No Tricks, Just Treats

Get ready to get spirited this Halloween season—literally! The DMV is packed with ghostly good times, creepy cocktails, and fang-tastic food, and the fun’s stretching all week long. Let’s be honest, you’ve already got the mask—now it’s time to match it with some killer plans. Plus, don’t miss the vibrant Día de los Muertos celebrations happening before and after Halloween. You won’t want to ghost these events ~ 

Ghostly Events:

1310 Kitchen & Bar: Get ready for a night of mystery and nostalgia at the 80s Murder Mystery Dinner at 1310 Kitchen & Bar on October 31st from 7:00 - 10:30 p.m. Step into a world of big hair, iconic 80s hits, and an unfolding crime where everyone is a suspect. While you enjoy a family-style feast, featuring dishes like Grilled Salmon, Flat Iron Steak, and nostalgic desserts, you’ll piece together clues to catch the culprit. There's a costume contest with a secret prize for the best-dressed, and the first to crack the case wins a surprise Grand Prize. Tickets are $90 per person (dinner included, beverages sold separately); 202.333.8232; 1310 Wisconsin Avenue NW; To make a reservation, click here.

Ambar Clarendon: Ambar Clarendon invites guests to a spooky Halloween celebration complete with ghostly decorations and a costume party on Thursday, October 31st. Starting at 9:00 p.m. in the lower-level lounge, attendees can enjoy eerie decor, specialty cocktails, and a costume contest. DJ ALVAMP will be spinning Top 40 tracks from 9:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. The event is free and open to the public, but guests are encouraged to register online. The costume contest winner will receive a $200 gift certificate to Ambar Clarendon or a sister restaurant, and attendees can vote for the Best Costume. From Monday, October 28th through Sunday, November 3rd, Ambar Clarendon will also offer 4 signature Halloween-themed cocktails, priced from $14 - $15 each; 703.875.9663; 2901 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA; For more information, click here.

Jônt: Help the Jônt team solve a murder on Halloween Night! This high-stakes evening in the bustling restaurant will be the scene of a crime where an integral culinary member is found “murdered.” Guests are invited to solve the mystery while enjoying a multi-course meal ($545 per person, Wine Pairings Included) at the Chef's counter.  Dimmed lights, candles, and a few key props set the scene. The guests must piece together clues, interrogate suspects, and solve the mystery before dessert is served. Guests will be handed 'clue cards' with each course to help them piece together the murder and motives.

Lapop: Join Lapis’s underground vinyl cocktail lounge, Lapop, for a Halloween celebration on Thursday, October 31st. My Friend Jack will be DJing and spinning a mix of international tunes, and those in the most creative costumes will be eligible for free shots and drinks, at the bar team’s discretion. Grab your costume and sip on craft cocktails in the AdMo basement bar to celebrate Halloween this year in style.

Madhatter: Madhatter is hosting a Halloween Party on Thursday, October 31st from 7:00 p.m - 2:00 a.m. Come dressed to impress for the costume contest, where prizes will be awarded for the best male & female costumes. Plus, enjoy $1 Coors Light drafts while supplies last; 202.833.1495; 1319 Connecticut Avenue NW; For more information, click here.

*NEW* The Roost: Get ready for a spook-tacular day of family fun. Bring the kids and even your furry friends for a Halloween extravaganza at The Roost. Starting at 10:00 a.m., strike a pose at their photo booth with a festive Halloween backdrop, and let the little ones enjoy trick-or-treating around the stalls from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. There will also be face painting from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. to add some extra Halloween flair. Don't miss the Dog Costume Contest at 2:00 p.m., dress up your pup for a chance to win some ghoulishly good prizes.

Spooky Spirits & Gob-lins:

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken: Spooky treats are back at Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken. Now through October 31st, Halloween Mini Doughnut Boxes are available for preorder for all Halloween festivities. The box includes spookily decorated miniature versions of the Candy Apple, Pumpkin Pie, Honey Bun, and Vanilla Glazed doughnuts. Select full sized flavors are also available for purchase through the end of October; Multiple Locations. For more information, click here. 

Atlas Brew Works: Atlas Brew Works is excited to offer specials at all three taproom locations throughout the day on Thursday, October 31st. Celebrate Halloween with $6.66 pints of Silent Neighbor, Festbier, and other select fall beers all day long. Pair these drink specials with award-winning Andy’s Pizza for purchase at the Navy Yard and Alexandria Brewery & Tap Room locations. All three locations will also host a costume contest at 8:00 p.m. with the first place winners walking away with a $50 Atlas Brew Works gift card.

Balos: Celebrate Halloween at DC's hottest restaurant with a live DJ, spooky seasonal cocktails and Balos's infamous napkin toss! Enjoy dinner in the lounge, bar, or dining room with seasonal offerings including "Autumn in Athens" with Diplomatico rum, Roots cinnamon liqueur, pumpkin spice, apple cider, and lemon;  "Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini" made with Grey Goose Vodka, Liqueur 43 Copa de Oro, For Five Espresso, and pumpkin spices, and more.

Era Wine Bar: Join Era Wine Bar on Halloween for $10 wicked wine glasses all night long, as well as half off signature cocktails. Come in costumes or as you are; 3300 Rhode Island Avenue, Mount Rainier, MD.

Joon: Start the celebration early this Halloween at MayBar at Joon with an all day happy hour beginning at 11:30 a.m. Enjoy specialty seasonal cocktails such as “The Original Sin” with apple cider cinnamon infused bourbon, apple cider, lemon juice and an amaro blend along with $5 beers, $8 glasses of wine, and $10 cocktails. Dishes from Chef Chris Morgan are also available including Focaccia Pizza.

Little Blackbird: Why should kids have all the fun on Halloween? Little Blackbird in Cleveland Park is treating adults to wine and cocktail pairings with candy from October 31st - November 2nd. With 16 wine pairings and 5 cocktail options, enjoy unique combinations like Chardonnay with Candy Corn or a Reese’s Old Fashioned. Wine pairings are $16 (with a 3 or 6 oz pour) and cocktails are $20 (with a 4 or 6 oz pour). For a lighter taste, try a 1.5 oz pour for $4. Celebrate Halloween with a fun, grown-up twist on your favorite treats; 202.244.6550; 3309 Connecticut Avenue NW; For more information, click here.

*NEW* Little Hot Chicken: Little Hot Chicken is offering a special sandwich, The Scary Spice Sandwich, which ranks a level five in the spice scale. Anyone who can show they can finish the sandwich will receive the sandwich for free; For more information, click here.

New Heights Restaurant: New Heights Restaurant is introducing festive new libations and a three-course menu for $60 per person. In keeping with the bewitched month, the restaurant’s culinary and cocktail team has created a dessert of Spider Chocolate Pot de Crème, available October 10th through Halloween, sporting an edible chocolate black widow ($12) and a Ghosted Old Fashion, bourbon, toasted marshmallow syrup, angostura bitters with a haunting marshmallow garnish, ($16) available from October 10th through December 31st. For an on-the-dark side cocktail, adventurous patrons will want to order the Squid Ink Martini, gin capers brine dry vermouth, squid ink, and garnished with a marinated octopus leg ($16), available October 10th through December 31st; 2317 Calvert Street NW.

Opal: Opal will be bringing back the Halloween fun, turning the restaurant into a Zombie Za Pizza Pop Up on Halloween.  Offered for lunch and dinner, dine in and take out on Thursday, October 31st, Chef Colin McClimans and team will be slinging pies all day, perfect for the kids to pop by to fuel up pre or post Trick or Treating.  Other menu items will also be available, including Wood Fired Oysters, Tuscan Kale Risotto and a Smashburger.

*NEW* Opaline Bar & Brasserie: Opaline Bar & Brasserie will be hosting an Enchanted Halloween Night. The event will take place on October 31st beginning at 4:00 p.m. and invites guests to step into a whimsical realm filled with enchantment and indulge in their bewitching cocktails; For more information, click here.

*NEW* Quill at The Jefferson: Quill at The Jefferson, DC to is offering a specially crafted Monster Mash Bill cocktail made with pumpkin-infused Uncel Nearest 1884 Whiskey Honey, smoked applewood angostura bitters, and apple and citrus peels stirred in a rocks glass for $25; For more information, click here.

*NEW* Rustico: Get ready for a frightfully delicious Halloween at Rustico from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. They are serving up specials that will be sure to make your night spooktacular. The dine-in promotion features the Margaritaville Pizza for $10 and the takeout promotion offers any three pizzas for $40; For more information, click here.

Show of Hands: Celebrate the season at Show of Hands with Beverage Director Nick Ferrel's inventive Fall/Halloween cocktail lineup! Indulge in the Campari Cloud, where fall flavors meet cotton candy for a playful twist, or savor the Oh Piece of Candy, inspired by banana salt water taffy. For a tangy kick, try the Chartreuse Shock, complete with a homemade chartreuse pop rock rim, or embrace the sweet heat of Hot Tamales, a crushable low-ABV option. End the night with the Lokum Martini, a Turkish Delight-inspired treat, or the nostalgic Raisinette, evoking movie theater favorites. Finally, sample the Wonka Caps, featuring five unique sodapop flavors, or the Tootsie Pop 20th Century, served with a Cocchi Americano lollipop. All cocktails are $14.  

*NEW* Solaire Social: Solaire Social will host trick or treating for kids with all vendors providing candies and treats from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. For the adults, Solaire Social’s bar will be offering up spooky cocktails: the Boozy Witch, the Vampire Kiss, the Green Goblin and Hocus Pocus; For more information, click here.