Halloween 2020: Pumpkin-Themed Menus, Virtual Costume Contests, and More

Due to the pandemic, virtual costume contests and spread-out dinner plans are the name of the game for Halloween this year. For those looking to go out for some socially-distant celebrating, restaurants across the city are still making the most of the occasion with pumpkin-spiced baked goods, spooky cocktails, and more. Here, we’ve rounded up a list of restaurants plotting Halloween-themed menus and events for the holiday.

Brooklyn Heights: Seafood spot Estuary, located at the One15 Brooklyn Marina, is hosting a family-friendly event on October 31 from 4 p.m to 8 p.m. where children are invited to dip a free candy apple in chocolate, caramel, or sugar. Adults in costume get a 10 percent discount on cocktails. 159 Bridge Park Drive, across from Pier 5 at Brooklyn Bridge Park

East Village: Neighborhood restaurateur Ravi DeRossi is hosting a family-friendly trick-or-treat event along East 7th Street from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on October 31 that includes nearly 30 volunteer-run candy pickup stations for kids. Adults can grab complimentary mulled wine and spiced cider from two of DeRossi’s participating restaurants, Ladybird and Avant Garden. On East 7th Street, between Avenue A and First Avenue

Financial District: Magic-themed pub the Cauldron has been hosting pumpkin carvings for the month of October, and over Halloween weekend the restaurant is doing a dinner and cocktail event with items like cheesy cauliflower, fish and chips, and complementary prosecco. 47 Stone Street, between Mill Lane and Coenties Alley

Courtesy of KinKa

Flatiron: KinKa, the plant store that shares space with Maki Kosaka — the more casual sushi offshoot from the Michelin-starred Kosaka team — is selling 3-D carved pumpkins for $75 apiece from now until October 31. Customers can pick up the pumpkins at Maki Kosaka or KinKa offers delivery for those located within 10011 and 10010 zip codes. 55 W. 19th Street, near Sixth Avenue

Greenwich Village: Buzzy Chinese snack shop Crop Circle added a pumpkin puree-stuffed guokui to the menu as a fall-slash-Halloween special. 126 Macdougal Street, between Bleecker Street and West 3rd Street

Hell’s Kitchen: Brunch favorite Alfie’s Bar & Kitchen is doing a special for Halloween serving pumpkin spice pancakes with a vanilla cream cheese drizzle and candied pecans. 800 Ninth Avenue, at West 53rd Street

Hell’s Kitchen: French spot Le Privé is doing a Great Gatsby-themed party on October 31 with complementary champagne offered alongside the restaurant’s signature cocktails and French food. The party will be spread out between the restaurant’s heated outdoor patio and its dining room, which is open at 25 percent capacity. 626 Tenth Avenue, between West 44th and West 45th Streets

Westville [Official]

Hudson Square: More than half a dozen bars, restaurants and cafes are participating in the Hudson Square Business Improvement District’s Halloween special which runs from now through October 31. Among the participating restaurants are casual American mini-chain Westville, which is serving drinks like Witches Margarita and Vampire’s Kiss, and Seven Grams Caffé, which is doing a pumpkin bread with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.

Noho: Between 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Halloween, Twitter and Instagram users can enter a chance to win a delivery from the Sour Patch Kids store. The order will include the brand’s zombie candy and branded toilet paper, among other items. 655 Broadway, at Bond Street

Nolita: Michelin-starred New Zealand restaurant the Musket Room is hosting magician and mentalist Mark Clearview on October 31 and November 1 for a dinner show featuring mind-reading and card tricks. Tickets are $190 per person and include a three-course menu, with vegetarian options available, paired with three cocktails. 265 Elizabeth Street, between Prince Street and East Houston Street

PDA [Official]

Park Slope: Ex-Speedy Romeo chef Robert Guimond’s neighborhood pizzeria Public Display of Affection (PDA) is hosting a patio party from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., on October 31. Menu items include Murder Point oysters from the Gulf of Mexico; drinks like Johny’s Walking Potion which features bourbon, cider, ginger, and apples; and seasonal pies like the sausage and mushroom pizza with gochujang and pickled broccoli stem. 669 Union Street, at Fourth Avenue

Soho: Burger-and-shake spot Black Tap is selling two blowout Halloween milkshakes — one topped with crushed candy corn, and the other with a Halloween-themed cake from Georgetown Cupcakes — from its to-go only pop up in Soho. The candy corn shake, which comes with a free Economy Candy trick-or-treat bag while supplies last, is available from October 24 through October 31 only for delivery through Black Tap’s website. The other shake is available from October 30 to November 1 for takeout or delivery. 529 Broome Street, between Thompson Street and Sullivan Street

Times Square: Broadway staple Ellen’s Stardust Diner has several socially-distant Halloween events planned for the holiday. The diner’s annual costume contest is going virtual this year; participants can upload photos of themselves dressed as their favorite Broadway character here and winners will be announced on October 30 and 31. On those days, the diner’s famed singing waitstaff will be performing hit Halloween songs at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The first set is family-friendly while the second set is geared towards ages 16 and up. Reservations for the performances are available through Yelp. 1650 Broadway, at West 51st Street

Williamsburg: A brand new location of hefty cookie chain Chip opens on October 31 with a Halloween-slash-opening day special. The first 100 customers will get a free cookie after the shop opens at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and the location will be stocking two Halloween-themed cookies, Frightfetti and Monster Chip. 123 Kent Avenue, between North 6th and North 7th Streets

Baked by Melissa [Official]

Staten Island: Barbecue joint Juicy Lucy — which opened a drive-in movie theater in its parking lot over the summer in response to the pandemic — will be screening several classic Halloween films this weekend and next, including It, Nightmare on Elm Street, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Each $40 ticket covers one car parking spot and a $20 credit towards food and drinks. Reserve spots online ahead of time. 809 Father Capodanno Blvd, between Seaver Avenue and Slater Boulevard

NYC: Mini-cupcake purveyor Baked by Melissa is doing a variety of Halloween-themed gift packs that run through November 3. Prices range from $8.50 to $120 for various sized cupcake packs and flavors include the Midnight Munchies, which is a dulce de leche stuffed chocolate cake topped with pretzel icing, potato chips, and chocolate brittle; and the Spooky Tie Dye, which features a vanilla tie dye cake. Multiple locations and online