Halloween isn’t only about wearing cool costumes or participating in trick-or-treat activities. Many local bars and restaurants also get in on the fun by rolling out themed dinners or cocktails. There are also bar crawls where costumes are nearly required. If you like to eat and drink on Halloween, consider this your guide on where to go.
1. The Mothership
2301 S. LOGAN AVE.
This Bay View bar’s freaky ode to Halloween means putting up Halloween decorations, serving punch bowls and installing a fog machine. “She’s Not Humanbeing” is a holiday-specific cocktail that folds in malt whiskey, plum whiskey, gin, sparkling sake, ponzu (citrus-based Japanese sauce), shiso (a type of herb) and other ingredients.
2. Odd Duck
939 S. 2ND ST.
Called “Gods & Monsters: A Culinary Exploration of Greek Mythology,” Odd Duck’s 13th annual Halloween party will be on Oct. 31 at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are needed for the six-course, ancient Greek cuisine dinner that’s also paired with Greek beverages. Note that costumes are “highly encouraged.” There will also be décor and music tied to the Greek theme.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
3. MOTOR Bar & Restaurant
400 W. CANAL ST.
The Harley-Davidson Museum’s restaurant (MOTOR) introduces four Halloween-themed eats for October: Witches Brew Soup, Sticky Bat Wings, Don’t Fear the Reaper Chicken Sandwich and Pumpkin King Cheesecake. Its “Skulloween” celebration on Oct. 31 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. is a great opportunity to sample some of the new items, along with participate (or watch!) a costume contest and pumpkin carvings, as well as listen to live music by BiG SWIG and cozy up the fire pits while sipping spooky-themed cocktails.
4. The Dinner Detective
333 W. KILBOURN AVE.
This murder-mystery show is every Saturday night year-round at Hyatt Regency Milwaukee, including Oct. 26 (the closest date to Halloween). Diners are coaxed to help guests solve a mystery—all while enjoying dinner. Ticket price includes a four-course dinner, starting with an appetizer and Caesar salad, then an entrée of choice, dessert decided by the chef and coffee.
5. Indulgence Chocolatiers
211 S. 2ND ST. AND 320 HIGH ST. (THE CORNERS OF BROOKFIELD), BROOKFIELD
Halloween is already a chocolate-infused holiday but there’s no “trick or treat” needed at this artisan chocolatier. Both locations are hosting a class called “Halloween Cocktails & Chocolate” in October: Oct. 23 and Oct. 30 in Walker’s Point; and Oct. 25, Oct. 28 and Oct. 30 in Brookfield. Each attendee will be led through four pairings of chocolates and Halloween-themed cocktails.
6. Pomona Cider Co.
2163 N. FARWELL AVE.
“What We Do in the Cider Haus” is a themed two-night Halloween pop-up (Oct. 31 and Nov. 1) at this East Side cidery. Activities include a costume contest, “blood bag” cocktails, a DJ and late-night bites. VIP tickets are sold on the cidery’s website. On Oct. 29 is a “Blood Banquet” family-style dinner including roasted duck, “blood bag” cocktail and desserts, plus an optional add-on of a cider pitcher or cider flight.
7. This Is It!
418 E. WELLS ST.
Milwaukee native and famed drag queen Trixie Mattel is coming to this downtown LGBTQ+ bar on Oct. 27 for its Halloween party. The night’s events include a meet-and-greet with Trixie at 7 p.m., followed by her 9 p.m. performance and a costume contest.
8. Dead Bird Brewing Co.
424 W. WALNUT ST.
On Oct. 31 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. this craft brewery in Halyard Park is showing horror films and hosting horror-movie trivia. The films will be shown on a projector as well as TV screens, with trivia starting at 7 p.m. Winning trivia teams also earn prizes. There’s also a costume contest awarding prizes.
9. Turner Hall Ballroom
1040 VEL R. PHILLIPS AVE.
Dubbed “The Party Vault,” this live-music venue is hosting a Halloween-themed concert on Nov. 2 with bands, of course, but also specialty drinks. While listening to music performances by The Shake Ups and The Threepios, you can also enjoy immersive video games, photo-op props (even better if you’re dressed in costume!) and the immersive feeling of being in this faux, post-apocalyptic vault setting.
10. Biersal Tavern
5520 W. VLIET ST.
Biersal, the gorgeous remake of the former Wonders Pub, is going goth all October long with its “Nightmare on Vliet Street” events – as well as spooky decor and music, themed drinks and costumes encouraged all month long. Events include a fall foliage motorcycle ride to Holy Hill on Oct. 19, an 11-vendor Sideshow Market on Oct. 20, a Rocky Horror Picture Show theme night on Oct. 26 and a Halloween costume contest featuring special tappings of big barrel-aged beers from Revolution Brewing. Check the full schedule here.
11. Kelly’s Bleachers
5218 W. BLUEMOUND RD.
Among the prizes at this bar’s Oct. 26 annual costume contest are a pair of Green Bay Packers tickets or $500 cash. Those placing in the top-four spots in the contest win prizes. A live DJ and drink specials will also be offered. Then, on Nov. 2, is the “Last Chance Halloween Contest” designed for those who truly feel their costume is unique and special – and they’re going to try one more time to win a prize.
12. Love’s Lounge
201 W. MITCHELL ST.
This bar’s Halloween party (on Oct. 26) – named Creative Creatures Social Night – has a little bit of everything, such as hookahs, dancing, food, drinks and performers. Costumes are highly encouraged.
13. Thelma Carol Wine Merchants
605 W. VIRGINIA ST.
For this Walker’s Point wine bar’s Halloween event, dubbed “All Hollow’s Eve: Wee Franc Fest,” and on Oct. 31, 10 Cabernet Franc wines will be poured. This is a follow-up to the wine bar’s past Franc Fest tasting.
14. Busby’s
3475 S. KINNICKINNICK AVE.
This new-ish bar in the former Romans’ Pub space is hosting a “Fears and Beers” holiday party on Saturday, Oct. 26 featuring a lineup of horror movies curated by “DJ Corpse Reviver,” trivia, food from Hot Box Pizza truck, a costume contest, tarot readings and a tap takeover of Component Brewing beers, including a 6.66% ABV black IPA called The Blackest Eyes and Oh My Gourd pumpkin spice latte ale. The festivities run from 7 p.m.-midnight.
Bar Crawls
15. Halloween Bar Crawl
1219 N. WATER ST.
If nailing down one, or even two or three, bars to visit is not appealing then sign up for this Halloween Bar Crawl, organized by Brothers Bar and Grill. It’s on Oct. 26 between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. How the crawl works is that the $15 ticket price (the cost goes down to $10 per ticket if you buy as a group) includes 2-3 drinks, plus exclusive food and drink specials at bars. There are 16 bars on the crawl, including This Is It!, McGillycuddy’s, Trinity Three Irish Pubs, Drink Wisconsinbly Pub and State Street Pizza Pub.
16. Boos Fest
This is the first year for this curated bar crawl that, on Nov. 2, includes downtown bars like McGillycuddy’s, Brothers Bar & Grill, Red Rock Saloon and Lucky Clover Irish Pub. Participants in the crawl must start at Brothers Bar & Grill between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Each bar will have drink specials and there’s also a Halloween costume contest. The $22.49 ticket price includes free covers at the participating bars and the VIP tickets ($49.99) feature an additional perk: a VIP Halloween cocktail tasting at three venues.
17. Halloween Bar Crawl
Pub Crawls third bar crawl for Halloween is on Halloween itself (Oct. 31), including visits to at least four bars. Drinks inspired by Halloween as well as a costume contest are also part of the fun, just like the previous two crawls.
18. Fright Night Halloween Bar Crawl
158 E. JUNEAU AVE.
Each ticket to this Oct. 25 bar crawl, organized by Pub Crawls, includes free entry to at least four bars, as well as spooky-themed drink specials and food specials. At least four venues are included. To enter the costume contest, participants post a photo to Instagram of them in their costume, tagging @pubcrawlers.
19. Official Halloween Bar Crawl
In addition to Fright Night Halloween Bar Crawl, Pub Crawls will host the Official Halloween Bar Crawl on Oct. 26. The itinerary takes participants to at least four bars in Milwaukee with Halloween decorations and a unique Halloween cocktail or drink at each one. Between two and three drinks are included with each ticket and entry into the participating bars is covered. A costume contest is also available to participants, with the entry rules the same as the night prior.
