For some of us embracing Halloween to the fullest is how we celebrate the spooky season, and these five bars agree. With special concoctions, Halloween vibes, and devilishly delicious drinks, get your spirits high with these pop-ups.
Bewitched & Bubbly at Call Me Pearl
The Rally Hotel’s Call Me Pearl lounge has a devilishly delightful holiday menu. Think drinks such as a Peanut Butter White Russian with Screwball Whiskey, crème de cacao, oat milk, chocolate, and Reese’s Pieces. On the less sweet side, the Blood Orange ‘Necroni’ melds gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, and blood orange liqueur.
To eat, the bar has Candy & Curds, a two-person spread of fine cheeses and old school candy. It’s basically trick-or-treating for adults. The special menu is available now and until Halloween. Starting on October 17th, guests who purchase a cocktail will also receive a complimentary gourd. 1600 20th St., Denver, callmepearlbar.com
Halloween at Milepost Zero In McGregor Square
Sample an array of Halloween-themed cocktails from the large bar inside Milepost Zero’s food hall. The Forbidden Apple has vodka, sour apple liqueur, and lemon juice served in a shot syringe. Or go for a full drink, the Night of the Living Red, a mixture of red wine, brandy, and peach, orange, and lemon juices combined and served in a blood bag. And in tandem with this year’s haut sequel, try the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a large-format cocktail for four or more people served in a plastic Jack-o-lantern.
Milepost Zero also has a Haunted Happy Hour every Monday and Tuesday throughout the month of October. This deal gets imbibers $2 off the specialty Halloween cocktails, and $2 of all draft beers. Look for festive events throughout the month too. On Friday, October 11 at 7 p.m. there’s a pumpkin painting party with free mini pumpkins for the first 50 attendees. On Wednesday in October there are trivia nights at 6:30, which include Halloween history trivia on the 16, Twilight Trivia on the 23, and Hocus Pocus Trivia on 30. 1601 19th St., Denver, milepostzero.com
Nightmare in Paradise at Adrift Tiki Bar
Tiki and Halloween go hand-in-hand, at least we think so based on all the spooky tiki cups you can find online. Now through November 1, Adrift Tiki Bar on South Broadway embraces its dark side with haunted hour deals, Red Rum Wednesdays, a Halloween-themed Adult Spelling Bee, and tiki-inspired pumpkin carving.
Of course Halloween drinks also deck the menu. The decedent Death Sentence (pictured) is a large-format drink serving two or four. It’s filled with a delvelish mixture of armagnac, allspice dram, mezcal, lime, orange, and maple. For a single person tipple, Pumpkin Guts is a clarified Guyanese rum drink with pumpkin, pumpkin spices, and lemon. 218 S. Broadway, Denver, adriftbar.com
Poka Muah Ha Ha at Poka Lola Social Club
Elevate Halloween drinking with expertly-crafted cocktails from this Dairy Block bar. Now until October 31, Poka Lola offers 16 drinks, shots, and mocktails. Definitely try the everything-bagel-inspired Holy Water, a cream cheese fat-washed vodka martini with the classic seasoning along the rim. Speak No Evil actually sings with reposado tequila, St. George Spiced Pear, pandan, and a mysterious puff of smoke. Also make magic with The Warlock, a mocktail featuring Giffard Apertif and Lyre’s Aperitif Rosso vermouth. 1850 Wazee St., Denver, pokaloladenver.com
Shriekeasy Bar at 13th Floor Haunted House
Every year the Shriekeasy Bar offers liquid courage before you enter the epic haunted house. At least, for the 21 and older. This year the team created three festive cocktails. The first, Undead To Me, is a rift on a Margarita with tequila, triple sec, passion fruit puree, sour mix, and sparkling water. For those looking toward the colorful side of Halloween, the boozy gin, vodka, Blue Curacao, fruit juices, and purple glitter filled Vampire Venom is for you.
Finally, dig deep with 6 Feet Under (pictured), the dessert cocktail composed of vodka, chocolate liqueur, peanut butter, cream, and chocolate bitters. Also look for two secret bars inside the 13th Floor,, Shot Spot Arcade Secret Bar and The Attic Secret Bar. 3400 E. 52nd Ave., Denver, 13thfloorhauntedhouse.com
