Where to Eat, Drink and Be Scary This Halloween in Dallas

Looking for a 21 and up party for Halloween? Kids shouldn't get to have all the fun because, honestly, they're annoying. Many bars and restaurants around Dallas are set up to facilitate a true dose of fright, while other spots are creepy any day of the year with ghostly spirits and wicked vibes. Throw in some seasonal pop-up bars, and Dallas is already deep in the Halloween season.

Here are some local haunts that promise a haunting time. Also, if you're in the mood for some nice pastries, La Casita always has a great Halloween lineup. The bloody hand pie is killer.

Old Monk

2847 N. Henderson Ave.

This lovely old bar on Henderson Avenue has more than 100 pumpkins as of Wednesday afternoon waiting to be carved. (True story: pumpkins love being eviscerate and carved up.) At Old Monk, in addition to it being just a lovely place to spend an evening, pumpkin carving is for a good cause: pay $20 for a kit, pumpkin and a beer, and all proceeds go to the North Texas Food Bank and area schools.

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HIDE

1928 Greenville Ave.

HIDE restaurant and bar on Lower Greenville has a Halloween pop-up through Nov. 3. They got spider webs, caution tape, ghosts, dry ice and sassy skeletons. They also have a great burger, but we digress. They're having a costume party on the rooftop bar with contests, prizes and tattoos on Friday, Oct. 26.

Ayuascha

334 Jefferson Blvd.

This Esquire Best Bar in America for 2024 has a whole vibe 365 days a year. Dozens of candles in the dark, cozy space cast an eerie glow on the old brick walls, catrina art and bottles of booze that line the bar. The clarified margarita is the best cocktail in the city, and the traditional plates of authentic Mexican food are stellar. They're skipping Halloween (that's kids' stuff) and going straight to Dia de los Muertos (to honor the dead). Just go. But make reservations.

Roy G's

4001 Cedar Springs Road

Roy G's has candy corn-infused vodka. What else are you even doing? They also have drinks in blood bags. And mimosa towers. It's everything you need.

Saint Valentine and Black Swan Saloon

4800 Bryan St. and 1623 N. Hall St.

These two bars, about a mile apart in East Dallas, are owned by the same crew and are having a combo-meal Halloween Party with the theme Micheal versus Micheal. Black Swan is Micheal McDonald with yacht rock playing all night. Saint Valentine is doing a Michael Jackson theme, where DJ @djl_voska will wanna be startin' something. So, go to either place dressed as Micheal or Micheal for drink specials and a quirky good time.

House of Spirits: A Haunted Cocktail Soirée

The Alexander Mansion
4607 Ross Ave.

Through Nov. 2 you can visit The Alexander Mansion along Ross Avenue for a haunted soirée with House of Spirits, an immersive experience that started in Los Angeles in 2019. This year's Dallas event will tell the story of Cassa Vega while touching on Dallas' haunted history. Feels very Shining-ish. The website promises, "Attendees will descend into madness and occult rituals, inspired by the life and art of Spanish painter, Francisco Goya." Tickets start at $56 for early birds.

Ruins

2653 Commerce St.

You won’t find kitschy Halloween decor or ghost stories in the back pocket of the bartenders at Ruins. This Deep Ellum watering hole has an atmosphere that’s creepy all on its own every day of the year. The idea originates from "ruin pubs" around Budapest, which are abandoned buildings turned into bars. Look around the space, beyond the wall of agaves and rum behind the bar, and you’ll notice colorful demons and Our Lady of Guadalupe artwork along with dystopian relics, adding mystery and eeriness to those old brick walls. Soak it in with Mexican fare and tequila shots. Keep an eye on their socials for special fall events.

Quarter Bar

3301 McKinney Ave.

The Quarter Bar is bringing Halloween to McKinney Avenue with over-the-top decor, costume contests, on theme cocktails and baked goods. The party lasts daily Oct. 21-31; on Oct. 26 they'll have a DJ from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. with a costume contest at 10 p.m. (1st place gets a $250 gift card).

The Adolphus Hotel

1321 Commerce St.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Dallas’ oldest hotel is rumored to run rampant with ghosts. Mysterious deaths involving the hotel’s elevator shaft began just weeks after its opening in 1912, and a 1930s bride left at the altar haunts guests and hotel staff to this day with apparitions and auditory hallucinations. If you’re interested in taking home your own ghost story, stop by the social bar in the lobby for a bit of liquid courage first and check out the homemade history book with timelines and several poems about the supposed ghosts inside. Afterwards, explore at your own discretion. Just think twice before using the elevator.


Sons of Hermann Hall
3414 Elm St.
This historic venue doesn’t wait until October to turn up the spook factor; supernatural occurrences are common at Sons of Hermann Hall year-round. Not only is it the oldest bar in Dallas, it's the oldest freestanding wood structure in the DFW area. Factor in its 1911 construction, and a ghost or two is practically guaranteed. The Sons hosts a variety of weekly events, where spirits have been rumored to bring unexplained noises and eerie feelings to attendees. It's also one of the Observer's top 100 bars in Dallas.

Roy G’s
4001 Cedar Springs Road

Roy G’s was all in on All Hallows Eve last year with cocktails like the Bubble Toil and Trouble, a cauldron filled with Pama pomegranate, peach Schnapps, vodka, fresh lemon and Champagne served over dry ice. The Creepy Crawly 3some throws gummy worms and Midori melon together and is chased with a shot of blood-red Kool-Aid. Or try The Perfect Husband, a balance of strong and sweet, with just a little bit of spice. Follow Roy G's on Instagram for updates on what's up this year.

Wonder Bar

2107 N. Henderson Ave.

Drink up, witches. The whimsical and eccentric Wonder Bar is decked out on Halloween with a menagerie of specialty cocktails. Costume contests started on Oct. 1. Be sure to complete the Wonder Bar right of passage, spin the signature “Price is Right” wheel, snap a pic in the sinister photo room and bust a move under the disco (eye) balls. Follow the bar's Instagram for nightly specials.

Snuffer's

3526 Greenville Ave.

Ask any of the staff at Snuffer's on Greenville Avenue about their experiences with the paranormal and you’ll be met with hair-raising accounts of dark silhouettes, lights turning on, footsteps down the hall and a bathroom door that opens but never closes. There are many theories swirling as to who lingers, but the story that carries is the spirit of a man who was murdered when the building was a pool hall. Even after Snuffer's was demolished and rebuilt in 2013, it seems the ghost remains: paranormal investigations have been conducted since and even the manager won’t enter if he's alone. Our verdict? A side of mild fright could never keep us away from those cheese fries.