IF YOU DON’T have a view of the many fireworks displays around town on July 4, these spots are celebrating Independence Day with dinner, brunch, live music, deals, drinks and a seat to Houston’s spectacularly lit-up sky show.
“IT LANDED RIGHT in it,” says Houston artist and scientist Suzette Mouchaty.
Buttermilk Baby
Not Your Nana's Martini at Auden (photo by Jordan Hughes)
Auden is getting into the Halloween spirit with special spooky drinks and an all-day happy hour on Thursday, Oct. 31. The sophisticated Autry Park restaurant will be mixing up enchanting concoctions on Halloween day, such as Vampire Kiss with raspberry liqueur and champagne. Patrons can toast to All Hallows Eve with the Purple People Eater with blue Curacao and white rum, or the Witches Brew, an elixir of pear liqueur and smoked jalapeno tequila. Auden is open Thursday, Oct. 31, from 5pm to 10pm.
Cocosol cocktail at Aye Candy (photo by George Villa)
This hidden speakeasy is offering a wickedly fun time on Halloween with a costume contest. Judges will vote based on creativity and overall look, awarding $1,000 to the 1st place winner, $500 to 2nd place, and $250 to 3rd place. DJ Jaime Martinez is set to spin spooktacular tunes, while guests can gnosh on Halloween skull and ghost strawberries from Chocolate Dippin. Bewitching beverages for the night include the Panama Spice Carajillo, with choice of whiskey, tequila or rum, then blended with Arroz con Pina, a traditional Panamanian horchata infused with sweet pineapple and cinnamon. The Wonkatini is a dreamy blend of vodka, creme de vanille, Licor 43, chocolate, heavy creamy, Ghirardelli white chocolate, and garnished with a spooky chocolate eye from Mostly Chocolate. Open on Thursday, Oct. 31, from 5pm to 2am. The costume contest is at 10pm.
Brennan's Witchy Brunch
Ghouls just gotta have fun! Eat, drink, be mischievous, and head to Houston’s iconic Cajun/Creole palace for theWitchy Brunch featuring a three-course meal with favorites like turtle soup and Eggs Brennan (and a complimentary cocktail!). Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 713.522.9711.Available 11am-2pm Friday, October 25, and Sunday, October 27.
A Halloween ice cream toppings bar awaits: Buttermilk Baby in M-K-T Heights will serve its Carvel soft-serve with a special Halloween-themed pop-up toppings bar on the patio from noon to 6pm Saturday, Oct. 26. Come to lap it up during the beautiful fall weather!
Coffee at Dandelion (photo by Becca Wright)
Magical things are happening at Dandelion Cafe this Halloween. Now through Oct. 31, the cafe’s three locations will serve two whimsical, lush ube lattes to celebrate the holiday. Guests can choose between the Witches Brew, a purple ube latte with oat milk served hot or cold, or the Spooky Ube, an ube-flavored frozen drink with crushed Oreo cookies and topped with crushed Oreos and whipped cream.
Cocktails at Cursed Cauldron
Step into another world where witches rule and magic thrives. On Halloween, guests can compete in a spellbinding costume contest with first place receiving a $250 cash prize for the most impressive/elaborate costume. Prizes will also be given for People’s Choice and Most Magical.
This traveling pop-up is at Aero Cocktail Co. for its second year, bringing enchanted vibes to Houston. Guests will be fully immersed in the experience with specially designed decor and themed drinks such as Freyja’s Cup, a Skyy Blood Orange Vodka cocktail with strawberry, rose, honey, lemon and Fever Tree Ginger Beer, or Old Magick with Redemption Rye Whiskey, black sesame, vanilla and sinnamon smoke. No ghouls need to leave hungry, as Aero Cocktail Co. provides savory bites like Char-Boo-terie Boards, Hocus PocusPopcorn and Paranormal Pizza. Open through Nov. 2, from Tuesdays-Saturdays, 4pm-12am, and Sundays from 2pm-10pm. “Witches Hour” is 4pm-6pm from Tuesday-Friday with $10 cocktails & 25 percent off food.
Halloween Spooktacular at Feges BBQ's Spring Branch location
Houston families can kick off Halloween festivities at Feges BBQ Spring Branch’s annual Halloween Spooktacular on Oct. 26. The BBQ joint will transform into a spooky spectacle complete with “Cupcake’s Haunted House,” a “Dragon’s Nest” play area, themed bounce house, tarot card readings, pumpkin-decorating ($5 per pumpkin) and more, while Hocus Pocus plays on the restaurant’s TVs. Costumes are encouraged, and a costume contest will award best family costume, best costume under 12 years old, and best costume 12 and up. Feges’ classic Texas BBQ menu will be available along with tantalizing drink specials. The event runs from 3pm-6pm. Entry is free.
Holey Moley cocktails
Those that have the guts to hit the green can have a ghoulish good time at Holey Moley Mini Golf. Now through Nov. 1, the Caddy Shack bar will be serving spooky cocktails to get into the Halloween spirit including The Dead Duck with Tito’s vodka, pineapple, coconut cream, lime and chamoy, Witches Brew with Tito’s vodka, Triple Sec, lemon, sage and egg whites, and Worms of the Dirt with Tito’s vodka, Nutella, coffee liqueur, cream, and Oreos, plus a Spider Juice shooter with Tito’s vodka, apple pucker, honey and lemon.
Also expect live entertainment including magicians and DJs throughout the two-week celebration, and guests who dress up will receive a ‘treat’ from the team of spooky staff. Booking link here.
Costume contest at Montrose Cheese & Wine
Do our pets like dressing up for Halloween? Apparently so! Goodnight Hospitality's Montrose Cheese and Wine is hosting their third annual dog costume contest throughout October for guests that come by and enjoy an afternoon or evening on the patio with their dressed-up dog(s). The winner will receive a bag of Olympia provisions dog treats for their pup, and a 6 pack of wine for the human!
Mostly Chocolates
Houston’s premier chocolatier, Mostly Chocolate, has a delectable array of handcrafted artisanal chocolates that exude autumnal flavors and will taste like fall even if our Houston weather is still catching up.
Shop Halloween by checking out the Trick-or-Treat Chocolate Box (4 or 6 pieces, starting at $14.75) for your Halloweenie sweetie, which includes two seasonal flavors of Lingonberry Oatmeal and Pumpkin Pie. There is also an array of savory sweet treats that are frightfully delightful like Celebration Popcorn, Potato Chips, Pretzels and Fritos or the famous chocolate dipped and decorated Oreos and Rice Krispies. All of these Halloween flavors and Mostly Chocolate classics are available in store or online in Build Your Own Boxes (6, 12, 16, 25 or 36 pieces, starting at $21).
Lady Stephanie Kimbrell, Cory McGee, and Butler Studio artists, Ani Kushyan, Alissa Goretsky and Elizabeth Hanje (photo by Michelle Watson)
“Stephen Wadsworth’s brand-new production of Verdi’s perennially popular tragedy sets the story in modern Spain,” notes a rep for the company, “where old and new worlds coexist, cathedrals comingling with street art.”
The elaborate sets — with graffiti-style accents by 26-year-old Houston street artist Floyd Mendoza — and engaging contemporary costuming awed the audience, to say nothing of the singing by worldwide opera luminaries Raehann Bryce-Davis, Ailyn Pérez, Michael Spyres, Lucas Meachem, and Morris Robinson. One of Houston’s most beloved arts leaders, Artistic and Musical Director Patrick Summers, who recently announced a shift to an emeritus role in 2026, conducted the orchestra.
After the opera, Janet Gurwitch and Ron Franklin, chairs of the evening, welcomed some 425 guests to Fish Plaza, where “décor by The Events Company blended old-world charm with a modern edge, the dramatic yet elegant ambiance accentuated by rich hues of burgundy, teal, navy blue, and gold,” said the HGO rep. Dinner included a raved-over beet salad with frisee followed by beef short ribs with butternut squash and mushrooms. For dessert: dark chocolate torte.
Boldface names seen schmoozing about incude HGO General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor, Margaret Alkek Williams, Molly and Jim Crownover, Isabel and Danny David, Tracy and Valerie Dieterich, Carey Kirkpatrick, Franci Neely, Duyen and Marc Nguyen, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Lindy and John Rydman, Anita and Gerald Smith, Phoebe and Bobby Tudor, Betty and Jesse Tutor, Hallie Vanderhider and famed opera composer Jake Heggie.
More than $600,000 was raised to support HGO’s community-engagement programs.
Omar and Maria Alaoui (photo by Michelle Watson)
Alecia Harris and Eivind Moen (photo by Emily Jaschke)
Lucas and Irina Meachem, and Tracy Maddox and John Serpe (photo by Emily Jaschke)
Janet Gurwitch, Raehann Bryce-Davis and Michelle Hevrdejs (photo by Michelle Watson)
Emily Bivona and Ryan Manser (photo by Emily Jaschke)
Nico Roussel and Teresa Procter (photo by Emily Jaschke)
Bobby and Phoebe Tudor (photo by Emily Jaschke)
Khori Dastoor and William and Huda Zoghbi (photo by Michelle Watson)
Melanie Smith and Michelle Klinger (photo by Michelle Watson)
