Having trouble getting into the holiday spirit? Some local businesses have spiced up their menus with holiday drink specials to help you feel a little more merry. Here are some of the ones we tried around town!
Note that this is not an exhaustive list. If your favorites aren’t listed, make sure to mention them in the comments and show them some love!
Coffee, Tea, and Cocoa
Mugshots, 1109 Main Street
Hours: Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Mughsots is serving their take on festive teas, coffee, and hot cocoa this year with some of their homemade syrups! You can choose from their Appalachian Fog, Gingerbread Latte, Candy Cane Latte, or the Snickerdoodle Hot Cocoa.
The Appalachian Fog is packed with flavor. It’s a black tea served with lavender foam on top. Watch as the foamy “fog” mixes with the tea, creating a fruity, fragrant drink. The Candy Cane Latte is the perfect drink for Christmas. The light peppermint flavor and creamy texture of the drink may make you want to curl up in bed with it!
Table 304, 1509 Main Street
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Table 304 is not playing around this holiday season with eight drink specials! They mix traditional with contemporary in this year’s Christmas line-up. Choose from their Orange Spice Latte, Butter Beer Latte, Peppermint Mocha, Gingerbread Latte, Rosemary Brown Sugar Latte, Comfort & Joy Tea Latte, Gingerbread Chai, or the Cranberry Apple Spritz.
The Orange Spice Latte is light, refreshing, and reminiscent of a Christmas-y dessert. Packed with spices and a hint of orange, you’ll be merry all the way while drinking it! The Rosemary Brown Sugar Latte may be one of the most unique drinks on the list. The earthy tones from the rosemary are truly delectable, and the brown sugar adds a rich, caramel flavor to the drink. It’s certainly a must-try this holiday season!
Sarah’s On Main, 2122 Main Street
Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Saturday, 7 a.m. – noon
Sarah’s on Main has a new barista in town, Mark, who can’t wait to serve you one of their many holiday-inspired drinks this winter! You can order an Eggnog Latte, Homemade Butterscotch Latte, White Chocolate Raspberry Latte, Gingerbread Latte, Pomegranate Oolong Tea, or the Winter White Earl Grey Tea.
The Gingerbread Latte will have you thinking of your home during a gingerbread house bake-off. The taste replicates the smell to a T. The Eggnog Latte is Christmas spirit in a cup. It is a well-spiced drink with a yuletide staple! Even if you don’t prefer eggnog, you’ll like this drink!
The Market Cafe, 2200 Market Street (Downtown location) and 476 Warden Run Road
Downtown Hours: Monday – Sunday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Warden Run Road Hours: Monday – Sunday 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
The Market Cafe takes the prize for most drink specials of the businesses we highlighted, coming in at 12 total! Choose between their Peppermint Mocha, Peppermint Cocoa, Snowball Mocha, Chocolate Cherry Iced Latte, Raspberry Mocha, Cookie Butter Frappe, Tuxedo Iced Latte, Mint Cookie Crumble Frappe, Minty Winter Freeze, Merrimint Refresher, Cinnamon French Toast Latte, or the Caramel Apple Chai.
The Cookie Butter Latte is like a melted sugar cookie in a cup–but not too sweet! It’s the type of cookie batter you’re allowed to eat! The Minty Winter Freeze is a delicious, lightly minty drink. We had it hot with a piece of chocolate bark on top! The peppermint is paired with white chocolate for a perfect combination!
Cocktails, Mocktails, and Brews
Later Alligator, 2145 Market Street
Hours: Monday – Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Later Alligator is serving two holiday mixed drinks this year, the Mistletoe Mudslide and the Funky Pale Crimean. The Mistletoe Mudslide is a milky, peppermint drink with a hit of vodka. It’s sure to warm you and Santa up on these cold winter nights! The Funky Pale Crimean has an earthy, coffee flavor with hints of peppermint as well. Super delicious drink that pairs well with dinner.
Brew Keepers, 2245 Market Street
Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, noon – 8 p.m.; Friday, Saturday, noon – 10 p.m.
Our friends at Brew Keepers are serving four local brews this holiday season. Choose between the Skut Farkus, Scotchy Scotch, Northern Parkway, and the Tacet Coffee Latte Stout.
The Skut Farkus tastes like a campfire in all the right ways. It’s a smokey, light beer that will have you thinking of sitting in front of the fireplace.
The Northern Parkway is a spiced red IPA with a “SuZinnamon,” or sugar cinnamon, rim. It is Christmas in beer form, plain and simple. Deliciously spiced, a little sweet, and smooth drinking. Instead of milk this year, Santa would prefer the Northern Parkway after his long shift.
Waterfront Hall, 1230 Water Street
Hours: Tuesday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Friday, Saturday, 11 a.m. – 1 a.m.
For their inaugural Christmas season in Wheeling, Waterfront Hall is serving two festive drinks this month. They have a non-alcoholic Candy Apple Fizz and a non-non-alcoholic Espresso Martini made with Tacet Coffee.
The Candy Apple Fizz is a delicious, spiced drink that is light and easy-drinking with a pop of holiday flare. Perfect the way it is, or ask them to make it alcoholic for a little kick! The Espresso Martini is rich, creamy, and delicious. It’s certainly not your grandma’s coffee, that’s for sure!
Make sure to support our local businesses during this giving season! If we didn’t mention your favorite place with holiday drink specials, please add them to our comments to help spread the love!
• Justice Hudson is an AmeriCorps volunteer and citizen journalist originally from Saint Albans, West Virginia, and has lived in Wheeling since January 2020. He studied history and women and gender studies at West Virginia University and has worked in farming and community education since moving to the Friendly City. In February 2023 he began writing as a folk reporter independently for the Hudson Household Editorial and for organizations including Mustard Seed Mountain, BlackByGod: The West Virginian, and Weelunk.