15 Best Los Angeles Restaurants And Bars To Celebrate Halloween 2022
As soon as the weather gets cooler and everyone puts away their shorts and T-shirts, it's hard not to slip into a funk. Luckily, the first big holiday of the fall and winter seasons fast approaches, and stores start stocking Halloween decorations, candy, and costumes as soon as the first leaf hits the ground (and sometimes even before). Just when you start to get excited for the big day, a pang of fear strikes your heart. What will you do on Halloween? Stay in and watch scary movies? Go to a party?
Well, fear not. We've scoured the city to find the most fun and festive bars, restaurants, and parties for whatever kind of Halloween you have in mind. There's a bit of everything from huge, raging parties to cute and fun themed tea parties. Whatever your speed, pick up your costume, break out the candy, and get ready to revel in the spooky spirit.
House of Spirits
Starting strong is a fun and immersive Halloween theater experience called House of Spirits. It's called a haunted cocktail soiree, and it's going on from October 15 to Halloween night. It's housed in Casa Vertigo, the old Masonic temple originally built in 1926. With vintage Beaux-Arts and Spanish Revival architecture, it offers the perfect canvas to become transformed into Vaughn Hall, where a chilling mystery reveals a sinister truth about the untimely demise of an entire family. According to the website, guests can "freely exploring the house, sipping on cocktails and socializing with the spirits, or they can take their experience to a deeper level by participating in ancient rituals and macabre activities to uncover the haunted history of the home."
There are varying hours, so check the website. It lasts for two hours and includes drinks (depending on the type of ticket purchased), as well as a chocolate truffle pairing. Costumes are highly encouraged and time period, costume, or elegant dress are recommended. Ticket prices vary as well, with different price tiers offering more cocktails and other extras.
Short Stop
The party never stops at the Short Stop, a neighborhood bar and club in Echo Park. There are themed music and dance parties every night of the week. Technically, it's a Dodgers bar, and scores of baseball fans pack the place before home games. However, every night at 10 p.m., the DJs start spinning and the party starts. For this year's Halloween, the Short Stop has planned a groovy party that all kinds of Angelenos can enjoy.
Every Monday, there's a "Motown on Mondays" standing event and since Halloween falls on a Monday this year, the venue is throwing its annual Thriller Night, with a costume contest and prizes (and no cover). You can expect the musical slate to include Motown classics, covers, and deep cuts so you can boogie down until the wee hours. There are no tickets to buy ahead of time, just show up and groove the night away.
Bar Sinister
There are plenty of standard-issue nightclubs in Los Angeles and Hollywood that attract exactly the kind of crowd you would expect. The alternative crowd heads over to Bar Sinister, located just off Hollywood Boulevard, where the recommended attire is "Gothic-Gaultier-Chic, Alternative/Upscale Black, Fab-Fetish or Futuristic." Located off a hidden back alley and only open on Saturday nights, Bar Sinister is a fun place to get dressed up and mingle with a non-judgmental group of self-proclaimed freaks and misfits.
Bar Sinister is hosting its annual Ghostly Halloween Ball on October 29th from 10 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. There will be a costume contest (first prize wins $300), spooky go-go dancers, and more. Tickets are $25 if purchased presale and $30 at the door. People tend to go all-out on costumes at this funky, festive establishment, so don't be shy. Make an evening of it and have dinner across the street at The Musso & Frank Grill before heading in.
Beetle House
Another themed bar in Los Angeles is Beetle House, a "year-round celebration of Halloween with an artistic and thematic atmosphere inspired by horror culture, magic and the artistic, literary and cinematic works of Tim Burton, Alfred Hitchcock, Bram Stoker, Washington Irving, Edgar Allen Poe, and many, many more," according to the website. You can expect a sort of dressed-up Halloween party, where most people will be dressed in costume, even when it isn't Halloween.
It's a mix between a supper club and a theater experience. All the food and drinks have a certain spooky theme, with names like "Coco Skellington" and "Frankenfries." A three-course meal costs $55 and is required for entry. There is also a sister restaurant called Karnevil, which has a haunted carnival theme and sideshow performers like contortionists and acrobats. While neither location has announced any Halloween-specific events, the vibe is to treat every day like it's Halloween so don't hesitate to show up costumed and ready to celebrate.
Scum and Villainy
There is more to Halloween than just spooks and spirits. Nerds and geeks of all kinds were so excited when Scum and Villainy opened as a pop-up bar in Los Angeles. Now, it's here to stay as the owners have decided to keep the doors open for the foreseeable future. No specific Halloween events are going on, but costumes are welcome every day at this bar designed to look like the Mos Eisley Cantina from Star Wars.
Just because the name and design are based on Star Wars, fans of any element of geek culture are welcome. You'll find craft drinks and food based on classic characters, with drinks named things like "Dracarys" and "Asgardian Ale." If this seems up your alley, grab your lightsaber and head over. There's no need to buy tickets anymore, the doors are open to all from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. (and brunch on Sundays starting at 11 a.m.).
Velverie Café and Teahouse
For a Halloween event a little more on the tame side, check out the Halloween Tea at the Velverie. The Velverie is a European-style tea house in Beverly Hills, known for serving gorgeous spreads for afternoon tea and brunch. This year, the spot is offering Halloween Tea on October 29 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be specially-crafted fall food items like butternut squash soup, turkey and cranberry sandwiches, and candy corn parfaits, as well as tea, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks. Of course, it wouldn't be a tea service without tea and there are plenty of options to choose from.
You have to pre-reserve a table for this fun event and the cost is $80 per person. Reservations are required and space is limited so book one of these tables as soon as you can. The tea is kid-friendly, but both children and adults alike will love the spooky atmosphere the Velverie is preparing this year.
The London West Hollywood
For another Halloween tea service, check out The London Hotel in Beverly Hills. The Boxwood Dining Room hosts afternoon tea service on the weekends for those who enjoy this elegant tradition. This year for Halloween the bar has decided to throw its first Annual Spooky Tea inspired by the movie Hocus Pocus and the Sanderson Sisterson October 29. The tea is kid-friendly and costumes are encouraged. There will be special Halloween-themed treats and snacks as well as a harpist to set the spooky score.
Tickets are $84 for adults and $42 for children under 12 years old. Tickets have to be reserved in advance via Open Table. The selection of teas will be top-notch, all sourced from the Rare Tea Company. There will also be alcoholic beverages, like champagne, for those interested in imbibing. It is sure to be a grand affair with a whole bunch of Halloween fun thrown in.
The Hollywood Roosevelt
The iconic Hollywood hotel the Roosevelt is hosting its annual Halloween bash on October 29 and 30. Located in the Tropicana, this Halloween event features DJs, VIP table packages, spooky decor, and a fully stocked bar and restaurant serving up tasty sips and treats. It starts at 9 p.m. and is sure to last long into the night. Tickets start at $75 ($65 if you get in on the presale) but go all the way up to $3,850 for a package that includes 12 tickets plus a table close to the stage, three bottles of liquor, three bottles of champagne, plus water and mixers.
Earlier in the night, over in the Roosevelt Theater, is On The Fringe, a cabaret-style show that's a "little bit Weimar, a little bit punk, a little bit burlesque, and all attitude." Choose one, or both, depending on your energy level and enthusiasm for the holiday (there is also a movie night by the pool if you want something a bit more tame).
Petite Hermitage
Not all Halloween events are cocktail bars and crowded nightclubs. For a quieter Halloween experience, book a room at Petit Hermitage Hotel and make sure to add on the special Halloween package. The package includes "specialty cauldron cocktails," a trick-or-treat turndown service, Halloween candy, and a $75 food and beverage credit to use in the hotel or on-room service. The hotel has a private rooftop saltwater pool if you feel like venturing out of the room, as well as a sunken fire deck, the Butterfly Bar, the Hummingbird Garden, and the Masters Lounge.
This is definitely the option to pick for a Halloween far away from crowds and with not a kid in sight. Beyond just the regular experience of the hotel, there are a few fun features. Every Sunday the hotel hosts a live jazz band in the Wiggle Room and on Wednesday and Friday nights on the roof Mistress Mischel performs tarot and palm readings.
The Mondrian
The hip and trendy crowd in West Hollywood flock to the fourteenth floor of the Mondrian hotel to the Skybar. By day, it's a chic and sun-blasted rooftop pool with views of the city, but by night it's a swanky nightclub, with DJs like Diplo spinning sets well into the night. There is a stacked calendar for the Halloween weekend, starting off on Friday, October 28 with The Hustle, a disco-themed Halloween party. The night will be inspired by the music of artists like The Commodores, ABBA, and Michael Jackson.
The weekend continues with a Haunted Carnival, with music by Eric Sharp, on Saturday and the Skybar Halloween Party on All Hallow's Eve itself. The doors open at 8 p.m. and if you want a guaranteed spot, book a table. Ticket prices range from $20 for general admission to the Halloween Party to $2,500 for the couch table VIP, which provides 10 tickets for the entire weekend, plus a couch table and four bottles of premium vodka, tequila, whiskey, or champagne.
Olvera Street
Olvera Street near downtown Los Angeles is a love letter to the city's Mexican residents. From October 25 to November 2, the street will host its annual Dia De Los Muertos festival. This holiday honors the dead and offers a way for people to offer remembrance to their deceased loved ones. Traditionally, there are elaborate altars (called ofrendas) made to guide the spirits home and marigolds, whose pungent smell can help the spirits find their way.
There are events daily on Olvera Street during the festival, with traditional Mayan blessings and soul cleansings taking place before a procession with Aztec dancers and Grupo Tartalejos, an indigenous Aztec group leading the way with ceremonial incense. All in attendance will get free sweet bread (a traditional snack of the holiday) and beverages provided by De La Calle. There will be live entertainment, face painting, theatrical performances, and more. Check the full event line-up to choose which day to attend, or just show up and be surprised.
The Globe Theater
Old-school-movie-palace-turned nightclub The Globe Theater has a full weekend of Halloween events for the party crowd. Friday and Saturday (the 28 and 29) are the Halloween Ball, hosted by the Boulet Brothers. There's a costume contest with a grand prize of $1,000, as well as multiple stages across three levels with headliners like Trixie Mattel and Twin Temple. Expect an immersive puppet theater, a pumpkin carving beer garden, Halloween-themed carnival games, a seance room with fortune tellers and psychics, and much more.
Tickets for general admission start at $40, but tickets go up from there for special perks like VIP no-waiting access to get in and a private opera box that overlooks the ballroom and includes two premium bottles of alcohol. If this doesn't seem like your scene, on Sunday there's an electronic and Reggaeton event (costumes encouraged) and another event the night of Halloween called Heav3n Goes To H3ll, with 30+ artists spinning music until late.
Cicada Club
Feeling more Great Gatsby than Grim Reaper this year? Located in the historic Oviatt building, the art deco era-themed supper club, the Cicada Club, in downtown Los Angeles is throwing a vintage Halloween costume party, inspired by old Hollywood nightclubs like The Coconut Grove and The Mocambo. On October 29, Dean Mora and his haunted musicians will be playing tunes from the '30s and '40s perfect for doing the Foxtrot or the Charleston.
The club does have a dress code, and its website suggests business, evening, vintage, conservative, formal, and elegant attire. You can buy tickets for standing room only to enjoy the music and dance the night away, or book a table to have a bite to eat and a reserved table. Dinner reservations include a prix fixe, three-course meal with options like a grilled branzino with roasted rosemary potatoes, fresh caprese salad, or cream strawberry cheesecake.
Haunted Little Tokyo
Downtown in Little Tokyo there's a special haunted event going down on Saturday, October 29. The Little Tokyo Ghost Club is throwing a block party at a secret location in Little Tokyo that will be revealed upon check-in at Brunswig Square (360 E. 2nd Street). Admission is free if you RVSP by Friday, October 28, at 9 p.m. The event will be like previous block parties and will feature DJs, drinks, food, and, of course, a costume contest, so dress to impress. It starts at 6 p.m. and lasts until midnight.
The event is "the brainchild of a new generation of Little Tokyo merchants. Like their predecessors, the driving impetus is the same: bring folks back to Little Tokyo," according to the Little Tokyo Community Council. The official borders of Little Tokyo are enclosed within downtown Los Angeles, south of the 101, and bordered on the East by the LA river. Public transportation is plentiful in this area, so leave the car at home.
Black Lagoon
Over at the Lost Property Bar in Hollywood is a spooktacular Halloween pop-up called Black Lagoon, with special themed cocktails to match the ambiance. For the rest of the year, Lost Property Bar is a whiskey bar with a "fun, speakeasy feel," but during Halloween, the bar transforms into the spooky, festive-themed Black Lagoon. According to the website, Black Lagoon is an "immersive, creep-as-hell experience that pays homage to the macabre and... goth and metal for good measure." The event is popping up in cities nationwide for the whole month of October, including right here in Los Angeles.
There's a full slate of Halloween-themed cocktails, with drinks like "Hexes For Your Exes," made with Lot 40 rye, Lustau Blanc Vermouth, kiwi, Chareau, and seltzer, or the "Nightwish," made of Reyka vodka, Lustau Fino, Giffard Banane, and lemon. Costumes are encouraged and the bar stays open until 2 a.m. all weekend long.