A Spooky Season Guide to Downtown NYC
Our favorite local spots to get you in the Halloween spirit—from the oldest occult store in NYC to the most haunted historic drinking dens.
New Yorkers take every holiday seriously, and Halloween in the city is just as wild as you could imagine. With only a couple of weeks 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 catch a drag or burlesque show, 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; T: (212) 228-4394
Expect to mingle with in-the-know city dwellers at The Headless Widow, a dimly lit, gothic-chic cocktail tavern on the corner of 1st 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. Standouts include “The Guillotini” (gin, dry vermouth, lemon, egg white, and raspberries) and “High Tea” (pear vodka, rose water, pomegranate, 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 beer cheese.
99 1st Avenue; T. (917) 409-0446
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Established in 1880, the White Horse Tavern is often billed as 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 had become 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. Legend has it that Thomas downed 18 shots of whiskey here in 1953 before collapsing back at the Hotel Chelsea; he died days later. 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 writers’ 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 Street; T. (212) 989-3956
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 Buffy the Vampire Slayer-themed burlesque show the night after Halloween. Check out the event calendar here.
505 East 6th Street; T: (917) 265-8006
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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. 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 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 from 1987’s The 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 the killer people-watching.
21 Essex Street
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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. Serving drinks since 1817, the bar has seen the building used as a boarding house, brothel, speakeasy, smuggler’s den, and more. Unsurprisingly, it’s said to be home to several friendly ghosts, the most popular being Mickey, a sailor 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 Street; T. (212) 226-9060
The Hotel Chelsea has hosted some of the world’s most famous creatives, from Patti Smith and Janis Joplin to Jack Kerouac and Leonard Cohen. 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 for several Andy Warhol films and Madonna’s infamous Sex book. The most spine-tingling story? The mysterious death of Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious, upstairs in room 100.
222 West 23rd Street; T. (212) 483-1010
WORDS Alex Catarinella
PHOTOGRAPHY Kateryna Hliznitsova