A Spooky Season Guide to Downtown NYC
New Yorkers take every holiday seriously, and Halloween in the city is just as wild as you could imagine. From the delightful Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade to nightmarish immersive art installations, NYC has got you covered in the Halloween department. With only a few days to go before Halloween, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite downtown spots to get you in the spooky season spirit, including where to shop for both costumes and white magic spell ingredients, where to eat “spooky Italian fare,” and the best historic drinking dens for a possible run-in with a ghost.
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You have probably heard of Enchantments—the oldest occult store in New York City—if you are an experienced practitioner of white magic (or if The Craft is your favorite movie.) Here, tarot cards, candles, incense, talismans, bath salts, essential oils, books on witchcraft and astrology, and more line the shelves, while store cats prowl the aisles. Not experienced at casting spells? The staff can help you get started with a personalized pillar candle. It’s carved with your name, astrological sign, and “magical symbols” and used “as a tool to help manifest your intention.” Fear not! There’s no “double, double toil and trouble!” at Enchantments. Here, the “harm none” principle is followed, and black magic is not endorsed.
165 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009; T: (212) 228-4394
Established in 1880, the White Horse Tavern is NYC’s second-oldest bar. It started out as the go-to spot for dock workers by the Hudson River, and by the 1950s and 1960s, it became a magnet for writers and artists in the bohemian scene. Frequent patrons included Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, James Baldwin, Jack Kerouac, and Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, who was a fan because it reminded him of his favorite spots back in Wales—and who is said to have died back at Hotel Chelsea after drinking 18 shots of whiskey at this legendary haunt. The bar still has its original wood and tin ceilings and a life-size portrait of Thomas on the wall, showing him standing in front of his favorite spot: the bar. But these days, it’s less of a writer’s watering hole and more popular with history-seeking tourists, the brunch crowd, and those hoping for a run-in with the ghost of Thomas.
567 Hudson St; T. (212) 989-3956
Expect to mingle with in-the-know city dwellers at The Headless Widow, a dimly lit, gothic-chic cocktail tavern on the corner of 2nd Avenue and 6th Street. Slip into a cherry-red tufted banquette or take a seat at the dark-wood, candlelit bar and order a craft cocktail. Stand-outs include “The Guillotini” (gin, raspberry, black pepper, lemon, egg white, and dry vermouth) and “High Tea” (pear vodka, rose water, pomegranate juice, and fresh lime). Plus, many of the beautifully poured cocktails are served in equally beautiful glassware. Elevated bar bites include everything from oysters and mussels to nachos and a gigantic NYC street vendor-style pretzel with cheesy jalapeño dipping sauce.
99 1st Avenue; T. (917) 409-0446
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There’s no spooky season hotspot quite like Gothic Renaissance, not to be confused with its sprawling next-door neighbor, Halloween Adventure Shop. The aptly named indie boutique has been dressing goths, club kids, pop stars, and more since 1999 and offers “the most expansive selection of corsets in NYC.” During Halloween, you’ll find the intimate boutique brimming with Halloween costumes, a killer collection of boots, leather jackets, and accessories, like vampire teeth, elaborate wigs, spiked hats, colored contacts, and wacky masks. Keep your eyes open: you just might run into your favorite stylist, designer, or celebrity getting in the spooky spirit.
110 4th Avenue; T. (212) 780-9558
Feel like you’re at CBGB, in a deleted scene in 1987’s Lost Boys—or, according to one Google review, “the place where the Joker would hang night after night before and after bashing Batman”—at this no-frills Lower East Side punk rock dive bar. Opened in 2013, the small, kitschy space is drenched in red lighting, and every inch of the walls is covered in in-your-face graffiti. You can’t help but love this grimy dive, especially the cheap beer and shots, the blaring punk rock music, and killer people-watching opportunities.
21 Essex St.
This buzzy, new-ish wine bar and eatery from Roberta’s co-founders Carlo Mirarchi and Brandon Hoy serves up “spooky Italian fare” and “an uninhibited natural wine list” on Avenue A. Translation: There are a lot of inventive dishes for those with adventurous palates, like polenta topped with uni, veal tortellini with amaretto, and wood oven-grilled guinea hen with grilled radicchio. The always-packed cavernous haunt flickers with candles and has a Gothic-meets-cozy vibe, featuring an open kitchen, a wood-burning oven, glass chandeliers, and exposed brick. And don’t get us started on the magical wine list. In other words, The Foul Witch is this Halloween’s place to see and be seen.
15 Avenue A
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From burlesque and drag shows to Broadway performers belting their faces off at open mics, you can always expect something wild going down at Club Cumming, the queer Alphabet City bar and cabaret space co-owned by Alan Cumming. On any given night at this crazy, sexy, cool haunt, a rotating group of performers takes the red neon-lit stage. There’s much to look forward to during the spooky season, including a Sex and the City-themed variety show on Halloween night. Because nothing’s spookier than Carrie’s designer shoe addiction. Check out the event calendar here.
505 East 6th St, New York, NY 10009; T: (917) 265-8006
The Hotel Chelsea has hosted some of the world’s most famous creatives, from Patti Smith and Janis Joplin to Jack Kerouac and Mark Twain. Another fun fact: Some of its tenants claim that the bohemian landmark is home to a few friendly ghosts. You don’t necessarily need to book a room for a potential paranormal encounter. Simply head to the beyond-atmospheric Lobby Bar, which is situated on the ground floor of the renowned hotel and features original mosaic floors, artwork created by past visitors and tenants, restored ceilings featuring antique chandeliers, and more. Sip a classic martini at the marble-clad bar counter, mingle with designer-clad guests, and recall the storied history of this eternal hotspot. Potential conversation starters could include how the hotel was a shooting location featured in several Andy Warhol films and Madonna’s infamous “Sex” book. The most spine-tingling story? The mysterious murder of Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of Sex Pistols’ bass player Sid Vicious, upstairs in room 100.
226 W 23rd St; T. (212) 483-1010
Situated on the ground floor of the James Brown House, a New York City-designated landmark, this laidback Hudson Square bar is one of the oldest existing drinking establishments in NYC. Open since 1817, the bar—whose upstairs apartment was once a boarding house, brothel, speakeasy, smuggler’s den, and more—is unsurprisingly said to be home to several friendly ghosts, with the most popular being a sailor named Mickey, who was rumored to have drunk himself to death here in the late 1800s. Today, the bar’s tables are covered in butcher paper (crayons are provided!) and the walls are covered in nautical-themed objects, like life jackets and oars. Hungry? Burgers, salads, and a tasty chicken pot pie are on the menu, which pair perfectly with a draft beer.
326 Spring St; T. (212) 226-9060
WORDS Alex Catarinella
FEATURED IMAGE whitehorsetavern1880.com