickets or reservations. It's a natural add for Shore readers already looping Atlantic City and Smithville, and Visit Atlantic City flags it among regional holiday highlights.
Source: Renault — Vintner Wonderland · 2026 details page · Visit Atlantic City holiday guide
8. Historic Smithville Village (& The Smithville Inn) — Galloway
Village highlights: Holiday Light Show November 27 – January 6; Holiday Dickens Fest November 28–29; Magical Talking Tree, Christmas Train, bonfire & s'mores on weekend nights; Breakfast with Santa Dec 12 & 19 (fee)
Inn location: 1 N. New York Road, Galloway, NJ 08205 · (609) 652-7777
A trip to Smithville still feels like stepping into a postcard—cobblestone paths, more than 60 shops, and lights that make the whole village glow. Warm up at The Smithville Inn while you're there—the Inn serves a seasonal holiday drink menu alongside the village's lights and cheer.
Source: Historic Smithville events · Smithville Inn menus · Visit Atlantic City — Smithville
9. Linguini By The Sea Winter Wonderland | Ocean Casino Resort — Atlantic City
Dates: Beginning November 27, 2026
Location: Linguini By The Sea, Ocean Casino Resort, Atlantic City
For a sit-down "après-sea" holiday vibe steps from Jingle Bell Bar, Ocean transforms Linguini By The Sea into a snowy Winter Wonderland with seasonal menu offerings and specialty cocktails—ideal if your holiday tour wants dinner with the décor, not only a standing pop-up.
Source: Visit Atlantic City — Fall/Winter release
Secret Ask: Frank's Famous Eggnog | Dougherty's Properties
Tis the season for a holiday treat you won't find printed on the cocktail list. Frank's Famous Eggnog—Frank Dougherty's personal recipe for holiday cheer—is a secret ask at the Dougherty family's restaurants: finish a great steak or seafood dinner, then simply ask your server for it. We won't invent the price or the pour; when it's on, the staff knows.
Ask at:
- Dock's Oyster House — Atlantic City
- Knife & Fork Inn — Atlantic City
- Dougherty's Steakhouse & Raw Bar — Atlantic City (Resorts Casino Hotel)
- Shay's Bar & Restaurant at Linwood Country Club — Linwood
- The Fox Den at Linwood Country Club — Linwood
Source: Dougherty Restaurant Group — Restaurants · doughertyrestaurantgroup.com
Not on this year's curated list (and why)
- Bally's Holiday Cheer Pop-Up: No 2026 announcement; Visit AC's holiday pop-up roundup names Resorts and Ocean only. (Bally's entertainment)
- NJ Monthly statewide Miracle map: Still North/Central-heavy (Nutley, Jersey City, Verona, Long Branch, Morristown, New Brunswick, Freehold, Norwood, Wharton)—useful context, not South Shore coverage. (NJ Monthly)
Short FAQ
Where are the holiday pop-up bars in Atlantic City this year?
For the 2026 season, the two Boardwalk pop-ups with clear official confirmation are Candy Cane Lounge – Present Situation at Resorts (Bar One), opening November 6, and Jingle Bell Bar at Ocean Casino Resort's Nola's Bar & Lounge, opening November 14 and running through January 5. Ocean also layers on Linguini By The Sea's Winter Wonderland restaurant transformation beginning November 27. Always double-check hours on the venue or Visit Atlantic City pages before you go—pop-up schedules can shift.
Happy Holidays to our loyal readers—and say hi from New Jersey Lifestyle Magazine.
