Sip Spiked Hot Cocoa at this Wintry Pop-Up Lounge in East Palo Alto

A winter escape to a fancy hotel in Tahoe is an hours-long drive, but Silicon Valley’s Four Seasons hopes to offer a taste of the mountains a little closer with a new pop-up lounge, Après. To set the scene, it’s even equipped with falling (fake) snow every night.

Starting today, the East Palo Alto hotel has decked out its outdoor lounge with Christmas lights, mini pine trees, a fireplace, and (purely decorative) skis. But it wouldn’t be a true lounge without food and drinks, and Après offers a full menu of in-theme comfort dishes — with a whole lot of cheese. There’s comté (and cognac) in the French onion soup, gruyere (and champagne) in the fondue, torched raclette on the bison burger, and cheese curds in the poutine. For dessert, there are classic s’mores and warm apple fritters.

The cocktail list is festive, too. Hot cocoa gets spiked with Irish whiskey and green chartreuse. The Powder Patrol mixes vodka with spiced cranberry and red wine reduction. And, of course, there is mulled wine.

Check out the full menu for Après, which runs through February, below.

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley