Pop-up bars blending creativity with an exceptional experience are one of the fastest-growing trends in hospitality. 

The model is kind of like a tiny, cocktail inspired theme park without rides. 

Pop-up bars are often temporary, appearing for a few days or weeks in unconventional spaces such as rooftops or breweries, even inside existing restaurants. 

The concept allows bartenders and owners to experiment with new themes and cocktails without the long-term commitment of a full bar. Guests are treated to something novel, fleeting and memorable with atmosphere.

The concept has been elevated into a full experience three times per year at BTW’s Crafted Concoctions’ popular brick and mortar location in Tavares. The bar’s owner, Rebecca Doherty, has made seasonal transformations that draw crowds eager to see and enjoy each new creation.

“From the very beginning, my goal has always been to offer something different, something next level,” Rebecca says. “I wanted to create a place that makes people want to come out just to say they’ve been here, that they’ve tried the newest thing, seen the latest transformation and felt part of something unique.”

Her pop-ups range from the whimsical Hatter’s Garden of Curious Curiosities to the spooky Apothecary Spookeasy for Halloween and the festive Miracle on Main for Christmas. Each one turns the familiar bar into an immersive environment that feels completely new.

“The original concept started off much simpler, but once I get an idea in my head, it tends to spiral into something much bigger — in the best way,” she says. “We’re closed on Mondays, and that’s when I do my decorating. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been up on scaffolding and surrounded by decorations. It’s like falling down a creative rabbit hole, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

A lifelong hospitality professional, Rebecca was raised in the industry and began waiting tables as a teenager on Disney property. She later spent more than a decade working in construction, which gave her the skills to design and build the elaborate sets that now define her pop-ups. She has also been bartending since the early 2000s. “That combination definitely shaped how I approach everything we do,” she says.

The reaction from guests has become part of what drives her creativity. “It’s watching people come into the bar for the first time and seeing the look of awe on their faces,” she says. “You can tell they’re trying to take everything in, but there’s so much to look at that they just keep turning their heads. That reaction never gets old.”

Rebecca’s favorite theme is the Mad Hatter-inspired garden party, which required weeks of construction and creative design. “That one will always be special to me because I had to build so much from scratch,” she says. “But Miracle has been the one that’s grown us to who we are. It’s helped us see what we’re capable of, and the other pop-ups give us the freedom to keep being creative.”

The cocktail program at Crafted Concoctions is described as a collaborative effort. “We all work together on the drinks,” she says. “We even take trips throughout the year to visit art conventions and stay inspired. Everyone has a voice, and that’s how we keep things fresh.”

Each transformation requires weeks of planning and many long nights, but Rebecca says the process remains rewarding. “Ultimately, it’s the joy and awe on our guests’ faces that drives everything,” she says. “When people keep coming back, curious to see what’s next or just to relive the magic, that’s when I know the work is worthwhile.” 

VISIT MIRACLE ON MAIN TO UNWRAP THE HOLIDAY RECIPE INSIDE THIS CERAMIC MOUSE. 

Photos: Nicole Hamel