Bold claim: Mariah Carey isn’t just a pop star—she’s the seasonal emblem of Christmas itself, and her Holiday Bar amplifies that claim with unapologetic fanfare. If you’re chasing festive vibes with a superstar stamp, this pop-up, unveiled earlier this month at the Mondrian Hotel’s Skybar, is tailor-made for you.
The Los Angeles debut is drenched in Carey’s signature holiday aesthetic: neon lyrics illuminate the room, oversized portraits of the singer dominate the space, and every track that plays—whether holiday-centered or not—comes from Carey’s catalog. (Note: “All I Want for Christmas Is You” is played roughly every 30 minutes.)
“Since I’ve known Christmas, Mariah has always been there,” said Cathy Kwon, posing beside a decorative sleigh. “That song’s enduring popularity is remarkable.”
Carey popularized the holiday season in a lasting way with her 1994 album Merry Christmas, cementing herself as a perennial fixture. Each year since, she’s delivered new festive moments for her fans. In recent years, she launched Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time tour to mark the album’s 30th anniversary, followed by a Vegas residency titled “Christmastime in Las Vegas.” She’s also produced holiday specials for Apple TV and CBS, and her modern holiday anthem frequently tops charts year after year.
The Holiday Bar collaboration between Carey and Bucket Listers spans four cities—Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, and Las Vegas. The West Hollywood location offers endless photo opportunities with life-size cutouts and large-scale holiday portraits of Carey, plus cocktails featuring her own liqueur line, Black Irish. The décor evokes a wintry wonderland: a candy-cane pool float, twinkling trees along every walkway, and bursts of artificial snow drifting through the air. Bucket Listers founder Andy Lederman notes that demand for the experience has exceeded expectations.
Carey’s status as “the queen of Christmas” is echoed by Lederman, who calls her one of the most iconic figures of the season, second only to Santa and the Grinch. Guests are invited to celebrate Carey’s world while surrounded by the nostalgia of her early holiday work and the contemporary sparkle she brings to the season.
Many patrons relive memories of Carey’s 1994 Merry Christmas album, a 10-track collection blending reimagined classics, original songs, and a spectrum that spans love songs, traditional carols, and modern spiritual pieces. Shannon Armah, a Miracle Mile resident, recalls growing up with the album on constant repeat and describes it as a balance of playful tunes and gospel-influenced tracks that connect with her childhood church experiences and ’90s nostalgia.
The single continues to perform well, tying for the longest-running No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this year and earning Carey her 19th No. 1 on the chart—the most for any solo artist. Real estate professional Anthony Escalante admires Carey’s ability to tell a story beyond generic holiday fare, suggesting the song captures a broader theme of holiday longing and personal storytelling.
For fans who grew up with Carey’s music, the bar represents more than a festive backdrop: it’s a curated space where a modern pop classic meets immersive holiday theater. Sara Rushton and Benji Flowers, dressed in Carey-inspired attire, praise Carey for reinventing Christmas music and delivering a fresh take on the season. Some even propose extending the concept beyond December, arguing that Carey’s discography offers moods from romance to triumph, nostalgia to energy—potentially underpinning year-round venues with seasonal rotations.
The Holiday Bar runs through December 28, offering a taste of Carey’s expansive holiday universe and inviting fans to debate the enduring impact of a pop-planetary holiday icon. Would you keep Carey’s holiday world open year-round, or should it remain a seasonal spectacle that peaks each December? Share your thoughts in the comments.
