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Halloween Season Has Started In The Netherlands Photo by Romy Arroyo Fernandez/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Where to Celebrate Halloween Around D.C.

Get into the spooky spirit at these bars and restaurants

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Bars, hotels, and restaurants all over town are creeping into Halloween with charcoal cocktails, scary screenings, three-figure costume prizes, over-the-top decor, and more.

Here’s a list of places to celebrate Halloween, which falls on Monday, October 31.

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From October 28 to 31, head to vegan restaurant Planta in Bethesda to sip on its “Spooky Herb Your Enthusiasm” cocktail made with orange salt, activated charcoal, and chili-infused tequila.

Halloween cocktail at Planta.
Planta

Ice Cream Jubilee

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Can’t ever pick just one ice cream flavor? Head to Ice Cream Jubilee, where the shop scoops up flights of their limited fall flavors all month long. Flavors include Cardamom Amaretto, Apple Cider Sorbet, Apple Butter Oatmeal Cookie, Maple Rye Pecan and Pumpkin Honeycomb. Feeling adventurous? Ask about their fiery Ghost Pepper ice cream challenge.

Atlas Brew Works Ivy City Brewery & Taproom

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Convinced that your four-legged friend’s Halloween costume knocks it out of the park? Head to Atlas Brew Works’ Ivy City taproom for their HOWL-a-Week doggy costume contest on Friday, October 28 starting at 6 p.m. The winners will receive Atlas Brew Works gift cards. West African food truck Petit Afrik will also be onsite. Can’t make it in person? Submit your doggy costume pics online for its remote costume contest to benefit Wolf Trap Animal Rescue.

Chicken + Whiskey

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Chicken + Whiskey’s epic annual Halloween bash is back with a Nightmare on Elm Street theme. This year, the party extends to the bar’s newest location across from Nationals Park. Both bars will be decked out with its super scary animatronics and over-the-top decor, with themed cocktails on the menu and a costume contest with a $500 cash prize.

Ghostburger

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Shaw’s Ghostburger naturally gets into the spirit with a “Ghost(Burger) Bundle”: a Ghostburger (American cheese, red onion, pickles, spooky sauce), a Ghost Claw (gin, grapefruit oleo, soda), and crispy onion rings with paprika mayo for $20. Those dressed in a ghost costume get a free Ghost Claw (with any purchase).

Fairmont Washington D.C. Georgetown

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The Fairmont’s resident canine ambassador, Georgie, invites her four-legged friends and neighbors to the hotel’s 11th annual Howl-O-Ween dog costume contest on Thursday, October 27. Local celebrity judges will award parents of the best-dressed pets with overnight stays, dinners, and more. Dogs can enjoy free peanut butter biscuits from Fairmont’s pastry team, and humans can buy spooky, canine-themed cocktails along with with “Puptails” or “Doggie Dinners” for their pooches. Register for the free event in its Courtyard Bar (6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.) here.

A past winner at the Fairmont’s annual dog costume contest.
Fairmont Washington D.C. Georgetown

Wunder Garten

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Head to the NoMa beer garden for “13 Nights of Halloween” running now until October 31. There’s a ton to choose from, whether it’s themed trivia, scary movie screenings, and DJ nights. This weekend is the Halloween Pride Monster Mash, and attendees are invited to enter a costume contest either alone or in a group.

The Watergate Hotel

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For a big-ticketed way to celebrate the holiday, head to the rooftop of the Watergate Hotel and book one of its private dining igloos. For the Halloween season, the domes have been decked out in decor with drink specials to match. Reservations are now open with rental prices ranging between $150 to $300.

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken

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Stranger Things super fans, rejoice. Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken offers special half-dozen boxes of doughnuts themed after the show through the end of this month. Feast on four unique flavors, like the chocolate “Upside-Down” doughnut made with a grey cinnamon-honey glaze and black sugar, or the raspberry-jam filled “Demogorgon Doughnut.” Orders must be placed 24 hours in advance and picked up at the G Street NW or Falls Church locations.

Astro Doughnuts’s Stranger Things specials.
Scott Suchman

Urban Roast

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Urban Roast takes holidays seriously, and Halloween is no different. The Penn Quarter cafe is currently jam packed with skeletons, cobwebs, life-like ghouls, and reapers at every twist and turn. S’mores sets the mood outdoors.

Urban Roast takes Halloween to new heights.
Leo Lee

Art and Soul

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This Capitol Hill restaurant celebrates spooky season with drink specials like “Just A Bunch of Hocus Pocus,” made with matcha-infused vodka, cold-pressed green apple juice, basil ginger syrup, and lemon juice with a spray of absinthe and charcoal salt around the rim.

“Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus” at Art and Soul.
Art and Soul

Assembly

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Stop by the Rosslyn food hall on Saturday, October 29 for a family-friendly Halloween brunch, complete with live music, face painting, and chances to collect candy.

Clarendon Ballroom

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B Social Hospitality throws a Clarendon Halloween Block Party on Saturday, October 29 with drink specials, DJs and bands, a costume contest with a $1,000 prize, free raffles, surprise giveaways, and party favors. Featured bars included Clarendon Ballroom, B Live, The Lot, Pamplona, and more. Register here.

Pink Taco

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On Saturday, October 29, Pink Taco hosts a Dia De Los Muertos-themed party from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dress up for a costume contest with a $500 gift card prize, nosh on free candy, and sip on drinks like the “Beauty School Dropout” margarita made with Patrón Blanco, Midori, lime juice, and honeydew syrup ($15 per glass or $50 per pitcher).

“Beauty School Dropout” cocktail at Pink Taco.
Pink Taco

King & Rye

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Old Town’s South American restaurant in The Alexandrian hotel will host a Halloween “Hocus Pocus” brunch on Saturday, October 29 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. with themed cocktails and food specials. Guests are encouraged to come in costume to get 20-percent off of their bill. Restaurant gift cards are awarded to the best dressed.

Planta

From October 28 to 31, head to vegan restaurant Planta in Bethesda to sip on its “Spooky Herb Your Enthusiasm” cocktail made with orange salt, activated charcoal, and chili-infused tequila.

Halloween cocktail at Planta.
Planta

Ice Cream Jubilee

Can’t ever pick just one ice cream flavor? Head to Ice Cream Jubilee, where the shop scoops up flights of their limited fall flavors all month long. Flavors include Cardamom Amaretto, Apple Cider Sorbet, Apple Butter Oatmeal Cookie, Maple Rye Pecan and Pumpkin Honeycomb. Feeling adventurous? Ask about their fiery Ghost Pepper ice cream challenge.

Atlas Brew Works Ivy City Brewery & Taproom

Convinced that your four-legged friend’s Halloween costume knocks it out of the park? Head to Atlas Brew Works’ Ivy City taproom for their HOWL-a-Week doggy costume contest on Friday, October 28 starting at 6 p.m. The winners will receive Atlas Brew Works gift cards. West African food truck Petit Afrik will also be onsite. Can’t make it in person? Submit your doggy costume pics online for its remote costume contest to benefit Wolf Trap Animal Rescue.

Chicken + Whiskey

Chicken + Whiskey’s epic annual Halloween bash is back with a Nightmare on Elm Street theme. This year, the party extends to the bar’s newest location across from Nationals Park. Both bars will be decked out with its super scary animatronics and over-the-top decor, with themed cocktails on the menu and a costume contest with a $500 cash prize.

Ghostburger

Shaw’s Ghostburger naturally gets into the spirit with a “Ghost(Burger) Bundle”: a Ghostburger (American cheese, red onion, pickles, spooky sauce), a Ghost Claw (gin, grapefruit oleo, soda), and crispy onion rings with paprika mayo for $20. Those dressed in a ghost costume get a free Ghost Claw (with any purchase).

Fairmont Washington D.C. Georgetown

The Fairmont’s resident canine ambassador, Georgie, invites her four-legged friends and neighbors to the hotel’s 11th annual Howl-O-Ween dog costume contest on Thursday, October 27. Local celebrity judges will award parents of the best-dressed pets with overnight stays, dinners, and more. Dogs can enjoy free peanut butter biscuits from Fairmont’s pastry team, and humans can buy spooky, canine-themed cocktails along with with “Puptails” or “Doggie Dinners” for their pooches. Register for the free event in its Courtyard Bar (6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.) here.

A past winner at the Fairmont’s annual dog costume contest.
Fairmont Washington D.C. Georgetown

Wunder Garten

Head to the NoMa beer garden for “13 Nights of Halloween” running now until October 31. There’s a ton to choose from, whether it’s themed trivia, scary movie screenings, and DJ nights. This weekend is the Halloween Pride Monster Mash, and attendees are invited to enter a costume contest either alone or in a group.

The Watergate Hotel

For a big-ticketed way to celebrate the holiday, head to the rooftop of the Watergate Hotel and book one of its private dining igloos. For the Halloween season, the domes have been decked out in decor with drink specials to match. Reservations are now open with rental prices ranging between $150 to $300.

Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken

Stranger Things super fans, rejoice. Astro Doughnuts & Fried Chicken offers special half-dozen boxes of doughnuts themed after the show through the end of this month. Feast on four unique flavors, like the chocolate “Upside-Down” doughnut made with a grey cinnamon-honey glaze and black sugar, or the raspberry-jam filled “Demogorgon Doughnut.” Orders must be placed 24 hours in advance and picked up at the G Street NW or Falls Church locations.

Astro Doughnuts’s Stranger Things specials.
Scott Suchman

Urban Roast

Urban Roast takes holidays seriously, and Halloween is no different. The Penn Quarter cafe is currently jam packed with skeletons, cobwebs, life-like ghouls, and reapers at every twist and turn. S’mores sets the mood outdoors.

Urban Roast takes Halloween to new heights.
Leo Lee

Art and Soul

This Capitol Hill restaurant celebrates spooky season with drink specials like “Just A Bunch of Hocus Pocus,” made with matcha-infused vodka, cold-pressed green apple juice, basil ginger syrup, and lemon juice with a spray of absinthe and charcoal salt around the rim.

“Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus” at Art and Soul.
Art and Soul

Assembly

Stop by the Rosslyn food hall on Saturday, October 29 for a family-friendly Halloween brunch, complete with live music, face painting, and chances to collect candy.

Clarendon Ballroom

B Social Hospitality throws a Clarendon Halloween Block Party on Saturday, October 29 with drink specials, DJs and bands, a costume contest with a $1,000 prize, free raffles, surprise giveaways, and party favors. Featured bars included Clarendon Ballroom, B Live, The Lot, Pamplona, and more. Register here.

Pink Taco

On Saturday, October 29, Pink Taco hosts a Dia De Los Muertos-themed party from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dress up for a costume contest with a $500 gift card prize, nosh on free candy, and sip on drinks like the “Beauty School Dropout” margarita made with Patrón Blanco, Midori, lime juice, and honeydew syrup ($15 per glass or $50 per pitcher).

“Beauty School Dropout” cocktail at Pink Taco.
Pink Taco

King & Rye

Old Town’s South American restaurant in The Alexandrian hotel will host a Halloween “Hocus Pocus” brunch on Saturday, October 29 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. with themed cocktails and food specials. Guests are encouraged to come in costume to get 20-percent off of their bill. Restaurant gift cards are awarded to the best dressed.

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