What You're Drinking: Best Spooky Cocktails for Halloween in L.A.
If you're ready to get into the Halloween spirit early, leave your costume at home and head to your local neighborhood haunt for drinks that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit. There are a few spots with drinks on the menu that will speak to your love of the sinister and spooky side of Halloween.
"Estate of Mind"
Estate Restaurant + Bar
1519 Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90403
(310) 394-7722
www.estate1519.com
Squid can be used for more than just pasta, and Estate is just the place to introduce yourself to something new. The Estate of Mind features a squid ink simple syrup to sweeten a blend of gin, vermouth and grenadine. The final cocktail has an intriguing purpley-black hue, and it's topped with a serpentine twist of lime.
"The Final Burn"
Los Balcones
1360 Vine Street
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 871-9600
www.LosBalconesPeru.com
Los Balcones' fashioned a cocktail that breaks away from its usual Peruvian fare, but it's great for the upcoming holiday. The Final Burn is a cocktail made with Mezcal, alpine liqueur, yellow chartreuse and fresh lime juice. The glass is rinsed with absinthe and activated charcoal, creating a rich, dark hue.
"Nightmare on 12th Street"
Barcito
403 West 12th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 415-1821
www.barcitola.com
One of DTLA's newer eateries in town invites you down to the neighborhood for a Nightmare on 12th Street. The drink is a classic margarita with blue agave tequila, agave syrup and fresh lime juice with a rim of black Himalayan salt. A couple of dry ice pellets will send a poof of smoke your way. The Nightmare on 12th Street will only be available on October 30-31, so make sure to get there or you'll miss out on this truly tasty cocktail!
"The Cauldron"
Bar10
8933 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(323) 332-6445
www.bar10weho.com
West Hollywood's Bar10 is joining in on the fun and spookiness of Halloween by offering not one, but two inspired cocktails sure to get Angelenos in the mood to celebrate All Hallows' Eve! Available October 26th thru Halloween, "The Cauldron" includes spiced rum, cherry liqueur, blackberry dordial and a dash of fresh lime juice. Or, try the "Irish Autumn" drink, with Tullamore Dew Whiskey, Baileys, and pumpkin spice liquor pumpkin purée with a graham cracker & pumpkin pie spice crust
"Failure to Communicate"
The Eveleigh
8752 Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(424) 239-1630
www.theeveleigh.com
A twist on the traditional pickle back that may remind you of a deconstructed witch's brew, The Eveleigh's Failure to Communicate drink is a cocktail served as a flight with mezcal, bourbon and salty, tangy brine. Bite into the smoked salt-topped, green chartreuse-pickled egg and okra to complete the spell.
"Zombie Cocktail"
Ray's & Stark Bar
5905 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 857-6180
www.raysandstarkbar.com
If you've ever wanted to be one of the walking dead for Halloween, try Ray's & Stark Bar's Zombie cocktail. A mix of three rums, the cocktail comes with a housemade grenadine, and the bar's secret Tiki Mix. The drink packs a punch though, so once you order a second, consider yourself cut off. Or else you may end up looking and acting like the undead.
"For The Watch"
The Wallace
3833 Main Street
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 202-6400
www.TheWallaceLA.com
The Wallace welcomes you to its Culver City bar for a few fall cocktails that are velvety dark like the dead of night. One such tasty Halloween inspired cocktail is The Watch, a mix of whiskey, amaro, French cherry liqueur, grapefruit juice and squid ink. Your coupe glass is a swirling black pool perfect for sipping.
"Sabrinatini"
Barton G. LA
861 North La Cienega Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(310) 388-1888
www.bartongtherestaurantla.com
Barton G.'s Sabrinatini is a liquid nitrogen-infused drink that sizzles before you with a swirl of cool smoke around your martini glass. The cocktail, which comes with a little swizzle stick to add an intoxicating vapor to the experience, is a blend of orange vodka and watermelon liqueur with your own nitro-champagne swizzle stick and a dangling chocolate monkey.
"Black Thai Optional"
E.P. & L.P.
603 North La Cienega Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 855-9955
www.eplosangeles.com
One of LA's hottest restaurant/bar's is pulling out the stops for Halloween as well. E.P.'s restaurant bar fashioned a "Black Thai Optional" cocktail that eerily plays with black and white, and light and dark. The bottom layer is a blend of gin, lychee, lemon, amaro and housemade activated coconut husk charcoal, while the top layer is a foamy, frothy egg white. The drink combines sweet and sour elements, along with restorative ingredients that will hopefully balance any effects of your barfly lifestyle.
