where to eat in Houston now

15 Houston eateries celebrating Halloween with spooky bites and sips

HiFi, the vinyl-centered cocktail bar in The Finn, is serving Halloween-themed cocktails this October.

Photo courtesy of The Finn

Ghouls and goblins, it’s that time of the year when the weird, wonderful, and otherworldly become the norm—and Houston is ready. Witchcraft lessons, tarot card readings, a masquerade dinner party, Día de los Muertos celebrations, whatever paranormal experience you’re searching for, Houston bars and restaurants have it covered. Whether you’re a Halloween devotee or just along for the ride, we’ve gathered some of the top haunted happenings in Houston this month.

Aye Candy’s Halloween Bash
What better spot to celebrate Halloween than at a candy-themed speakeasy? The Spring Branch bar is hosting two nights of frightening fun (Friday, October 31 and Saturday, November 1) with music, dancing, and a costume contest with cash prizes.

Betelgeuse Betelgeuse
Both locations of the space-themed cocktail bar and pizzeria go all out for Halloween with over-the-top decor and a themed food and drink menu. Details are still being finalized, but the crew shared this sneak peek on Instagram.

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Botonica’s The Cursed Cauldron
The Cursed Cauldron is emerging for its third appearance in Houston, but this time, it has a home of its own at co-founder Alexis Mijares’ Botanica. The two-story bar has been segmented into three unique spaces: The Apotheca Room, Nightshade Parlor, and Coven’s Haunt. Highlights include Oshun’s Offering (Bacardi Rum, pumpkin, brown butter, almond, orange liquor, and lime) and festive bites such as the Char-Boo-terie Board. Check out the website for a list of weekly activations, from burlesque to tarot to witchcraft classes. Cursed Cauldron runs from October 3-November 2, inside Botonica.

Brasserie 19’s The Haunting of Versailles.
The River Oaks restaurant's annual Halloween bash promises all the opulence of Marie Antoinette’s court. Couture costumes and cocktails from Moët Hennessy will add to the ambiance, while patrons can dance to a DJ’s tunes or try their luck in the costume contest. The merriment continues at the Le Spectacle de Merde brunch on Sunday, with music by DJ GFunk and sips by Campari. The Haunting of Versailles is Saturday, October 25, from 7 pm-1 am, and Le Spectacle de Merde is Sunday, October 26, from 12:30-4:30 pm.

Brennan's Witchy Brunch
Abracadabra — Brennan’s is conjuring a witchy brunch on Friday, October 31. The $35 two-course brunch menu will be announced soon and will include optional upgrades. Secure a spot soon — the October 25 brunch has already sold out. Witchy Brunch at Brennan's is Friday, October 31, from 10 am-2 pm.

Gloria’s Latin Cuisine’s Día de los Muertos Celebration
Toast to those you’ve loved and lost at Gloria’s Latin Cuisine in Midtown on November 1. The restaurant will be decked out in vibrant decor, and patrons are invited to dress to impress in attire inspired by La Catrina or sugar skulls. VIP bottle service is available for purchase, featuring LALO tequila, while live Latin music and DJs will keep the dance floor lively. The Día de los Muertos Celebration is Saturday, November 1, beginning at 11 pm.

Goode Co. Kitchen and Cantina’s Halloween Night Soiree
Longtime Goode Co. fans will delight in this homage to the parties held when the restaurant's River Oaks location was home to La Griglia. The inaugural soiree is set to be an annual tradition, welcoming patrons to a night of live music from a mariachi band and DJ, door prizes, and a costume contest. Expect bites like shrimp taquitos and duck tinga memelas, plus a mezcal-kissed Corpse Reviver. General admission is $50, while private tables and bottle service can be secured for $200 for four and $300 for six people. Goode Co. Kitchen and Cantina’s 21-plus Halloween soiree is Friday, October 31, from 7 pm to midnight.

HiFi at the Finn’s Spookeasy
The cocktail lounge for vinyl enthusiasts is converting into a Spookeasy this Halloween season. During the week of Halloween, spine-chilling drinks will take center stage at the bar, including Sin at the Finn, a gin-based cocktail mixed with beet-apple chutney, lemon, and egg white, topped with a candied hibiscus flower. For a smokier option, try the Agave Cemetery, a cinnamon-fig tequila creation with grapefruit and a palo santo smoke rim served in a black flask glass. The spooky week culminates with Prohibition Burlesque and a costume contest on Friday, October 31, from 8:30 pm-midnight. The bar is marking Día de los Muertos with a themed music set on Saturday, November 1, including a vinyl record ofrenda honoring deceased artists displayed in front of the marquee. HiFi has extended hours for the pop-up and is open nightly October 27–31.

Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge’s Dead Man Manor
Enter this Victorian gothic pop-up if you dare. Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge is getting into the spirit of the season with free events occurring throughout the month, ranging from Tarot Tuesdays to a masquerade singles mixer. The retro-inspired cocktail bar needs two nights to rage for Halloween, with costume parties set for October 30 and 31. While Día de los Muertos will be celebrated on November 1 and 2 with a community ofrenda, where patrons can contribute photos of their loved ones.

Halloween at KP's Kitchen
Newly hired chef Richard Knight is preparing two specials menus at the restaurant's Bellaire location on Friday, October 31. The first is a five-course wine dinner featuring vintages such as Veuve Clicquot, Chablis Grand Cru, and port. Priced at $95, tickets are available via Resy. The second is a four-course dinner featuring different expressions of Woodford Reserve bourbon. Tickets are also $95.

The Marigold Club's Marigold Masquerade
One of Houston’s most beautiful restaurants is playing host to a masquerade. On All Hallows’ Eve, decked-out diners can participate in a costume contest and anticipate spooky surprises at the French-inspired eatery. The lively dinner service at The Marigold Club takes place on Friday, October 31, beginning at 5 pm.

Meow Wolf’s The Cosmic Howl
The immersive art experience is preparing a haunting good time for its 1st birthday party with The Cosmic Howl on October 31. The 21-plus event will feature music by Swimwear Dept and DJ Brandon Airlines, along with roaming performers, tarot readers, and a costume contest. Cowboix Hevven, the underworldly dive bar tucked inside Meow Wolf, will have specialty cocktails. For those who can’t make the birthday bash, there’s a Halloween Drag Show on October 17 from 7 pm-11 pm. The Cosmic Howl is Friday, October 31, from 8 pm-12 am.

Black Lagoon at Nickel City
Think of this self-described "immersive, creepy-as-hell cocktail experience" as the Halloween equivalent of the Christmastime Miracle pop-up. Created by New Orleans bartenders Erin Hayes and Kelsey Ramage, Black Lagoon features detailed Halloween decor and a themed menu of sips in special glasses and mugs. It runs from October 13 - November 1.

Októ’s Vampire Ball
The Montrose Mediterranean restaurant is throwing its first-ever Vampire Ball. Beginning at 8 pm on Halloween night, the restaurant’s bar will come alive with the sounds of a DJ spinning tunes. On-theme libations will be available, and patrons are encouraged to dress for the unearthly night. Regular dinner reservations will still be available for those who want to dine before dancing. The Vampire Ball happens on Friday, October 31, at 8 pm.

Trash Panda Drinking Pub’s Threk
The most millennial of all Halloween events is at Trash Panda, where the bar is paying homage to the beloved Oscar-winning film, Shrek. Sip on handcrafted cocktails like the Swamp Ass, a spiced rum drink with peach, onion, and lemon, served in a Shrek mug. Or, opt for The Morning After Swamp, which combines Jim Beam with Aztec chocolate and butter (in a Puss in Boots mug). Food options include the Donkey Meal burrito and Duloc chili cheese curly fries. The Threk pop-up is at Trash Panda through October 31.

Photo courtesy of The Finn

HiFi, the vinyl-centered cocktail bar in The Finn, is serving Halloween-themed cocktails throughout the month.

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Where to Drink Now

16 Houston restaurants and bars with affordable happy hour deals

Photo by Rebekah Flores

'93 Til, the vinyl-centered restaurant and bar, recently extended its happy hours to include weekends.

Groceries aren’t getting any cheaper, so skip H-E-B and head to one of Houston’s newest happy hours instead. This roundup contains some of Houston's newest happy hour deals, ranging from a new East End bar with tacos and tequila, to a Brazilian-Cuban sandwich shop on Washington Avenue with croquettes and cocktails. Read on to find a new spot to unwind after a long day.

Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean's extended happy hour runs from 5-9 pm at the bar (or until 7 pm in the dining room), with specials like $5 seafood gumbo, $16 garlic butter crab claws, $8 cocktails, $7 glasses of wine, and $5 bottled beers.

By the Wayside
This artsy East End bar has its newly-launched happy hour weekdays from 4-6 pm. Stop in at the Navigation Boulevard spot for deals like $8 Ranch Waters, two chicken tacos for $7, two brisket tacos for $9, and select signature cocktails priced at $10 or $11. Draft beers are $6, with both wells and seltzers for $7.

Camaraderie
The Heights restaurant's happy hour caters to both the after-work and late-night crowd, running Wednesday through Friday from 5-6 pm and again from 9-10 pm, plus Sunday from 5-9 pm. Diners can score 25 percent off all cocktails, like the Late Checkout, made with tequila and citrus.

Concrete Rose
Newly opened in downtown, Concrete Rose has patrons covered with its new “Golden Hour.” Deals include half-off food and bottles of wine along with classic cocktails like palomas and negronis for $9. Golden Hour is Monday through Friday from 5-7 pm.

Eastbound BBQ
Barbecue might not be the first thing that comes to mind for happy hour, but Eastbound makes a convincing case. Find deals like $2 off draft beers, $10 draft cocktails, and $8 for a shot and a beer. Food offerings include $12 for carnitas pork ribs or pork belly bites. Eastbound’s happy hour is Wednesday through Friday, from 3-6 pm.

Fielding’s Steak
Sample what’s on Fielding’s menu without breaking the bank during its Social Hour, served in the bar and lounge on Tuesday-Sunday from 3-7 pm. Classics such as steak frites get the petite treatment, with a 4-ounce sirloin au poivre and fries for $12. Other highlights include Moroccan spiced lamb chop ($12) and two crispy oysters and caviar with beurre blanc for $12. Select cocktails, including a frozen strawberry margarita, Spanish gin and tonic, and pecan Old Fashioned, are available for $8-10.

Kira
The Upper Kirby hand roll bar’s happy hour deals start with $7 crudos, $5 select hand rolls (avocado, tamago, spicy bluefin tuna, Peking duck, coconut curry shrimp, cucumber, or tofu), $12 luxe temaki (steak and eggs or lobster) and $12 kakigori. Plus, all drinks are 25 percent off. Kira serves happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 5-6 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 4-5 pm, and all day on Monday.

Kirkwood
The Energy Corridor’s clubhouse-inspired spot from Mac Haik Restaurant Group has $6 draft beers, $7 wells, and glasses of wine for $8 to $11 on happy hour. Grab a snack like fried oysters for $14 and tenderloin sliders for $12. Kirkwood’s happy hour is weekdays from 3-6 pm.

'93 Til
This vinyl-centered restaurant and bar recently extended its happy hours to include weekends. Now, from Tuesday through Sunday from 4-6 pm, patrons can take advantage of discounts like 30 percent off bottles of wine and 25 percent off wines by-the-glass. Rounding out the special menu are deals like an Old Fashioned for $8, a poblano margarita for $10, and $2 Lone Star beers.

Oheya
Uchi’s 12-seat omakase counter serves a $50, 10-course tasting menu Wednesday-Sunday at 5 and 6:15 pm. Pair those bites with select $6 cocktails, $5 wines, $4 beers, and $3 sake.

Ramen Tatsu-ya
Available at both the Montrose and Memorial locations for dine-in customers, the Japanese restaurant’s happy hour includes $10 Kirin pitchers, $2.50 frozens (NA and sake-based), $2.50 non-alcoholic drinks, and $5 munchies. It is served daily from 3-5 pm and 9 pm until close.

Remi
The restaurant at the Hotel Granduca’s happy hour offerings start with a daily pizza special and beer for $20. Selected bites are priced between $8 and $14, including the Remi burger, potato chips and caviar, meatballs, hot dog poppers, and more. Pair them with select wines by-the-glass priced from $8-11. Happy hour is available Monday-Friday from 4-6 pm.

Street to Kitchen
The Michelin-recognized Thai restaurant’s happy hour menu includes fried chicken wings ($8) and Thai fried mushrooms ($9) paired with $5 select white wine, red wine, and beer; $10 margaritas and Thai tea; and $12 Old Fashioneds. Happy hour is served Monday-Friday from 5-6:30 pm

Toga
The newest concept from Comma Hospitality has all-day happy hour on Wednesdays, and Tuesday through Friday from 4-6 pm. The Japanese pub’s specials are food-forward, with deals on dishes like onigiri ($7) and a wagyu burger ($15) with comté cheese. Beverages include $4 Sapporos and cocktails from $8-$10.

Uptown Sporting Club
The city’s most elevated sports bar has happy hour from 4-7 pm on weekdays, offering discounts on beer, wine, cocktails, and bites. Make it a girl dinner with a $10 martini and $7 truffle fries, or choose between three flatbreads for $8 with a $5 draft beer.

Yuma
The Brazilian-Cuban sandwich pop-up turned brick-and-mortar restaurant has a new happy hour to brighten the afternoons. All cocktails — like the Toasted Caju with aged rum, madeira, and cashew — are $10, with nonalcoholic options for $5. Choose three sides for $10 to satiate any hunger pangs, with options like fried ham and cheese croquetas. Yuma’s happy hour is weekdays (except for Tuesdays when it’s closed) from 4-6 pm.

Photo by Rebekah Flores

'93 Til, the vinyl-centered restaurant and bar, recently extended its happy hours to include weekends.

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