It’s hard not to feel festive with a special seasonal beverage in your hand. From cocktails to coffee, we’ve got a look at some drinks that are available this month only.
Downtown sister bars Tiki-Ko (1919 K St.) and The Sinking Ship (1927 K St.) are back with holiday cocktails for a good cause.
The businesses donate $2 from each of the four holiday specials ($15 each) to a different charity (more on that below).
The menu starts off with Pearilous Voyage, created by Chris Vindiola, as a blend of spiced pear, honey, passion fruit, and gin, with grapefruit and bitters that is "comforting, warm and perfect for weathering any storm."
Bartender Mike Weick tapped the nostalgia of Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes with his Big Debra's Snack Cake. "Just like your favorite Christmas tree snack cake, but all grown up," the libation is made with creme de cacao, vodka, orgeat, vanilla and cinnamon syrups and heavy cream.
Those who love sweets this time of year should try the Sugar Cookie, a delicious holiday treat from Jorge "Spongie" Reyes that's made with amaretto, white rum, Bailey’s Irish Cream, vanilla syrup, heavy cream and a dash of cinnamon with a rim of sugar sprinkles.
Warm up with Malachi the Nutcracker, a nutty hot chocolate with pistachio liqueur, dark chocolate and spiced rum that is topped with pistachio cold foam and crushed pistachios.
Last week, the bars raised $400 for the Apple Core Project, which aims to end food insecurity.
This week benefits the Fisher House Foundation, which aids wounded, injured, and ill service members, veterans and their families.
Next week will raise funds for The Open Door Network, which combined the Bakersfield Homeless Center and Alliance Against Family Violence and Sexual Assault to offer the largest domestic violence support agency.
For the last week, sales will benefit NAMI of Kern County, which offers free information, education, resources and support for people with mental illness as well as their families and friends.
Follow @tikikobakersfield on Instagram for more information.
Popular downtown party spot Mexicali (631 18th St.) is again serving its holiday cocktails, which are available Fridays and Saturdays after 5 p.m. throughout December.
Guests can choose from the Cranberry Margarita, with tequila blanco, triple sec, fresh lime juice, cranberry juice and cranberries; White Christmas Mojito, with rum, fresh lime juice, coconut cream, pomegranate seeds and mint; Chocolate Borracho, traditional Mexican hot chocolate served with a shot of tequila reposado and topped with whipped cream and cinnamon; and the Mexican Espresso Martini.
Eureka! (10520 Stockdale Highway) has brought back its holiday cult classic. The Gingerbread Man Old Fashioned is crafted with rye whiskey, BroVo Spirits Douglas Fir Liqueur, housemade gingerbread syrup, angostura bitters and chocolate bitters, chilled down with gingerbread man-shaped ice.
Beloved Old Town Kern restaurant Luigi's (725 E. 19th St.) has holiday specials, which all cost $16. Options include:
Chocolate Candy Cane Martini, made with peppermint vodka, Bailey's Chocolate, espresso and coffee liqueur, served with a crushed peppermint candy cane rim;
Peppermint Bark Martini: Ketel One Vodka, Peppermint Rumchata, espresso and coffee liqueur, topped with whipped cream and served with a crushed peppermint candy cane rim; and
Pecan Brown Sugar Bourbon Martini: Texas Brown Sugar Bourbon, Bailey's Chocolate, Frangelico and half and half, served with a brown sugar rim.
The southwest restaurant Toasted (6603 Panama Lane) launched its winter menu with cocktails, cafe drinks and food.
Adult beverages consist of cocktails ($11) and mimosas ($7 or $18 for the winter flight):
Peppermint Bark Tini: vodka, Licor 43, espresso, peppermint syrup and whipped cream with a chocolate drizzle and candy cane rim;
Mistle Toe Rita: tequila, triple sec, cranberry and sweet and sour with a sugar rim;
Candy Cane White Russian: vodka and Kahlua topped with peppermint cold foam and crushed candy cane;
Cranberry Mule: vodka, cranberry, vanilla, ginger beer and lime;
Abuela's Spiked Cocoa: tequila, Licor 43 and Abuelita's Hot Chocolate, topped with whipped cream;
Mimosas: Grinch (Blue Curacao and orange juice), Frosty (Blue Curacao, pina colada mix and coconut flakes), Pomegranate (pomegranate juice and lemonade) and citrus berry (cranberry and orange juice with a sugar rim).
The winter cafe has espresso drinks ($6) and noncaffeinated options ($6) such as:
Peppermint Cloud Latte: espresso, marshmallow fluff and vanilla, topped with peppermint cold foam;
Candy Cane White Mocha: espresso, white mocha and peppermint syrup, topped with whipped cream;
Jingle Bear Latte: espresso, honey and cinnamon, garnished with whipped cream and Teddy Grahams;
Santa's Cookie Butter Latte: espresso, cookie butter, cinnamon and vanilla, topped with whipped cream; and
Holiday Latte Flight: a trio with small versions of Peppermint Cloud, Santa's Cookie Butter and Jingle Bear lattes ($15)
For children and those who want to skip the caffeine, Toasted will offer:
Candy Cane Hot Chocolate: hot chocolate with peppermint, topped with whipped cream, crushed candy canes and marshmallows;
Mistletoe Sparkler Refresher: cranberry juice, Starry (formerly Sierra Mist) and lime juice; and
Frosty Chiller Refresher: blue raspberry lemonade and pina colada mix, topped with whipped cream and coconut flakes.
Speaking of coffee, Blue Oak Coffee Roasting (1717 20th St.) has some new and returning holiday favorites.
First up is the Forest Pine Chai, made with "all the chai spices" and Torani's new forest pine syrup, which it named as the 2026 "flavor of the year."
Also new this year are the Torrone Nougat Latte (pistachio, almond and citrus syrups and honey), Almond Biscotti Latte (almond, shortbread and licorice syrups), Brown Butter Toffee Latte (brown butter and toffee syrups) and The Grinch (matcha with a shot of espresso).
Returning favorites include Santa's Gone Nuts (almond and pistachio mocha), Dirty Snowball (black and white mocha), and the Eggnog Latte, made with real eggnog.
Caffeine Supreme (2000 F St.) also has seasonal beverages with the kick you need to get through all those holiday tasks.
Options include:
White Christmas, toasted marshmallow coffee offered blended or hot, topped with whipped cream and mini marshmallows;
Gingerbread Dream, with the new specialty gingerbread puff foam on the drive-thru's classic white mocha latte then finished with cinnamon sprinkles;
Peppermint Mocha Cold Brew, house-made medium roast cold brew with mocha sauce, topped with the new peppermint puff foam and candy cane topping; and
Molasses Cookie, in which vanilla chai meets spiced chai for the "perfect rich and smooth Christmas latte," which can be enhanced by added espresso shots.
The downtown spot also has two Christmas Energizers: The Grinch (blue raspberry and lime) and Rudolph (cranberry and pomegranate).
Also downtown, Jittery Geeks, located inside In Your Wildest Dreams Consignment and Antiques (2819 F St.), has its own fun seasonal drinks.
Choose from:
Champurrado Mocha Latte, made with in-house syrup with tones of Mexican cocoa, cinnamon, and sweet corn;
The Grinch, green mint latte topped with dark chocolate espresso;
Krampus Latte, a vanilla and cinnamon latte topped with a snickerdoodle soft top;
Gremlins Boost, sour apple, passionfruit, club soda and lotus energy with a strawberry drizzle;
Buddy the Elf Hojicha, a Japanese hojicha matcha made with in-house maple syrup; and
Ya Filthy Animal Matcha, a traditional Japanese matcha made with a sweet mint syrup.