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Eats and drinks more lit than the black flame candle.
Two words: "creepy carnival." If you're terrified of clowns or have an odd fascination with the circus, stop by Unicorn for a feast of small bites, corn dogs, and burgers. End said feast with fair-inspired desserts that include funnel cake, fruity fried ice cream, boozy bread pudding, and unicorn droppings (*gulp* fried peanut butter cookie dough). Wash it all down with a cocktail, perhaps the Snozzberry Frost: a blend of gin, sour, and Sprite, topped with blue raspberry vodka.
Yelp review: "Unicorn was the coolest place to grab drinks! My husband described it best when he said that he couldn't tell if he was about to enjoy a drink at a carnival or run into a murderous clown. They have a lot of fun drinks and cool flavors, so it was difficult to choose. I enjoyed the Cereal Killer, which had fruity pebbles-flavored vodka! So good! Drinks were well made and strong, but best of all, they are also reasonably priced." —Salena C.
Address: 1118 E. Pike St., Seattle, WA 98122
From the string lights and mismatched furniture to incense and skulls in the bathroom, this place pays homage to Halloween 365 days of the year. They've got an extensive drinks menu (nonalcoholic, sorry) that features everything from chocolate mint tea to red velvet hot chocolate, as well as a ton of vegan desserts and delicious meals.
Disclaimer: This is one of my favorite spots ever, and I've been going for years. The Cuban sandwich is amazing, the peanut butter cupcake gives me life, and they've also got the best iced cappuccino I've ever had.
Yelp review: "This place really hits me deep in the feels. Like, the Hocus Pocus feels. I felt like I could see Max light the black flame candle in Winifred's house while I was there. With that said, I was already in the best of moods, so even if the food sucked (it didn't), I wouldn't be able to tell. I ordered the chocolate pecan pie with the coffee chocolate chip ice cream, while my wife ordered the apple crumb cheese cake and vanilla ice cream. Now, let me tell you, I don't know if it was all vegan or not, but if that's vegan? Then I'm going full vegan. The pies were freaking delicious, and the ice creams were creamier then any ice cream I had! For real, I can't wait to come back." —John T.
Address: 311 Hempstead Turnpike, West Hempstead, NY 11552
Tiki bar meets spooky abandoned island at Last Rites! The unique cocktail menu includes libations such as the Legend of Xtabay: a mixture of butter popcorn–infused rum, apricot liqueur, lemon, coconut cream, cacao nib–infused bitters, and pepper tincture.
Yelp review: "Quite possibly the coolest tiki bar I've ever stepped inside. The decor is amazing; I think it supposed to be like a plane crash on a tropical island, and the image really conveys! Everything down to the menu is on point, but the coolest part might just be the airplane seats that line the bar. While all the cocktails here seem delicious, I ended up with Kali Ma's Doom. This tasty gin cocktail is garnished with a slice of watermelon and toasted marshmallow; both delicious and Instagrammable! Loved that the drinks here taste good and are very strong. The ones with an asterisk on the menu have a two-drink limit per person." —Amy L.
Address: 718 14th St., San Francisco, CA 94114
This space has several different nooks, ranging from an oak barrel cellar to a secluded, speakeasy-inspired room. Staff will recommend brew and bite pairings that you can enjoy whilst watching an old horror movie (they play them constantly).
Yelp review: "This place is for horror film aficionados. Everything, from the different rooms to the beer and food menu, is themed to horror films and their directors. You can either find yourself lounging in a room surrounded by typewritten messages of 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,' or make your way to the movie room and watch horror films until close. I went on a Wednesday when there was a clown-themed film night. They showed the old classic Funland. Can't wait to go back and keep trying the rest of their collection and eat their food. They have a decent-size menu and I can't wait to sink my teeth into it. Also, I'm curious about how they do October and Halloween. I bet it's epically spooky!" —Migdalia R.
Address: 18525 S. Main St., Carson, CA 90248
Located right in the heart of the French Quarter, Muriel’s serves Creole cuisine that is nothing short of delicious. And while good food is fantastic and lovely and we all love good food, it's the creepiness factor that makes this spot especially awesome. They've got a Seance Lounge (pictured above) that their ~resident ghost~ is known to frequent.
Yelp review: "Muriel's is the New Orleans experience rolled into one restaurant. Great food, Southern hospitality, fascinating history, and spooky fun. I've never experienced something like it! The restaurant itself is supposedly haunted by the man who used to own the building in the 1800s, and more than one waiter came up to my family and told us a creepy story about the place. We even got a short personal tour of the room where the man 'died' and got to see the table that the restaurant sets for his ghost! VERY COOL AND CREEPY! The food was also delicious and the service was impeccable. More than one of the tours we took on the vacation told us to visit this restaurant, and we were NOT disappointed." —Kate V.
Address: 801 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA 70116
Quirky accents plus fun cocktails plus a no-frills weekend brunch menu equals the perfect dive bar that is 2 Fingers Social. Their bathroom is also home to some very cool glow-in-the-dark art of the extraterrestrial variety, and horror and sci-fi films are constantly playing above the bar.
Yelp review: "Had a blast at this very cool horror bar! When we walked in on Friday night, there was great metal music on overhead while Dark City played on the screen over the bar. I had a couple of delicious Dark & Stormys while my husband tried a few local beers on tap, and the charcuterie board was perfect for the two of us. We loved the look of this place and it really connected to our love of all things spooky. The bartender was great and told us we should come back on Sunday for brunch, so we did! Spoiler: It did not disappoint! I had bottomless mimosas and waffles, and the husband had breakfast sliders and more beers while Constantine played. Also, make sure to use both of the restrooms when you go. They were super fun!" —Danielle H.
Address: 9211 Delridge Way SW, Seattle, WA 98106
This food truck offers three kinds of hot dogs: the Creature, the Witch, and the Franken. The kicker? All three options are vegan — and delicious! Bonus points go to a wide array of delicious condiments you can top on for free; plus, the truck itself plays monster music. Talk about a monster mash.
Yelp review: "At Franken Stand, you will find monsters, vegans, and cannibals enjoying a fangtastic meal together. Several types of sausages to choose from, and they are really tasty (unlike most vegan hot dogs, which taste like bandages to me). Frankens are full of flavor and spice, and there are condiments aplenty! Choose from items like salsa, onions, sauerkraut, facon bits, hot sauce, bbq sauce, spicy brown mustard, ketchup, regular mustard, pickles, jalapeños, relish, and corn relish. And not only does Frankenstand taste good, but it is a fun experience. Your spooky host will serve you a Franken while the monster music creeps into your ears and takes over your mind!" —Ali K.
This food truck is constantly moving around, but you can check in on the Franken Stand locations here.
House-made bacon jam. Prosciutto-wrapped shrimp. Chicken cordon bleu sliders. Boozy ice cream. What more do you need to know about the Cauldron? Well, actually, you need to know about the cocktails, which are as delicious as the food. Try out the Knotty Kid (this place is located right across the street from Knott's Berry Farm), which is a combo of boysenberry cotton candy, Smirnoff vodka, and lemon.
Yelp review: "So this place is exquisite. I can't believe how amazing the drinks are here. I had the Knotty Kid, the one that tastes like key lime pie, and a cherry noir cocktail from the vodka list. Ummmm, yes, I was celebrating. I also had steak fries (which were amazing) and portobello sliders, while my fiancé also had three drinks and sliders. The food and drinks are seriously some of the best I've ever tasted in a long time! Ambience: It's also important, and this one checks out hugely in terms of theme and doesn't get kitschy. It feels like an old-timer Salem house. Loved everything." —Grace L.
Address: 8028 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA 90620
This cocktail bar offers immersive experiences that are basically a one-way Hogwarts Express ticket. Their potions class is equal parts mixology and fantasy, where you need to tap a ~magic wand~ in order to pour yourself a beer from a magic tree. You'll also brew a potion that comes in a cauldron (featured above), which basically means you're now Hermione Granger being a know-it-all in potions class.
Yelp review: "This place is so fun for Harry Potter lovers. Envelop yourself in the magical decor that will make you feel as if you've been transported to Hogwarts. Don't be alarmed if you find yourself sipping drinks next to people dressed in cloaks...it's serious HP business here! You can drink cocktails from tea cups and smoking glasses, or wave your wand at the magical tree and pour yourself a beer. The cocktail menu is small but packed with great flavor and a good selection for different tastes. Want to learn how to make cocktails? Their second floor serves as a fun classroom to amp up your wizarding skills!" —Gabrielle Z.
Address: 47 Stone St., New York, NY 10004
Wash down some po'boys with craft beers and cocktails at the Old Devil Moon, where every nook is packed with objects that look straight out of a spooky '90s movie (we're talking Ouija boards, flickering candles, and tarot cards).
Yelp review: "Old Devil Moon is a really cool bar that seems to be in the witching spirit every day of the year. All of the little details about this place are on point, and the logo of the moon is awesome. Their beer menu is projected, and no, you didn't drink too much — the moon in the middle of the bar actually moves! They even have an old-school photo booth! I told the bartender my preference of stouts and porters, and he recommended the Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Black Ale and the Firestone Walker XXI Anniversary BA Stout. He gave me a few notes about them, which I appreciated and helped me decide on the Old Engine Oil in a 10 oz. glass. It was perfectly my taste! And it only ran me $6!" —Stephanie Z.
Address: 3472 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94110
Sip on black lemonade or a teddy berry orgy (vodka packed with gummy bears) while munching on pizza and garlic knots at this Denver spot. High ceilings, vibrant colors, and a ginormous twisting tree will make you feel as if you've just stepped into Willy Wonka's chocolate factory (if said factory served alcohol).
Yelp review: "I'm singing the song 'Pure Imagination' from Willy Wonka to you now because when you approach the gigantic golden doors at Mario's, it might cross your mind as well. Or perhaps you'll think of the Wizard of Oz and think that someone will appear in a window in that door and say, 'Well, that's a horse of a different color!' Or you might expect the Cheshire cat. And on and on and on. The point I'm trying to make is that it's a fantastical setting. In my mind the ambience is like Willy Wonka meets Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas. There's a dark twisty tree in the corner that crawls up the ceiling, and a bunch of spindly red booths. Just look at the photos." —Jeffrey S.
Address: 1632 Market St., Denver, CO 80202
Gobble up everything from burgers to Annabel Lee crabcakes at Poe's Tavern. As the name would imply, this place pays homage to Edgar Allan Poe by way of kitschy, Poe-themed decorations that any lit lover would ~love with a love that is more than love~. (Someone contact my AP English teacher and let him know that I still have this poem memorized.)
Psst: Poe actually *lived* on Sullivan's Island for a bit while in the Army! Hence this tavern being named after him.
Yelp review: "Poe-lease stop what you are doing & take ya tush to Poe's Tavern. This place is not only aesthetically pleasing for my fellow literary-lovers (trust me, you're going to GEEEEEK OUT), but it also has the best, most mouthwatering Southern-style burgers in the area! The pimento cheese is the kind of pimento cheese that pimento cheese dreams are made of — warm and gooey and just like my mama makes it. The burgers are big, juicy, and fresh. You'll never leave hungry because the portions are large and in charge. And while you are enjoying the most perfect meal in all the land, you can also enjoy the friendly staff and great bar. I'm serious, folks, this place has me ~Raven~ about it to everyone." —HannahRoseT
Address: 2210 Middle St., Sullivan's Island, SC 29482
The reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.