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5 local haunts with Halloween decor + cocktails

Austin bars are embracing the Halloween spirit with creepy cocktails, haunted decor, and ghoulish gatherings throughout October.

October 9, 2024 • 
Morgan O’Neal
The image shows the interior of a large tent, decorated in a circus or carnival theme. The red and white striped ceiling adds to the festive atmosphere, with string lights hanging across the tent. A chandelier in the center adds a touch of elegance. At the front, there is a black horse statue standing on its hind legs, roped off with red velvet ropes. To the side, a large target-like game wheel can be seen, and throughout the tent are long picnic tables for seating. The décor includes bunting flags and various whimsical carnival elements.

Step right up — a Halloween wonderland awaits at Gibson Street Bar.

Photo by @madisonrichardsphoto_

Calling all ghouls, goblins, and witches — Halloween season is here and local bars have risen to the occasion.

Here are a few activations on our October bucket list, featuring eerie decor, sinister libations, and scary good times. Enter if you dare.

Nightmare on Gibson Street, 1109 S. Lamar Blvd. | Now-Thursday, Oct. 31
Gibson Street Bar is known for going above and beyond for the holidays, and this Halloween season is no exception. The neighborhood bar has transformed into a “Twisted Carnival,” complete with a Big Top circus tent and libations like “The Ringmaster” and “Candied Apple.”

A Halloween-themed cocktail is presented in a glass with a metallic skeleton hand design around its base. The drink is garnished with dark cherries and a skull-shaped ice cube. Surrounding the glass are decorative gourds, a fuzzy toy figure with red hair, and a black spider, set against a black textured background.

Lefty’s also offers petrifying punch bowl cocktails like the “Corpse Bride” and the “Left 4 Dead.”

Photo by Julius Shieh

Lefty’s Shop of Horrors, 1813 E. 6th St. | Now-Thursday, Oct. 31
Step into a spine-chilling atmosphere with clowns, ghostly baby dolls, and Barbies in a jar at Lefty’s Brick Bar. If you dare, try cocktails like the “Brat-O-Ween,” “Hocus Pocus,” and “Fright-Fashioned.” Plus, grab fries and fried pickles for $5 every day from 3 to 6 p.m.

The Witch House, 1300 E. 4th St. | Thursday-Saturday in October
Conjure up the Halloween spirit at Cosmic Saltillo’s hidden satellite bar, where the wicked menu features five specialty drinks, including the “Tell ‘Em Freddy Sent Ya” and the “Was That The Boogeyman?”

Two Halloween-themed cocktails, both bright red. One is in a skull-shaped glass, garnished with mint and the other is in a gimlet-style cocktail glass garnished with apple slices.

A couple of the creepy cocktails at the touring, Halloween-themed pop-up.

Photo via Black Lagoon Pop-Up

Black Lagoon, 1906 E. 12th St. | Now-Thursday, Oct. 31
Fly your broomstick to east Austin cocktail bar King Bee to glub ghoulish beverages like the “Hex Appeal” and the “Blood Lust” amid scary decor.

Upstairs at Scareoline, 109 E. 7th St. | Saturday, Oct. 26-Thursday, Oct. 31
Sip your heart out at the downtown bar and patio with cocktails like the “Vampire Colada” and “Bat Life Choices.” The frightening fun begins with a costume party from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Which bar do you want to see on this list? Let us know.

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