It’s Halloween pop-up season at Austin bars! Here’s what you can expect at some of the city’s best:
The Halloween pop-up at Gibson Street Bar, 1109 S. Lamar Blvd., is called Twisted Carnival and it’s my favorite! Instead of entering through the bar’s usual front door along South Lamar Boulevard, you enter through a side door that’s been turned into a big devil mouth. 👀
The decor is top tier – skeletons hang outside the bar’s windows, spooky faces line the roof, and freaky carnival paraphernalia litters the place.
The bar is offering up fun drinks during the pop-up, which lasts through Halloween. I had the Bearded Lady, a sweet, whiskey-based drink that comes with a gummy worm, and the Ectoplasm, which is a creepy, green slushie with black salt. It was boozy, but went down soooo smooth.
The pop-up does not require reservations and is free to attend.
👻 King Bee
The pop-up at King Bee, 1906 E. 12th St., is called Black Lagoon. The decor inside is dark, green, and definitely swamp-like. Neon green lights cover the place, webs stretch across the ceiling, and skeletons are around every corner.
Plus, the drinks come in cool glasses that you can purchase. (I bought the horror mermaid mug.)
I tried the Creature’s Curse, which is like an Old-fashioned and came in a skull and tentacle glass. The Black Tide was in an angler fish mug, and despite the fact that I hate mezcal, it was freaking delicious!
The pop-up is open through Halloween.
Lefty’s Brick Bar, 1813 E. Sixth St., is hosting their Shop of Horrors pop-up through Nov. 2. Themed drinks, tarot card readings, and scary movie screenings are all part of the fun.
The decor is all over the place – think freak show meets carnival meets crime scene. Expect creepy dolls, festive lights, and ghosts.
I tried the Sinister Sour, which is a bourbon-based apple cider, and a smokey mezcal drink called the Toxic Elixir that was served in a mug that looks like the mask from “Scream.” Both drinks were great!
