James T. Bartlett

The nights are getting colder, the pumpkins and skeleton decorations are up, and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is playing in theaters. It must be the spookiest time of year: Halloween. Dating back some 2,000 years, All Hallows’ Eve originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a pagan celebration beginning on the evening of October 31 that marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the “darker half” of the year. During that time, people lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off spirits, as it was believed the barrier between the living and spirit worlds was weakened. L.A.’s heritage might not stretch back that far, but we still have a century of Old Hollywood history to draw from—and some of the city’s most popular drinking destinations have a dark past hidden behind the glamour. Read on for a list of 10 bars, hotels and restaurants where you can sip spirits alongside actual spirits. The spots have been frequented by both stars—there’s even a Taylor Swift cameo or two—and specters. Which will you encounter when you visit?