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Boos & Booze: 25 Haunted and Spooky Bars in LA for a Halloween Parents' Night Out (2026)

12 hours ago
14 min read

The best haunted bars in LA for a Halloween parents' night out include the Hollywood Roosevelt, Formosa Cafe, Tonga Hut and the Queen Mary, where the ghost stories come with the cocktails. This October you can also sip inside pop-ups like Black Lagoon on Melrose and The Nightmare Bar downtown.


Trick-or-treating belongs to the kids, but Halloween season is a lot more fun when the grown-ups get a night of their own. Book the sitter, dust off a costume (or just wear black), and spend an evening in a bar where a long-gone regular still has a favorite stool. We rounded up 25 spooky spots, from October-only pop-ups to legendary haunts with decades of ghost stories. We start in Los Angeles, then head to nearby cities and on to Long Beach and Orange County.


Green Halloween cocktail with a skeleton and moss at the Black Lagoon cocktail pop-up in Los Angeles

Key Takeaways


  • Best ghost stories: the Hollywood Roosevelt, Formosa Cafe, Yamashiro and the Queen Mary.


  • Best October pop-ups: Black Lagoon at Melrose Umbrella Co., The Nightmare Bar at Barra 90 and The Tremble Club in Long Beach.


  • Halloween night parties: the Hollywood Roosevelt's hotel-wide takeover and The Last Canteen's two-night costume party.


  • Bringing the kids early? The Haunting at The Ordinarie welcomes kids until 9 PM, and the Culver Hotel hosts a family trick-or-treat on October 25.


  • Know before you go: many of these bars are 21+ only, so bring a physical ID and book ahead for Halloween weekend.



Haunted Bars in Hollywood


We start in the heart of Los Angeles. Old Hollywood left behind plenty of ghost stories, and these bars have been pouring drinks for decades. Some of their regulars apparently never left.


6667 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Tuesday–Saturday, 5–11 PM; Sunday, 4–10 PM; closed Mondays


Charlie Chaplin, F. Scott Fitzgerald and William Faulkner all knew this red-booth landmark well. Staff and diners have long traded tales of a headless spirit, and of an odd flash of light in a photo of Chaplin's favorite booth. Order a martini, ask your server about the history, and see what you notice.


Book on OpenTable through the Musso & Frank website. Validated parking is behind the restaurant.


1652 N Cherokee Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Daily, 5 PM–2 AM

Happy hour Monday–Saturday, 5–8 PM, and all day Sunday


This Hollywood bar and nightclub is one of the most talked-about haunts in town. Former co-owner Kurt Richter died at the bar on Christmas Eve 1997, and staff have described a phantom employee named Al, a woman singing in the ladies' room and footsteps when the room is empty. Boardner's leans into its reputation and links to its haunted history on its own website.


The house doesn't charge a cover, though some club-night promoters may. Please check the website for age requirements on club nights.


Candlelit table with cocktails in the Library Bar at the haunted Hollywood Roosevelt hotel

7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

The Spare Room: Monday and Wednesday–Saturday, 8 PM–2 AM

Library Bar: Thursday–Sunday, 6 PM–midnight

Halloween night: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 8 PM–2 AM


The Roosevelt hosted the very first Academy Awards in 1929, and it's one of LA's most famously haunted hotels. Marilyn Monroe lived in room 229 for a time, and guests have long claimed to see her reflection in a mirror. Montgomery Clift stayed for months in room 928 and is said to pace the ninth-floor hallway, playing his bugle.


Start with candlelit cocktails in the hidden Library Bar, then bowl a few frames on the vintage lanes in The Spare Room. On Halloween night, the whole hotel turns into the 21+ Freakquencies party, with general admission at $125. Bar and restaurant guests get validated valet parking for $20 for the first three hours, and the Metro B Line Hollywood/Highland station is right next door.


7001 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Dinner nightly, 5 PM–1 AM


The private clubhouse for magicians has its own resident spirits: "Invisible Irma," a ghost who plays the piano on request, and a late bartender named Loren Tate who's still said to be spotted pouring drinks at the Hat & Hare pub. For an extra chill, groups of up to 12 can book the Houdini Séance.


You'll need an invitation or guest card from a member. Guests without a member must dine in the dining room, with a $50 minimum per person plus a $45 evening entertainment fee. Evenings are strictly 21+, the dress code is a suit and tie or cocktail dress (no denim or sneakers), valet is $30, and no photos are allowed inside.


1999 N Sycamore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068

Daily, 5–11 PM; Sunday brunch, 11 AM–2:30 PM


Perched above Hollywood with sweeping city views, this Japanese-style mansion has some of the most detailed ghost lore in LA. Legend says a sad woman waits for her lost love at table No. 9 in the Sunset Room, and a former owner's ashes rest in the courtyard, where his ghost is said to walk. Staff have described hearing crying and seeing plates fly.


Reserve on Resy; valet parking is available. Please call (323) 466-5125 or check the website before you go to confirm hours and lounge seating.



Haunted & Halloween Bars in Downtown LA


Downtown mixes grand old hotels with some of the city's darkest history, plus two Halloween experiences that only run this season.


100 W 9th St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Friday, October 16 – Saturday, October 31, 2026

90-minute evening sessions; check the ticket page for times


This downtown pop-up is all about playful scares, not a haunted house. Hosts run horror-movie-inspired games, there's music and plenty of photo spots, and the bar pours a themed Halloween cocktail menu. Costumes are encouraged, but realistic weapons and masks that hide your whole face are not allowed.


General admission is $17.50 plus fees and includes entry and one welcome drink. Seating isn't guaranteed with general admission; tables are reserved for VIP tickets. It's strictly 21+, and you'll need a physical photo ID.


1356 Palmetto St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Fridays and Saturdays during the Halloween season

Two-hour sessions, starting around 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM


Tucked into the Arts District, The Obscure pairs six pours (three house-distilled spirits and three original cocktails) with live storytelling and live art in a candlelit room. Devil's Quarter is the darker Halloween edition, and zero-proof cocktails are available on request.


It's 21+ with ID, all-black attire is encouraged, and ticket prices include tax and tip. A Date Night ticket for two has been $100; check the ticket page for current Devil's Quarter pricing.


506 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Sunday–Thursday, 4–11 PM; Friday–Saturday, 4 PM–midnight

Live band the second and last Saturday of the month, 7:30–10:30 PM


The Biltmore was the last place Elizabeth Short, the "Black Dahlia," was seen alive in 1947. Guests have reported spirits in the rooms and a man in a stovepipe hat in the Tiffany Room. The bar has been known to serve a Black Dahlia cocktail, so ask your bartender if it's on the menu.


Reserve on OpenTable. Please check the website for parking information for non-hotel guests.


Stained-glass ceiling and long bar at The Wolves in the historic Alexandria Hotel building in downtown Los Angeles

519 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

Most nights from 5 PM, until 2 AM on Fridays and Saturdays; closed Tuesdays. Check the website for the latest hours.


Step inside and you're in a Parisian salon from the early 1900s, under a stunning stained-glass ceiling. The bar sits in the historic Alexandria Hotel building, and the story goes that a lodger named W.S. Redding was found dead on the site in 1899. A portrait of Charlotte Corday is said to keep watch over the bar after closing.


Valet parking is available at the City Center Parking structure at 501 S Spring St.


Heritage Square Museum, 3545 Pasadena Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90031

Friday, October 23, 2026: Sinners and Blade

Saturday, October 24, 2026: Jennifer's Body and Bodies Bodies Bodies

Doors at 5:30 PM; first movie around 7 PM


Street Food Cinema's grown-up Halloween series pairs an outdoor horror double feature with three full bars and the Shriekeasy bar inside the museum's historic church. There's also a haunted walkway, adult trick-or-treating, a costume contest, an oddities bazaar, food trucks and Victorian home tours from 6 to 8:30 PM.


Tickets are $45 in advance or $50 at the door, and two-night passes are $65. It's exclusively 21+ and mostly cashless. Parking is limited, so rideshare or take the Metro to Heritage Square station. Heads up: the Homer Street address that pops up on Google Maps has no entrance.



Spooky Bars on Melrose, Mid-City & Venice


From an October-only witch's apothecary on Melrose to Venice's oldest bar, these LA spots mix spooky cocktails with real history.


7465 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Thursday, October 1 – Sunday, November 1, 2026

Tuesday–Thursday and Sunday, noon–midnight; Friday–Saturday, noon–2 AM


The traveling Halloween cocktail pop-up takes over this Melrose bar with a witch's-apothecary look: coffins, gravestones, cobwebs and giant spiders in the candlelight. The drinks come from bartenders Kelsey Ramage and Erin Hayes, and you can take home collectible Halloween mugs and glassware.


Book a table through Resy or call (323) 951-0709. Groups of more than six get a 20% service charge, and happy hour runs Tuesday through Sunday from 4 to 6 PM. See every location on the Black Lagoon pop-up page.


8138 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Monday–Friday, 5 PM–2 AM; Saturday–Sunday, 6 PM–2 AM

Early-bird happy hour weekdays, 5–7 PM


This moody tequila and mezcal bar is covered in vintage lucha libre and movie posters. Its ghost is a sweet one: Martha, the stepdaughter of the restaurant's founder, used to work the register and hand out candy. Staff say she still leaves the occasional sweet behind.


El Carmen is 21+, and walk-ins are welcome. There's metered street parking, plus valet at The Little Door next door.


52 Windward Ave, Venice, CA 90291

Monday–Friday, 5 PM–2 AM; Saturday–Sunday, 3 PM–2 AM

Happy hour daily, 5–7 PM


Built in 1915, Townhouse calls itself the oldest bar in Venice. During Prohibition it ran as a speakeasy that moved bootleg liquor through tunnels under Venice, and the downstairs Del Monte speakeasy still has them. Legend says Frank Bennett, who owned the bar from 1972 until his death in 2003, still lingers at his favorite corner booth.


The Del Monte hosts live bands, DJs and comedy. Check the website for upcoming shows.



Near LA: West Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Culver City


Just past the LA city line, these three neighbors add a Beverly Hills heiress, a famous Hollywood booth ghost and a hotel founder who never checked out.


Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, 9500 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Tuesday–Thursday, 5:30–10 PM; Friday–Saturday, 5–11 PM; closed Sunday and Monday


For a glamorous night out, Wolfgang Puck's lounge sits inside a hotel with a famous ghost. A woman in white has been reported on the hotel's upper floors, and many believe she's heiress Barbara Hutton, who spent her final years at the hotel.


Reservations are recommended through OpenTable, and valet parking is available.


Red leather booths and long bar inside the historic Formosa Cafe in West Hollywood

7156 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046

Sunday–Wednesday, noon–11 PM; Thursday–Saturday, noon–midnight

Golden Hour daily, 3–6 PM, with $10 cocktails


This red-and-black Hollywood hangout has served stars since the 1930s, and part of it is a 1904 red trolley car. The ghost story belongs to Lem Quon, the longtime chef who became co-owner. Staff have described an older man in a cardigan, banging pots and footsteps, often near booth No. 8.


Reserve a booth through SevenRooms on the Formosa website. Parking is nearby; please check the website for more information.


9400 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232

Bar & Restaurant: dinner daily, 5–9:30 PM; Harry's Hour Monday–Friday, 3–6 PM

The Velvet Lounge: weekend evenings from 7 PM; check the website for nights


Founder Harry Culver kept an office on the second floor, and he's said to still roam the hallways. Windows in his old office reportedly open and close on their own. Sip a cocktail in the mezzanine's Velvet Lounge speakeasy, and catch classic horror movies playing in the Grand Lobby all October.


Want to bring the kids another day? The hotel hosts a family Hip & Historic Halloween trick-or-treat on Sunday, October 25, from 4 to 6 PM, and a Spooky Afternoon Tea on Halloween from 10 AM to 2 PM.



Spooky Bars in the San Fernando Valley


Valley parents don't have to drive over the hill. These two bars bring the ghosts and the apocalypse a lot closer to home.


12808 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606

Monday–Thursday, 4 PM–1 AM; Friday, 4 PM–2 AM; Saturday, 2 PM–2 AM; Sunday, 2 PM–1 AM


This classic tiki bar's ghost is a loyal regular. Dottie drank here from 1961 until she passed away in 2010, and staff once marked her bar stool as reserved. Some say she still stops by for her usual.


Halloween bonus: Monsters & Mai Tais XIII takes over on Sunday, October 25, starting at noon, with an art show, vendors, a Mutt Strut dog costume parade at 2 and 4 PM, and a 6 PM set from Dark Entities. Tonga Hut is 21+; walk-ins are welcome.


10964 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604

Sunday–Wednesday, 4–11 PM; Thursday–Saturday, 4 PM–midnight

Happy hour daily, 4–6 PM


No ghosts here, just the end of the world. This post-apocalyptic wasteland bar was built by veterans of Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, complete with a nuke hanging from the ceiling and a doomsday phone that rings at random. There's sarsaparilla on draft and mocktails for anyone skipping the booze.


It's strictly 21+. Post-apocalyptic costumes are welcome, but prop weapons aren't. The bar is throwing a Halloween party on Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31. It's a short walk from the Metro B Line Universal City/Studio City station, with metered street parking and nearby lots.



Worth the Drive: Haunted & Halloween Bars in Long Beach


Long Beach might be the spookiest bar town in Southern California this month, with October-only pop-ups, a haunted ocean liner and a horror-themed pizza bar.


255 Long Beach Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802

Thursday, October 1 – Saturday, October 31, 2026

Tuesday and Sunday, about 6–10 PM; Wednesday–Thursday, about 6–11 PM; Friday–Saturday, about 6 PM–midnight; closed Mondays


Long Beach gets its own Black Lagoon inside Midnight Oil's bar, The Lagoon. Expect the same spooky cocktail menu and haunted-apothecary vibe as the Melrose pop-up, closer to home for South Bay and Long Beach parents. Reservations are on the Experiences tab of the Midnight Oil website.


210 The Promenade N, Long Beach, CA 90802

Through Monday, November 2, 2026

Daily, 11:30 AM–1 AM


From the team behind The Ordinarie's popular Christmas Miracle pop-up, The Haunting fills the bar with vintage Halloween oddities and pours spooky cocktails in collectible mugs. The kitchen serves comfort food with Halloween twists for lunch, dinner and late night.


Reservations are only taken from 11:30 AM to 4 PM; after 4 PM it's walk-in only, with time limits on tables. Kids are welcome until 9 PM and there's a kids' menu, though some of the decor leans adult. Park free for 90 minutes in Lot C on Third Street, just past The Promenade.


Parent Tip: Planning an early family dinner before the sitter takes over? This is one of the few spooky bars on our list where the kids can come along before 9 PM.


Singer and band performing in the Art Deco Observation Bar aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach

1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90802

Monday–Thursday, 4–10:30 PM; Friday–Saturday, 11 AM–11:30 PM; Sunday, 11 AM–10:30 PM


The Queen Mary proudly calls itself a haunted destination. Its best-known spirits include Jackie, a giggling little girl heard near the old first-class pool, and a Lady in White. Toast them with a Grey Ghost or Lady in White cocktail in the Observation Bar, the ship's Art Deco former first-class lounge.


Want more chills? The Paranormal Ship Walk is $75 (ages 13+) and runs nightly, and the after-midnight Graveyard Tour is $85 (ages 16+) on Fridays and Saturdays. Parking for day visitors runs $15 to $25, with validation from the ship's restaurants.


3522 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90804

Through Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Monday–Thursday, 3 PM–midnight; Friday–Saturday, 11 AM–2 AM; Sunday, 11 AM–midnight


Every fall this Long Beach tiki bar turns into its spooky alter ego. The 2026 Tremble Club menu includes the Perfect Specimen, The Thing (made with activated charcoal), Soylent Green with boozy coconut boba and Dark Matters, a frozen ube drink. Cocktails are $17 each, and this year's collectible Tremble Club glass is an extra $22.


A 20% gratuity is added to every check during the pop-up, and reservations are strongly encouraged. Book through the Reserve Now button on The Bamboo Club's website.


1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90802

Select nights through Sunday, November 1, 2026


Dark Harbor is a full haunted attraction with mazes, and it's also packed with bars: the Creature Bar, the Sinister Sips Tequila Bar, the Bayou Bar, Ringmaster's Saloon and Spirits of Dark Harbor on board the ship, plus a DJ in the ShipYard and sideshow and drag performers at the Bizarre Bar. Every bar serves cocktails, mocktails and nonalcoholic drinks.


General admission starts at $58.99, and you can add The Lookout lounge with three tacos for $19.99. Only Preferred Parking ticket holders can park on the Queen Mary property; everyone else uses downtown Long Beach lots and the guest shuttle, so plan to arrive an hour early. Please check the website for age requirements before you buy.


121 W 4th St, Long Beach, CA 90802

Sunday–Thursday, noon–11 PM; Friday–Saturday, noon–midnight


This horror-themed pizza and craft beer bar is spooky all year: pizzas named after horror icons, classic horror films on the screens, skulls and clown masks everywhere, plus arcade games and a pool table. It's always 21+.


Two parking lots on 4th Street, a block away, give you the first two hours free.



Further Afield: Orange County


Heading to the beach for the evening? Huntington Beach has a spooky speakeasy of its own all October.


Pete's Sunset Grille, 21500 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Throughout October 2026

Bookable 11:30 AM–10 PM


Pete's Sunset Grille goes full spookeasy for October, with cocktails served in skull mugs and a Halloween menu that includes Cauldron Queso, Dracula Bat Wings and Trick or Treat Calamari. Book through Tock for parties of one to eight. Valet parking is available.



Tips for a Spooky Parents' Night Out


  • Book the sitter now: Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so sitters will be in high demand that whole weekend.


  • Reserve ahead: pop-ups and Halloween parties fill up fast, especially Friday and Saturday nights.


  • Bring a physical ID: many of these spots are 21+ and check at the door, even if you're clearly a grown-up.


  • Check costume rules: several bars don't allow prop weapons or full-face masks.


  • Leave the car at home: rideshare or Metro makes a bar-hopping night easier, and parking near Halloween events is tight.



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Takeaway


LA is full of bars with a ghost or two, and October adds a wave of Halloween pop-ups on top. For classic ghost stories, head to the Hollywood Roosevelt, Formosa Cafe or the Queen Mary. For full-on Halloween decor and spooky cocktails, try Black Lagoon, The Nightmare Bar or The Tremble Club.


Whichever you choose, book the sitter early, reserve your table, and bring your ID. The kids get their candy, and you get a night of your own.


Frequently Asked Questions


What is the most haunted bar in Los Angeles?

The Hollywood Roosevelt is one of LA's most famously haunted spots, with stories of Marilyn Monroe's reflection in a mirror and Montgomery Clift pacing the ninth floor. Yamashiro, Formosa Cafe, Boardner's and the Queen Mary in Long Beach also have well-known ghost stories and bars open to the public.


Are there Halloween pop-up bars in LA in 2026?

Yes. Black Lagoon is at Melrose Umbrella Co. through November 1 and at Midnight Oil in Long Beach through October 31. The Nightmare Bar runs October 16 to 31 at Barra 90 downtown, and The Tremble Club at The Bamboo Club and The Haunting at The Ordinarie both run into early November.


Which spooky bars in LA allow kids?

Most spooky bars are 21+, but The Haunting at The Ordinarie in Long Beach welcomes kids until 9 PM and has a kids' menu. The Culver Hotel also hosts a family trick-or-treat on October 25 and a Spooky Afternoon Tea on Halloween. Always check each venue's age policy before you go.


Where can parents celebrate Halloween night 2026 in LA?

On Saturday, October 31, the Hollywood Roosevelt hosts a hotel-wide 21+ Halloween party from 8 PM to 2 AM, with general admission at $125. The Last Canteen in Studio City throws a two-night Halloween party on October 30 and 31, and The Nightmare Bar runs its final sessions that night.


Do I need reservations for Halloween bars in LA?

For Halloween weekend, yes, whenever the bar takes them. Black Lagoon on Melrose books through Resy, The Bamboo Club strongly recommends reservations, and The Nightmare Bar sells timed tickets. Some spots, like The Wolves and Tonga Hut, are mostly walk-in, so arrive early on busy nights.


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Angela M. Cantoni, Editor and Founder of FUN WITH KIDS IN LA

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