The best Halloween bars in NYC

Honor icons lost through the ages like The Notorious B.I.G., Jimi Hendrix, Selena Quintanilla and Ruth Bader Ginsburg from now through November at this photogenic pop-up downtown. The temporary installation pairs swaths of marigolds with drinks like the tequila-based Certified Sad Boy and the rummy Weeping in Queens.

This storefront is unassuming enough, until a host dressed as Beetlejuice pounces as though you’ve uttered his name thrice, ushering you through the door. Inside the boozy homage to all things Tim Burton, a narrow barroom is splashed with Instagram-ready decor, including those iconic black and white stripes, Corpse Bride art, and portraits of the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town himself, Mr. Jack Skellington.

This is one of the oldest bars in New York, and it has the antique furnishings, creaky floorboards and aged wood to prove it. But there are spookier aspects of this downtown watering hole than just cobwebs and dust. Fraunces, a national historic landmark, is frequently included on lists of the most haunted buildings in New York. 

Unfurl your cloak and mix an elixir with molecular mixology techniques during a potion experience class that mixes sips with a little back of the bar knowledge. Potion making sessions include a welcome drink and two DIY tipples. 

You’re likely familiar with the The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or at least the tropes that followed in the 135 years since its publication. The tale comes alive in kitschy fashion at this Gothic homage to the internal battle between good and evil and popcorn shrimp. 

The sprawling bar at Pier 15 might not be as large as a boneyard, but its 10,000 square feet are a lot roomier than your average pub. And starting on October 24 it transforms from an Oktoberfest destination into a Halloween dream replete with DJ sets, scary film screenings and glow in the dark drinks in a costume-friendly environment. 

Boldly asserting itself as "the sexiest bar in NYC," Madame X is definitely where vampires would gather. Its awash in dim crimson light cascading over sumptuous red velvet and amnimal print sofas. The art and the lampshades are suggestive (yeah, you're like, what, suggestive lampshades? but try to picture it...yep, that's the one!) and cocktails like the Goodnight Kiss (cherry vodka, pineapple, blackberry syrup) seal the deal. 

The inside of this subterranean metal dive glows like the burning flames of hell; but don’t worry, it’s just the eerie illumination of red twinkle lights. Sidle up to a resident skeleton, tip back a PBR, play some Cannibal Corpse on the jukebox, and toast the undead.

Dangling chandeliers, pressed-tin ceilings and a fireplace decorate this Victorian-inspired spot that could masquerade as  a haunted house. Cozy up with a date on the red velvet couches or chat with pals over rounds of draft beers and mixed drinks.