Spooky Season in Houston
Spooky season is in full swing, and to help Houstonians fully embrace Halloween, restaurants and bars have conjured up a plethora of creepy, yet flavorful cocktails, events, and pop-ups for the month. Though Halloween is fast approaching, there’s still time to partake in the spirited happenings around the city.
Creepy Cocktails in Montrose
Some would say that Betelgeuse embodies the holiday spirit year-round, but it’s taking it one step further this month with a limited-edition cocktail menu. At both locations, bargoers can channel their inner ogres with a Monster Smash, made with matcha gin, strawberry cheong syrup, lemon, and soda. Get gory with the Blood-Soaked Nightmarish Hellscape, a blend of frozen El Tesoro Single Barrel Reposado, coconut cream, lime, and homemade strawberry-flavored chamoy with a black salt rim. For a second stop in Montrose, make your way to Endless Bummer, a gothic tiki bar and speakeasy that has transformed into the Haunted Luau and is serving up themed cocktails, including the cleverly named Be Still My Heart, Doomscroller, and Pumpkinhead.
Spooky Delights in the Heights
Vampire enthusiasts should head to Best Regards for the spooky Murderita, a play on a classic margarita featuring Don Julio Blanco, passion fruit, lemon, sugar, and a red wine floater, plus a bloody red rim and dry ice, making for an Instagrammable moment. Through Halloween, enjoy the bar’s Nightmare on 11th Street theme, with electric beats on October 30 and 31. Then, on Saturday, November 1, the Heights watering hole transforms into its Day of the Dead celebration with even more live music, mariachi, fire dancers, and face-painting.
Haunted Pop-Ups in River Oaks
Alexis Mijares’s Halloween pop-up is back for its third year—this time, in her gothic bar, Botonica. From its luscious greenery to its captivating apothecary-inspired details and witchy decor, the dimly lit Cursed Cauldron is the definition of Halloween. Now through November 2, Houstonians can get their fix of spirits with cocktails like the Coven’s Calling, the bourbon-based Harvest Moon Punch, and the Lilith’s Lullaby. Don’t wait for the weekend; stop in on a Tuesday for a mini tarot reading or visit on Wednesday to catch the Bewitched Burlesque performance.
Halloween Fun in the Heights
Need Halloween movies to help you get in the spirit? For the rest of the month, diners can stop by Heights & Co.’s HalloweenTown for themed movie nights, s’mores boards, and themed cocktails. Channel your inner vampire with the Blood Bag Cosmo, made with vodka and blood orange. Get in touch with ghouls with the Grave Digger espresso martini, or try your luck with other potions like the Witches Brew Margarita. Reservations are recommended.
Downtown Delights
Through November 1, the local food hall’s upstairs bar transforms into a Spookeasy, spinning vinyl while serving concoctions like the gin-based Sin at the Finn, a brew of beet-apple chutney, lemon, and egg white, finished with a candied hibiscus flower. If you’re looking for something black like your soul, try the smoky Agave Cemetery. Learn to create your own cocktail experiments during Finn’s Special FX Mixology class, scheduled for Wednesday, October 29, or jam out to your own tunes at the BYOV (bring your own vinyl) night on Thursday, October 30.
More Spooky Spots in Montrose
Creep into Jethro’s Victorian gothic pop-up Dead Man’s Manor for sinister sips, like the Cursed Pumpkin, a fall-themed mix of rum, pumpkin spice, and Frangelico topped with espresso cold foam, or the mystical, gin-infused Garden of Eden. For more fun, visit on October 30 or Halloween for a costume party, DJs, and dancing.
The Marigold Club
Want a night filled with mystery? On Halloween night at this Goodnight Hospitality restaurant, a disguise could win you a prize. Dress up in your best costume for a chance to win tea for four, a $150 gift card, or a three-pack of wine. Chilling cocktails are a guarantee, including the Ripper’s Rose with apple brandy, the Zombie, made with rum, cinnamon, grapefruit, and bitters, and the black-hued Corpse Reviver No. 2, a blend of charcoal, gin, Lillet, absinthe, and lemon.
Conclusion
Houston has a plethora of spooky and fun events, pop-ups, and cocktails to offer this Halloween season. From creepy cocktails to haunted pop-ups, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re a vampire enthusiast or just looking for a fun night out, Houston’s got you covered. So, put on your best costume and get ready to experience the spookiest and most fun Halloween ever!
