20+ Spookiest Halloween Bars in NYC (2025)
Alright, let’s be real. Your Halloween costume is only half the battle. The real challenge is finding a spot that matches your energy, because nobody wants to waste a good costume in a bar with a couple of sad plastic skeletons in the corner. Forget the guesswork. We’ve got your guide to the actual best Halloween bars in NYC, from the genuinely creepy to the ridiculously over-the-top.
Note: Seasonal decorations, pop-up dates, and hours are based on previous years and are subject to change for the 2025 season. Please check the official websites and social media for the most current information before you go.
20+ Best Halloween Bars in NYC
Beetle House NYC
This is the ultimate year-round Halloween theme restaurant. Inspired by the works of Tim Burton, Beetle House NYC is a goth fantasy come to life. With cocktails like “The Beetle’s Juice” and characters roaming the room, it is an immersive experience every day of the year, but it truly shines in October.
- Price: $$$
- Cuisine: American
- Location: 308 E 6th St, New York
- Contact: https://beetlehousenyc.com | 646-510-4786 | info@beetlehousenyc.com
- Pro Tip: Reservations are practically essential, especially during the Halloween season. Book weeks, or even months, in advance if you can.
Loreley Beer Garden
Every fall, Loreley’s massive heated outdoor patio transforms into the “Haunted Beer Garden.” Expect hundreds of pumpkins, spooky skeletons, and festive decor everywhere you look. They offer seasonal drinks like pumpkin kegs and specialty cocktails.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: German
- Location: 7 Rivington St, New York
- Contact: https://www.loreleynyc.com | info@loreleynyc.com
- Pro Tip: They sometimes offer a Halloween brunch NYC special, making it a great daytime spot before the evening crowds arrive.
Lillie’s Victorian Establishment
Lillie’s feels like you are stepping into a haunted Victorian mansion year-round, making it one of the city’s top spooky bars NYC. During Halloween, they amplify the elaborate decor with ghoulish details, turning an already ornate space into a spooky masterpiece.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: American / Pub Fare
- Location: 249 W 49th St, New York, NY (Times Square)
- Contact: https://www.lilliesnyc.com | 212-957-4530
- Pro Tip: The Times Square location is larger, but the Union Square spot often feels a bit cozier and less tourist-heavy.
Oscar Wilde
The sister bar to Lillie’s, Oscar Wilde boasts NYC’s longest bar and an equally impressive Victorian-era design. It is dripping with antiques, chandeliers, and marble. For Halloween, they layer on the cobwebs and skeletons for a sophisticated but spooky atmosphere.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: American / Pub Fare
- Location: 45 W 27th St, New York
- Contact: https://www.oscarwildenyc.com | (212) 213-3066
- Pro Tip: It gets very crowded on weekends. Try visiting on a weekday evening to fully appreciate the decorations without the mob.
White Horse Tavern
When people ask, “What is the most iconic bar in New York?,” White Horse Tavern is always in the conversation. This historic bar opened in 1880 and is rumored to be haunted by the ghost of poet Dylan Thomas, who drank here shortly before his death. It is a genuine piece of spooky history.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Pub Fare
- Location: 567 Hudson St, New York
- Contact: https://www.whitehorsetavern1880.com | (332) 286-1970 |
- Pro Tip: The bar doesn’t need extra decorations to feel haunted. Grab a seat at the bar and soak in the centuries of history.
House of Wax
Located within the Alamo Drafthouse theater in Brooklyn, House of Wax is a bar surrounded by a stunning, slightly creepy collection of 19th-century wax figures. It is a museum and a cocktail lounge in one, with a dark, academic vibe.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Bar Snacks
- Location: 445 Albee Square W #445, Brooklyn
- Contact: @houseofwaxbar
- Pro Tip: You can grab a drink and wander through the collection, making it a great pre-movie or post-movie stop.
Lucky 13 Saloon
If your version of Halloween is more goth and metal than ghosts and goblins, this is your spot. This Gowanus institution is festive year-round, combining heavy metal with horror movie decor, from B-movie screenings to a severed head on the back bar. It is a true dive with inexpensive drinks and a crowd that’s always ready for a good time.
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Drinks only
- Location: 644 Sackett St, Brooklyn
- Contact: https://www.lucky13saloon.com | (718) 596-0666
- Pro Tip: Check their schedule for live music or themed DJ nights, which are especially fun around Halloween.
McSorley’s Old Ale House
Opened in 1854, McSorley’s feels like a time capsule. The floors are covered in sawdust, the walls are layered with history, and the vibe is unchanged. While not explicitly spooky, its sheer age and collection of wishbones hanging above the bar give it a ghostly presence.
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Simple Pub Fare (cheese and crackers)
- Location: 15 E 7th St, New York
- Contact: https://mcsorleysoldalehouse.nyc |
- Pro Tip: Your only two drink choices are “Light” or “Dark” ale. Order “one of each” to try both.
Sleepy Hollow a Go Go
This seasonal pop-up bar has become a fan favorite. Inspired by the legend of Sleepy Hollow, the decor is rustic and spooky, with plenty of pumpkins, scarecrows, and Headless Horseman references. The cocktail names are always cleverly themed.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Bar Snacks
- Location: Varies, often in the East Village or Lower East Side.
- Contact: Check their Instagram page @sleepyhollowagogo for the 2025 location.
- Pro Tip: This is a pop-up, so its location and dates are only for the season. Follow their social media for the official opening announcement.
The Headless Horseman
Another fantastic seasonal pop-up, this spot in the West Village offers a dark and cozy pub atmosphere. They fully commit to the theme with great decorations, a spooky cocktail list, and a fun, festive crowd.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Pub Fare
- Location: 778 Broadway, Route 9W Ulster Park, NY
- Contact: https://headlesshorseman.com | (845) 339-2666 | info@headlesshorseman.com
- Pro Tip: This bar can get very packed. Aim for a weeknight visit for a better chance of grabbing a table and enjoying the ambiance.
Johnny’s Bar
This West Village dive is a local secret that puts on an impressive, over-the-top Halloween display every year. From the outside, you might not expect it, but inside it is a maximalist explosion of spooky, campy decorations.
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Drinks only
- Location: 90 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011
- Contact: (212) 741-5279
- Pro Tip: This is a cash-only bar, so come prepared. It is a great place to experience a true neighborhood Halloween vibe.
Burp Castle
For a different kind of spooky, try Burp Castle. This small Belgian beer bar has a monastery theme, with bartenders sometimes dressed in monk robes and a strict “shushing” policy for loud talkers. The enforced quiet and medieval art create a uniquely eerie and reverent atmosphere.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Drinks only
- Location: 41 E 7th St, New York
- Contact: (212) 982-4576
- Pro Tip: This is not the place for a rowdy Halloween party. Go with a small group that appreciates good beer and a quiet, quirky vibe.
Paradise Lost
This is not your average tiki bar. Paradise Lost is a full-on psychobilly island escape for grown-ups, with ghoulish personality packed into every corner. The cocktail menu is wild, ranging from a perfect piña colada to dangerously creative concoctions with ingredients like fermented milk and real blood. It’s an expert spot that feels both mysterious and welcoming.
- Price: $$$
- Cuisine: Tiki / Small Plates
- Location: 100 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
- Contact: https://www.paradiselost.nyc | lost@paradiselost.nyc
- Pro Tip: There’s no storefront sign and they do not take reservations. It is seating-room only, so if the bar is full, you will have to wait.
Black Lagoon Pop-Up
For one month only, this adorable Brooklyn neighborhood spot goes full goth. The Black Lagoon pop-up cranks the Halloween decor way up with a spooky soundtrack and servers dressed in black. The entire cocktail menu gets a horrifying transformation, with creative drinks served in bizarre glassware.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Bar Snacks / Small Plates
- Location: 364 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217
- Contact: @blacklagoonpopup
- Pro Tip: Check their schedule for special events. They often host spooky drag shows on Wednesdays and a Disney Villain drag brunch on the last Sunday of the month.
Madame X
This lounge feels like a vampire’s private bordello, draped in crimson velvet and lit with a sultry red glow. It’s a sexy, atmospheric spot that is perfect for the Anne Rice crowd. While not overtly Halloween-themed, the vampy, libidinous vibe is undeniable, making it a great place for a coven meetup or a dark date night.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Drinks only
- Location: 94 W Houston St, New York
- Contact: https://www.madamex.com | (212) 539-0808 | alex@madamex.com
- Pro Tip: This is a wonderfully inclusive and welcoming LGBTQIA+ and kink-friendly space that isn’t explicitly a gay bar.
Flying Fox Tavern
This Ridgewood charmer is the perfect mix of adorable and spooky. It is a friendly neighborhood pub with tasteful goth and vampy decor. The cocktail menu cleverly honors famous vampires with drinks that are simple and well-made. It is one of the few perennially spooky spots that also serves a full menu of great pub food.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Pub Fare
- Location: 678 Woodward Ave, Ridgewood
- Contact: https://www.flyingfoxtavern.com | 718.673.6384 | flyingfoxtavern@gmail.com
- Pro Tip: Weekend nights can fill up fast. Try to slide in around 6:30 p.m. to grab a seat before the main rush.
Witching Hour
Dipping a toe into the occult, this Bushwick cocktail bar is as adorable as it is mysterious. The low lighting, tarot-inspired art, and menu of “potions” create a cozy, magical vibe without taking itself too seriously. It is somewhere between a friendly witch’s cottage and a secret pagan ritual, perfect for a flickering candlelit date.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Snacks
- Location: 1312 Decatur St, Brooklyn
- Contact: https://www.witchinghourbk.com | 201-305-9485 | info@witchinghourbk.com
- Pro Tip: This is an ideal spot if you want to camp out with a book and a good cocktail. Monday night is karaoke night.
Altar
This Crown Heights spot is a “martini chapel,” and it feels like one. The decor is all stained glass, candlelight, and dungeon-like walls, creating a vibe that is elegant with a sinister undercurrent. It is a tasteful and adult martini bar where the gothic touches create an undeniably spooky effect as the night goes on.
- Price: $$$
- Cuisine: Small Plates / American
- Location: 645 Sterling Pl, Brooklyn
- Contact: https://altarnyc.com
- Pro Tip: Weeknights are great for intimate date nights and martini flights, while weekends are for late-night revelry.
The Keep
This Ridgewood bar is a veritable cave of curiosities, filled with antiques, oddities, and taxidermy. While not trying to be a haunted house, the sheer amount of old, strange stuff can definitely give you that “did you hear that?” feeling in the dim light. Halloween simply amplifies the wonderfully witchy energy.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Drinks only
- Location: 205 Cypress Ave, Ridgewood, NY
- Contact: https://www.thekeepny.com | (718) 381-0400 | thekeepny@gmail.com
- Pro Tip: Bring cash. Also, check their calendar for live gypsy-jazz and DJ nights. Nearly everything you see is for sale.
The Auction House
This Upper East Side lounge is a Victorian-inspired hideaway with chandeliers, velvet furniture, and a fireplace that feels fit for a summoning. It is more romantic and vibey than outright creepy, but the low light and salon-style art give it a definite spirit, especially during Halloween season.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: Drinks only
- Location: 300 E 89th St, New York, NY 10128
- Contact: http://theauctionhousenyc.com | theauctionhousenyc@gmail.com
- Pro Tip: The entrance is unmarked, making it feel like a secret. Note that on weekends, it is strictly 25 and over.
Greenwood Park
This sprawling indoor/outdoor beer hall has one of the spookiest locations on the list. Why? It is just steps away from the main entrance to the historic Green-Wood Cemetery. In October, it hosts a huge pumpkin patch, making it the perfect fall destination.
- Price: $$
- Cuisine: American / Pub Fare
- Location: 555 7th Ave, Brooklyn
- Contact: https://www.greenwoodparkbk.com
- Pro Tip: Do a pumpkin run, then take a golden-hour stroll through the beautiful cemetery paths before circling back for wings and a beer.
The answer to “Is New York good at Halloween?” is a definite yes. The city’s energy is unmatched, and finding the best Halloween bars in NYC is the perfect way to get into the spirit of the season.
See More Spooky Sights
Once you have had your fill of spooky cocktails, why not take a walk to see how New Yorkers decorate their homes? Check out our guide on the best neighborhoods to see incredible Halloween displays: Where To See The Best Halloween Decorations In NYC.
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