Children enjoy Halloween because they can get free candy through trick-or-treating, and they can dress up as their favorite superheroes, television or movie characters or a pop-culture persona. But for adults, another kind of treat awaits.
This Halloween season, several restaurants and bars are morphing their venues into haunted speakeasies and spooky pop-ups with themed cocktails for those 21 years and older.
Here are a few Halloween and Dia de los Muertos cocktail activations in October and November around San Diego County.
Barbarella Restaurant & Bar: For a place serving Halloween-inspired cocktails and food, but where parents can also take their kids, there is Barbarella Restaurant & Bar in La Jolla. The eatery is decked out with Halloween decorations such as skeletons, ghosts, witches, monsters, a grim reaper, spider webs and purple and orange lighting. The Halloween menu has cocktails and mocktails, and several food options are dressed up with Halloween decor, for instance, the apple cobbler that is dressed up as a witch and a charcuterie board with a prosciutto skeleton. Plus, there is Hallowwen Pay-Doh for children. Now through Oct. 31. 2171 Avenida De La Playa, San Diego. 858-454-7373, instagram.com/barbarellarestaurant
Cafe Coyote: A Día de los Muertos celebration is arriving at Cafe Coyote in Old Town. The Mexican restaurant’s bar area is converting into a Day of the Dead cantina pop-up bar, which will have marigold followers, sugar skull décor and themed drinks from Oct. 10 through Nov. 2. Also part of Cafe Coyote’s Día de los Muertos celebration, there will be ofrendas face painting, mask making, live music and giveaways on Nov. 1 and 2 and a candlelight procession on Nov. 2 and 5 p.m. 2461 San Diego Ave., San Diego. 619-291-4695, instagram.com/cafecoyoteoldtown
Cutwater Ghost Ship Halloween cocktails: The Cutwater Tasting Room & Kitchen in Miramar is morphing into a Halloween escape with its ghost ship pop-up activation. Guests can try The Eclipse mixes Cutwater vodka, cold brew coffee, cinnamon brown sugar, a coffee liqueur and pumpkin spice cold foam. Also, the venue is turning into a speakeasy ghost ship. The public can purchase $25 tickets to enter the speakeasy room, which has pirate-inspired décor, a welcome beverage, rotating weekly cocktails and a live barrel tapping demonstration with a rum pour in a take-home glass. Now through Oct. 31. 9750 Distribution Ave., San Diego. 858-672-3848, cutwaterspirits.com/tasting-room
Frankenstein’s Mad Scientist Cocktail Lab: Inside Toxica Cantina in the Gaslamp Quarter is a temporary Halloween-themed pop-up bar. Frankenstein’s Mad Scientist Cocktail Lab is a 90-minute experience with a table reservation, an interactive welcome cocktail or mocktail, a Halloween shot, music, a costume contest and prizes. The bar is furnished to resemble a laboratory, with staff wearing lab coats, drinks served in beakers and testing tubes, and Halloween decorations, including a Frankenstein statue. Plus, there is a mad scientist giving tarot card readings. Frankenstein’s Mad Scientist Cocktail Lab is open evenings, Wednesdays through Sundays in October and on Nov. 1. 431 E St., San Diego. $22-$29.88. frankensteinsbar.com
Haunted Ship Takeover at Captain’s Quarters: Pacific Beach is once again the home of the Haunted Ship Takeover at Captain’s Quarters. The bar is transforming into an immersive haunted ship. The month-long event also features five Halloween-inspired cocktails. These include the team Edward mixes tequila, a liqueur, blood orange and pomegranate for $17. The basic witch contains rum, an Italian liqueur, Thai tea, pumpkin, coffee and black salt for $16. The $16 goth girlfriend has gin, apples, hazelnut, lemon seltzer water and charcoal. The $17 Captain’s Curse blends bourbon, brandy, coconut, almonds and chocolate bitters. There is also a mocktail called the eternal elixir, which mashes up a nonalcoholic gin, coconut, pineapple and lime juice for $12. 910 Grand Ave., San Diego. 858-412-5237, captainsquarterssd.com
The Haunted Spookeasy: Horror movies are the star of the show at The Haunted Spookeasy. Caribe Restaurant & Bar in Bonita is turning into a Halloween speakeasy with themed drinks, snacks and games. Guests can purchase a ticket for this 75-minute timeslotted experience, which gives them entry to the speakeasy and one drink. Inside, visitors can try their luck with trivia and board games for a chance to win prizes and purchase appetizers for a Halloween menu. The Haunted Spookeasy is decorated with horror movie memorabilia and staff is dressed in costume for photo opportunities and a small scare. It is open Oct. 2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-31 and Nov. 1. 5080 Bonita Road Suite H, Bonita. $27.25. bucketlisters.com/experience/the-haunted-basement-sd
Werewolf American Pub: Disco and death are the themes at Werewolf American Pub’s Halloween pop-up bar. Death by Disco is a month-long Halloween party with neon-lit haunted disco decor, glow-in-the-dark disco balls, skeletons, witches, ghouls and a dancefloor. The themed cocktails include the Ashes to Ashes (spicy and smoky), Black Magic Maria (bold and savory), Fresa de los Muertos (sweet and citrusy) and the Perk Up, Pumpkin (pumpkin spice and coffee). Visitors to the Death by Disco can also be entertained with karaoke, photos with Jack Skellington and witches on Wednesdays. Now through Nov. 2 627 Fourth Ave., San Diego. 619-234-0094, instagram.com/werewolfsd
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