November 19, 2021
See the Royal Tot as festive Sippin’ Santa pop-up
The rum bar will debut its own menu in January
Before opening as a rum bar, The Royal Tot will open as a Santa-themed tiki pop-up. The upcoming Belmont neighborhood bar from the ETA Group, owners of Stroke, will open its doors for a Sippin’ Santa experience on Monday, Nov. 22.
Beachbum Berry’s Sippin’ Santa takes place nationwide through December, with bars across the U.S. purchasing the rights to hold the event in collaboration with Cocktail Kingdom. Sippin’ Santa brings not only festive decorations, but tiki cocktails in Santa-themed glassware, including a ceramic punch bowl featuring Santa in a hot tub with a pig and Santa as a mermaid. Due do supply chain delays, owners Scott and Ashley Gadd drove to a New York City warehouse to ensure the ceramic glasses arrived in time. For those seeking unique holiday gifts, the glassware will be on sale.
While The Royal Tot isn’t a tiki bar, its island vibe and rum-focus give it a similar feel. The rattan accents and tropical wallpaper combined with Caribbean blues and nautical touches bring a beachside atmosphere; indoor cabanas will add to that once they’ve arrived and are installed. The restaurant’s food menu includes dishes made by neighboring retailer Paper Plane Deli and Marketplace, with snacks such as spiced ginger Chex mix and smoked fish dip during the Sippin’ Santa pop-up. When the restaurant reopens in January following a closure for a few weeks to remove the Santa decor and retrain staff, the nine Sippin’ Santa cocktails will be replaced with a much larger list. Mixologist Larry Suggs has created a deep cocktail list of around 30 drinks featuring house-made syrups and built with a focus on little waste, with citrus juiced then turned into garnishes, for example.
The bar also features a stunning view of the skyline from the rooftop, which will soon be drizzle-proofed with a canvas covering built to minimize interference with the view. The decor for the restaurant was designed and much of it fabricated by ETA Group partners Jason and Jeremy Calamusa, who also created the putt-putt course at Stroke.
Get a look inside The Royal Tot’s Sippin’ Santa experience below. Reservations are now open through Dec. 31.
A Christmas tree welcomes guests at The Royal Tot for Sippin’ Santa. Kristen Wile/UP
The back bar at The Royal Tot is lined with Santa-themed tiki glassware for Sippin’ Santa. Kristen Wile/UP
The metal art hanging in the stairwell is inspired by Japanese glass buoys, which hang above the bar. Kristen Wile/UP
The rooftop of The Royal Tot is lined with garlands and ornaments. Kristen Wile/UP
Stacks of gifts are wrapped with tropical designs. Kristen Wile/UP
Christmas trees and twinkle lights make The Royal Tot festive. Kristen Wile/UP
