Sure, we humans like to dress up on Halloween, but our favorite NYC restaurants and bars like to get in on the action too. The fog machines start running, the cobwebs go up, and bartenders get extra creative with the dry ice. Suddenly your regular spot is a haunted mansion, a graveyard, or your own horror movie set.
You’ll find all kinds: pop-ups that take over a space for the season, puppy shenanigans, year-round gothic and horror-themed hangouts, and neighborhood favorites that go all-out once the calendar flips to spooky season. What they all share is a commitment to the bit. With Halloween landing on a Saturday, reservations are your friend, and several of these transformations vanish after October 31.
Ready to get spooked? Here are the spots worth braving the crowds for.
The Haunting
From the team behind the holiday pop-ups Miracle and Sippin’ Santa comes The Haunting, their first Halloween takeover, descending on two New York bars. Decor pleases both lovers of campy nostalgia and straight horror fans, plus the occasional surprise, like a surf dude skeleton in the spirit of Captain Jack.
But the real stars are the cocktails and the vessels they arrive in, all of which are for sale to take home. Liquid Lobotomy is served in a baby doll head: a rich, fall-leaning Zombie riff with pumpkin-spiced pineapple. Widow’s Whisper is a mischievous mix of melon, absinthe, and botanicals, served in a web-detailed Nick & Nora glass. And Hex Appeal is just wicked, a spell of gin, whiskey, Campari, peanut butter, pandan, coconut, celery, and lemon, served, fittingly, in a cauldron.
In the East Village, The Haunting on 9th takes over The Cabinet Mezcal Bar, while at the beachy Vacations in Bushwick, the downstairs Lunker Lounge becomes The Haunting at Vacations. Mark your calendar for Bloody Baywatch on October 31, with a Halloween party, DJ, and costume contest. 649 E. 9th St., East Village; and 48 Cypress Ave., Bushwick, Brooklyn, thehauntingpopup.com
Mixteca
In 2025, a couple of PDT alums unveiled Mixteca, an ode to tequila and mezcal. Then they took over the rest of 1 Cornelia Street and turned it into three concepts: Mixteca, L.A. import Tacos 1986, and Kees, a throwback spot devoted to classic cocktails.
For Halloween lovers, that means three distinct stops along the parade route. At Mixteca, sink your teeth into the Vampiro: reposado tequila, sangrita, lime, Squirt, adobada, and Tajín, topped with playful vampire teeth. Bright, citrusy, and a little bit bloodthirsty. Grab some tacos, then descend into Kees, a moody speakeasy where a candlelit table and a classic cocktail make a fittingly mysterious nightcap. 1 Cornelia St., West Village, cocteleriamixteca.com
Dark Magic Hour
Fans of the runaway hit horror film Obsession know the Wishing Willow: snap the stick, make a wish. They also know to be careful what they wish for. The Magic Hour rooftop bar at Moxy NYC Times Square drives it home with Dark Magic Hour, its Halloween transformation.
A Wishing Willow tree takes center stage, surrounded by candles floating from the ceiling, tarot cards, and decor that will make goth hearts happy. Sip the Midnight Margarita (Astral blanco tequila, agave, and lime, infused with dark secrets) and bite into the Bloody Chocolate Fondue (white chocolate, strawberries, marshmallow, gummies, and graham cracker), both made just for the occasion. It’s open through October 31. 485 7th Ave., 18th floor, Midtown, moxytimessquare.com
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost doesn’t need Halloween to give frights. The theatrical, demonic tiki bar opened on Friday the 13th three years ago and has been messing with your heartbeat ever since. Between the bloody shark, the eight-foot altar, the oversized bat taxidermy, the snakeskin banquettes, and plenty of flaming drinks, you’ll feel like you’ve landed in the pits of hell.
The cocktails are spooky year-round, with names like Strange Monster and Lady From the Black Lagoon. However, October brings some spookiness of its own with a lineup of specialty drinks under the Hell-Fire Harvest menu. On said menu, the boozy Pumpkin Pie Mai Tai doesn’t sound scary, but with Sichuan peppercorn and several rums, it’s a potent spell in a glass. One tip: visit the bathroom. There’s a voice-over in there you’ll want to discover for yourself. 100 2nd Ave., East Village, paradiselost.nyc
Lillie’s Victorian Establishment
Named for Lillie Langtry, the British socialite famed for her excess, Lillie’s is lavishly decorated year-round at both locations, so you can imagine how far it goes for Halloween. In Times Square, guests can enjoy a frighteningly delightful dining experience, with a haunting Afternoon Tea, a bewitching Pre-Show Dinner, and spine-chilling Late Night Cocktails. Meanwhile, in Union Square, creepy clowns take over for a Halloween circus extravaganza, complete with a big top and haunting dolls. 249 W. 49th St., Midtown; and 13 E. 17th St., Union Square, lilliesnyc.com
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde is over-the-top all year, but come Halloween, the Victorian-themed bar embraces its darker side. After all, this is the man who gave us The Canterville Ghost and The Picture of Dorian Gray. Step inside the British-style cave of dangling skeletons to take in the horror ephemera and old Halloween movies flickering in the background.
The cocktails are just as wicked: Hocus Pocus, Wicked Wish, and the infamous One Wish Willow, which comes with its own stick to snap. On Saturdays and Sundays, the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery at Oscar Wilde serves a frightfully delicious Afternoon Tea with three tiers of mini sweets, pastries, and petite sandwiches. Come for tea, stay for eternity. 45 W. 27th St., NoMad, oscarwildenyc.com
Romeo’s
With a name like Romeo’s, you know the decor is sexy and the deals are even sweeter, with happy hour every day until 7. But come fall, things get a little wicked. This Halloween month, the menu is crawling with new cocktails.
Start with the Carrie-Cola, a Canadian Kalimotxo of maple, cola, and red wine. Next, try the Children of the Corn, an elote Old Fashioned crowned with a baby corn garnish. Or, sip A Root Beer on Elm Street, a boozy bourbon root beer float of your nightmares. Finally, the Pazuzu shot, a green blend of matcha, aloe, melon, and tequila to ward off demons. Sip carefully. You never know who’s lurking. 118 St Marks Pl., East Village, romeosnyc.com
BeetleHouse NYC
New York has an unauthorized Tim Burton-themed restaurant, and it is fully committed. Beetle House began as a pop-up in 2016 and has since grown into a year-round haunt, though it hits hardest at Halloween.
Step through a black-and-white-striped doorway that winks at its namesake and into a barroom bathed in an eerie purple glow. Here actors play Jack Skellington, magicians work the room, and the decor looks lifted straight from your favorite Burton flick.
The cocktails keep the spell going. Take the Deadly Nightshade, a hauntingly floral gin drink with lavender, Earl Grey, and a bright kiss of lemon. The Cursed Harvest is a wickedly refreshing fall sipper of tequila, juicy pear, crisp apple, and lime, finished with a black salt and caramel rim. Settle in for a three-course dinner or just stop by for a spirit-filled drink. 308 E. 6th St., East Village, beetlehousenyc.com
elNico
Don’t forget your furry best friends. On Sunday, October 25 from noon to 4 p.m., The Penny Williamsburg is getting into the Halloween spirit with a Dog Costume Parade and “Yappy Hour.” The event is in partnership with Badass Animal Rescue, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit dedicated to rescuing dogs from high-kill shelters and finding them loving homes.
After the parade, head up to The Penny’s rooftop restaurant, elNico, for a margarita tasting and skyline views. Bonus, $1 from every signature cocktail donated back to the rescue. 288 N. 8th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn, elnico-rooftop.com
Black Lagoon
For all of October, Someday Bar has been enveloped by the Black Lagoon. Expect dark decor, eerie lighting, and cocktails with bite. For example, the dark rum nightmare Nocturna Colada and Griselda’s Revenge, a tropical, Thai-inflected mix of gin, mango liqueur, tarragon, and a touch of mischief.
Brooklyn is one of 34 Black Lagoon stops across North America this season. Catch the fun Coven and Cocktails on October 25 with RuPaul’s Drag Race star Darienne Lake, then take the haunt home with collectible glassware, including an undead mermaid mug that will follow you into your dreams. 364 Atlantic Ave., Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, somedaybarnyc.com
