Menus all over Phoenix are misbehaving this October in honor of Halloween. At Hash Kitchen, a Bloody Mary gets dentures, while Sidewinder’s Dollyween gives Dolly Parton fans a place to break out the big hair and raise a Jolene cocktail in her honor. Even breakfast has raided the candy bowl.
With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, there’s a whole day to dress the part with a costume brunch before the evening’s hauntings begin. The festivities stretch well beyond that one night, though, with restaurant pop-ups running through the month and harvest events giving the pumpkin crowd plenty to sink their teeth into. Here’s where to put a little hocus-pocus on the calendar.
What’s Brewing On the Menu
Now Until November 1: Spooky Island at The Hot Chick
Scooby and the gang have taken over this Old Town bar, where the Scooby Snack and Ruh Roh Rita give the cocktail list a Mystery Machine makeover. The 21-and-older pop-up also pours a Piña Ghoulada and shareable Spooky Island Punch, with a Super Shaggy Sandwich piling ham and turkey onto toasted sourdough with American cheese, vegetables, and banana peppers. Come hungry enough to do Shaggy proud, and reserve Halloween weekend tables by texting 480-255-7733. Other reservations are available through OpenTable. 4363 N. 75th St., Scottsdale, thehotchickaz.com
Now Until October 31: The Haunted Living Room at Lucca
Lucca Living Room has dressed its Downtown Ocotillo dining room for Halloween, right down to a menu that escaped straight from a haunted house. Order Bat Wings or Hummus of the Hollow, then investigate a Bloody Old Fashioned or Black Widow Margarita. Live music on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings gives the ghosts something to dance to. 2475 W. Queen Creek Rd., Chandler, luccachandler.com
Now Until November 2: Seasonal Cocktails and The Poisoned Rose at Toca Madera
Toca Madera is taking the darker side of cocktail hour with three Halloween drinks and a dessert available through November 2. The Blood Orange Eclipse is a seasonal paloma tinted a vivid orange and finished with smoked citrus, while Howl at the Moon brings mezcal into a citrusy margarita with a smoke-filled presentation.
The Black Night drink turns to coffee and whiskey for an Old Fashioned served over a large cube with a skull garnish. Dessert gets its own bit of theater in The Poisoned Rose, which layers raspberry and chocolate with edible “soil” for a suitably sinister finish. The restaurant’s nightly fire dancers put the seasonal menu right at home. 4736 N. Goldwater Blvd., Scottsdale, tocamadera.com
Now Until October 31: Candy-Shop Bagels & Trunk or Treat at The Delicatessen
Trick-or-treating comes early at the Delicatessen, where they stash the Halloween haul. Cream cheese mixes with candy corn or pieces of Kit Kat, Snickers, and Reese’s on colorful bagels. The Candy Corn Latte doubles down with house-made candy corn syrup and vanilla foam, while the Heath Latte takes the chocolate foam and toffee route; Sour Patch Lemonade offers a sour blue raspberry detour for kids and kids-at-heart.
On October 17, Cars & Coffee adds a Trunk or Treat in the morning beginning at 8 a.m., with fresh bagels and specialty coffee alongside the cars, and costumes encouraged for families. 12811 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, thedelicatessen.com
October 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, and 31: Día de los Muertos Brunch at The Mexicano
The Mexicano’s October brunch honors Día de los Muertos, the Mexican tradition of remembering loved ones, with a menu built for a substantial family gathering. Chicken Tinga Chilaquiles come with salsa verde and fried eggs, while Chicken and Waffle de Elote pairs a corn masa waffle with crispy chicken, salsa macha hot honey, and Tajín butter.
For a sweeter start, the Abuelita Hot Chocolate Pancakes wear charred marshmallow fluff, and the Concha French Toast gets a soak in horchata custard. Brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. 4801 E. Cactus Rd., Phoenix; and 3095 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, themexicano.com
October 29 to 31: Monster Brunch at Hash Kitchen
Hash Kitchen buries its Graveyard Cannoli Donuts beneath Oreo crumbles and gummy worms, which is one way to make breakfast look freshly exhumed. Monster Mash Mimosas come with caramel apple or pumpkin spice cotton candy, and Dracula’s Bloody Mary arrives with a spicy chamoy rim and dentures. DJs play on Halloween at all locations, with build-your-own trick-or-treat totes offered to loyalty members at select locations. Multiple locations, hashkitchen.com
Spirited Nights Out
Now Until October 29: Haunted Brewery Tours and Drafts with the Dead at Four Peaks
Four Peaks is putting its ghost stories to work at the original 8th Street brewery. Here, join the Haunted Brewery Tour, which includes a T-shirt and a 32-ounce crowler of Pumpkin Porter for $40. Tours run on select evenings through October 29.
For a tasting with a paranormal chaser, the 21-and-older Drafts with the Dead experience runs Fridays through October 23 at 7 p.m., pairing a guided beer tasting and small bites with a mini ghost hunt and beer to take home. The spread includes house-made red pepper hummus with pita, vegetables with ranch and creamy balsamic, and corn tortilla chips with salsa fresca. Those tickets are $45, and you can purchase them here. 1340 E. Eighth St., Suite 104, Tempe, fourpeaks.com
Now Until October 31: The Haunted Pedaler
Arizona Party Bike makes the trip between Halloween bars the gist of the party, with a decorated bike and a soundtrack fit for the season. The daily Old Town crawl stops at the 50 Shades Halloween bar pop-up, where the menu includes Graveyard Chicken Enchilada Dip, Bat Wings, and a Freak Show Patty Melt.
The Wheel of Misfortune serves eight mystery Jell-O shots, while the Candy Corn Creeper combines Smirnoff Whipped vodka with grenadine, pineapple, and citrus. The Apple Pie Scream pairs spiced apple punch with a vanilla milkshake and cinnamon pie chips. Plus, there’s candy on board for anyone whose trick-or-treating days are behind them. A motor assist lends the pedaling a hand, and drinks for the ride can be purchased at the departure point. 7034 E. Osborn Rd., Scottsdale, arizonapartybike.com
Fridays and Saturdays Through November 28: Spooks, Spirits & Speakeasy with Get Ghosted
Get Ghosted’s downtown Phoenix walking tour saves its bar stop for the finale, when the group enters an underground speakeasy before it opens to the public for a private ghost hunt. Along the way, the approximately two-hour tour visits landmarks including Rosson House and Hanny’s, trading in the stories attached to the past and even reading ghost letters at Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel.
The experience is for guests 21 and older and costs $49, with cocktails purchased separately. Tours begin at 6:30 p.m., and October 31 is excluded from the schedule. Meet at Rosson House, 113 N. Sixth St., Phoenix, getghostedphx.com
Now Until November 1: Drunk Dracula at The Rose Theatre
Count on some comic chaos at The Rose Theatre, where the creators of Drunk Shakespeare set one intoxicated actor loose in Bram Stoker’s vampire tale. Audience participation adds to the unpredictability, and Dracula-inspired cocktails are available for purchase. The 90-minute show is for guests 21 and older (tickets from $49) and runs through November 1. 455 N. Third St., Suite 1010, Phoenix, drunkdracula.com
Now Until November 1: Glowing Pumpkins and Apocalypse Rawhide
On select night Rawhide’s Glowing Pumpkins gives dinner an illuminated backdrop, with food vendors and a full-service bar accompanying a walk through that includes over 5,000 carved art pumpkins. The displays run from dinosaurs to Halloween characters, and the experience is designed without jump scares, making this the gentler of Rawhide’s two seasonal options.
On the spookier side, Apocalypse Rawhide supplies the zombies and laser-tag-style shooting through October 31; it is recommended for ages 13 and older, and children 5 and younger are not admitted. Instead, bring the littles to Glowing Pumpkins, which continues on select nights through October 31. 5700 W. North Loop Rd., Chandler, glowingpumpkins.com
A Date With Halloween
October 17: Witches Brew Tea Party at The Farm at South Mountain
The cauldron is a teapot at this afternoon gathering on the Botanica Patio, where Janelle of From the Heart guides guests through three organic herbal blends. The 1 to 3 p.m. tea party includes local sourdough bites and a make-your-own tea-blend bar, with a vintage teacup to take home.
Families can return October 24 for a Spooky Fairy Gardens workshop from 10 to 11 a.m., then purchase a picnic lunch separately from The Farm Kitchen. 6106 S. 32nd St., Phoenix, thefarmatsouthmountain.com
October 22 to 25 and 29 to November 1: Eerie Elegance Afternoon Tea at The Phoenician
The Phoenician is giving afternoon tea a ghostly turn, with Halloween touches worked into its house-made pastries and savory bites. Scones remain part of the ritual, making this a chance to take your spooky season with a little ceremony. Prices range from $80 to $190 per person, with seating times available between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and again between 2 and 5 p.m. Reservations are required. 6000 E. Camelback Rd., Scottsdale, thephoenician.com
October 24: Spooky Blast in Fountain Hills
Dinner can come from a food truck before the candy collecting at Four Peaks Park. Fountain Hills’ free Spooky Blast runs from 5 to 8 p.m., with more than 25 booths offering games and treats, plus an inflatable corn maze and a DJ. Costumes are encouraged, and the food trucks give families a place to refuel between rounds. Four Peaks Park, 14789–14827 N. Del Cambre Ave., Fountain Hills, experiencefountainhills.org
October 28: Wig & Wing Wednesday at Title 9
A wig is all the costume you need for Title 9’s Wednesday gathering, which pairs wings with a best-wig contest from 4 to 8 p.m. The Phoenix sports bar is offering a prize for the winning hairpiece, so this is the moment to give that extravagant one in the back of the closet an airing. 4221 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix, titleninesportsgrill.com
October 29: Pumpkin Carving at Four Peaks
Pumpkin Porter is doing double duty at Four Peaks’ carving party. Here, a 32-ounce pitcher comes with the $12 entry, along with a slice of Pumpkin Porter Cheesecake. Carvers must be 21 or older and bring their own pumpkin, tools, and candle for the 5 to 8 p.m. event. The competition is capped at 60 entries, with $650 in prizes, and spectators are welcome to watch the jack-o’-lanterns take shape. 1340 E. Eighth St., Suite 104, Tempe, fourpeaks.com
October 30 to November 1: Halloween Paint & Sip and Cocktails at Carcara
Carcara’s Halloween Paint & Sip pairs seasonal bites with a guided tasting of Angel’s Envy bourbon from Sheraton Phoenix Downtown’s proprietary barrel on October 30 at 5 p.m. ($35 per person). Artist Carmen Bradford leads the Halloween painting session, with all supplies and a welcome cocktail included. Guests get to take their canvases home, and costumes are encouraged.
The spirits stay on the menu October 30 through November 1, from 4 to 10 p.m., with two cocktails ($10 each). The Phoenix Cauldron combines Tito’s vodka, Aperol, sparkling cider, prickly pear syrup, cactus jelly, and black salt with a smoky finish. Smoke of the Departed mixes Del Maguey mezcal with orange bitters, agave, cherry juice, and mesquite smoke. 320 N. Third St., Phoenix, carcararestaurant.com
Halloween Cookie Decorating at The Farm at South Mountain | October 31
The Halloween handiwork is edible at this all-ages cookie-decorating class with Lindsey of Sweet 17 Cookies. Held on the Botanica Patio from 10 a.m. to noon, the $50 workshop gives the morning’s sugar a creative assignment. Reserve through The Farm’s event page. 6106 S. 32nd St., Phoenix, thefarmatsouthmountain.com
October 31: Halloween Risotto Class at Pizzicata
A pot of butternut squash risotto is a persuasive reason to spend Halloween morning at the stove. Pizzicata’s Glendale class begins at 11 a.m. and works gorgonzola into the autumn dish, with costumes welcome at the lesson. The $79 prepaid ticket includes the class and tasting, a glass of wine, a salad, and cannoli, so there’s a proper lunch at the end of the stirring. Book here. 19420 N. 59th Ave., Suite C112, Glendale, carefree.pizzicatausa.com
October 31: Halloween Brunch Party at JING
JING is putting $1,000 behind the winning costume at its Halloween brunch, with prizes for second and third place, too. Chef Thomas Griese’s weekend menu includes Ube Buttermilk Pancakes with ube maple syrup and vanilla butter, alongside Pumpkin-Spiced Croissant Doughnuts.
A resident DJ supplies the brunch soundtrack from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Add on a JING Bloody Mary or Blood Orange Highball, and the table has something to toast with while the costumes make the rounds. 10605 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, jingrestaurant.com
October 31: Dollyween at Sidewinder
Sidewinder gives Halloween a Dolly Parton twist. Think country disco and singalongs running from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. and an $8 Jolene cocktail with sweet tea vodka, peach, and ginger. For $7 you can order the Dolly Dog to eat, a frightfully messy sloppy joe hot dog which, like the icon herself, hits all the right notes.
Horror movies play on old tube televisions amid cobwebs and red light, but the costume contest belongs to the best Dolly. The winner is announced at 11 p.m. and scores a $250 bar tab. 924 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, sidewinderphx.com
October 31: Queeroween at Boycott Bar
The Melrose bar gives Halloween revelers a place to take an elaborate look out for a drink, with a costume competition adding a little extra incentive to finish the costume before the last minute. In fact, at Boycott Bar’s Queeroween event, you could win a $1,000 prize just for dressing to the holiday nines. 4301 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix, boycottbarphx.com
October 31: Halloween Night at The Phoenician
Want a little Halloween adventure? Try the Legend of the Lost Monk, which sends guests 21 and older across The Phoenician following clues to find the monk. Of course there’s drinking too, and plenty of festive cocktails at stops including J&G Steakhouse and Mowry & Cotton. Reservations are $80 plus tax and gratuity, and the fun runs from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Then, over at The Thirsty Camel, A Wicked Affair brings out the macabre for dancing from 8 to 11 p.m. Book one of the reserved fire pits, it includes not only a warm place to park, but a bottle of Gruet sparkling wine. The Phoenician Tavern also has its own event, the Monster Mash dueling-piano party from 8 to 10 p.m. Naturally costumes are encouraged, and there is no cover charge. 6000 E. Camelback Rd., Scottsdale, thephoenician.com
Gourd Times in Phoenix and October Feasts
Now Until November 1: Harvest in the Heritage District
Downtown Gilbert has put pumpkins on the itinerary between restaurant stops, with Ray Villafane’s characters turning the Great Gilbert Gourd Hunt into a walk through local stories.
Pick up takeout for the free Water Tower Plaza concerts on October 15, 22, and 29 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., or watch Villafane carve on October 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For a day devoted to grazing, Flavors of Gilbert runs
Now Until October 31: Oktoberfest Menu at CRAFT 64
CRAFT 64 has found a way to give pizza a Bavarian accent this month. Its Flammekueche layers smoked sausage over garlic-rosemary cream cheese on an everything-bagel crust, while another seasonal pizza brings fig jam and cream cheese into the picture. Pair one with the brewery’s Oktoberfest beer, then follow it with Bavarian cream cannoli finished with honey. 6922 E. Main St., Scottsdale; 68 W. Buffalo St., Chandler, craft64.com
Now Until October 31: Pumpkin Fest & Corn Maze at Mortimer Farms
For a pumpkin outing beyond the Valley, Mortimer Farms in Dewey pairs its corn maze with food from the Windmill Kitchen and the farm’s bakery and deli. The festival also brings weekend food vendors, with the farm providing plenty to explore. Admission and food are purchased separately, and the ticket calendar lists each day’s offerings. 12907 E. State Route 169, Dewey, mortimerfarmsaz.com
October 9 to 11: Four Peaks Oktoberfest at Tempe Beach Park
Tempe Beach Park trades jack-o’-lanterns for steins during this three-day Oktoberfest, with German food and beer accompanying live music. The festival opens at 5 p.m. Friday and at noon Saturday and Sunday, running until midnight the first two nights and 10 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free for everyone on Sunday and for guests 20 and younger throughout the weekend. 80 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe, fourpeaksoktoberfest.com
October 17, 22, and 24: Fall Festivities at ADERO Scottsdale
ADERO brings a beer garden to its Four Peaks Lawn for its own Oktoberfest on October 17, from 6 to 10 p.m., with dark beer-braised pork belly and German sausages on the buffet, plus beer and live entertainment ($165).
Art Uncorked follows on October 22 at 6 p.m., when Michael Padilla finishes a featured work during a three-course wine dinner with pairings selected by Master Sommelier Robert R. Smith ($135). The free Harvest Market on October 24, from noon to 4 p.m., brings Fountain Hills artisans and food vendors including Cafe Bliss and Graze Craze. 13225 N. Eagle Ridge Dr., Scottsdale, aderoscottsdale.com
October 31: Sip, Savor, Shop at Salt River Fields
Consider this an adult alternative to collecting candy door-to-door. A ticket to a taste of az’s festival includes unlimited food samples and 15 drink tickets. The 21-and-older event brings restaurants and Arizona beverage producers to the East Lawn at Salt River Fields, with shopping woven between the tastings.
General admission ($99) begins at 1:30 p.m.; VIP entry ($119) starts at noon; and the festival finishes at 5 p.m. 7555 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale, atasteofaz.com
Halloween Treats for the Budget
October 30 to November 1: Pita Jungle
Pita Jungle’s Halloween weekend offer gives families a meal before the candy sorting begins. A child’s meal is free with the purchase of an adult entrée for dine-in guests at participating locations; restrictions apply. Multiple locations, www.pitajungle.com
October 30 to November 1: Over Easy
Start the Halloween weekend with breakfast before throwing on that costume. Kids eat free at Over Easy, with one free child’s meal per adult entrée ordered; the offer is for dine-in visits and cannot be combined with other offers. Multiple locations, eatatovereasy.com
October 30 to November 1: Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill
The Halloween dinner plan can be as simple as takeout. Wokstar Rewards members receive 20% off orders placed online or through the app with code BOO, leaving more time for the evening’s preparations. The offer cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. 9397 E. Shea Blvd., Suite 125, Scottsdale; and 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Phoenix, lingandlouies.com
