Despite what your mum says, Halloween is not just for kids – although it’s fair to say our taste buds have grown more sophisticated since the days of apple bobbing and buckets of sweets. If you’re after a grown-up Halloween, look no further, as we’ve got the lowdown on everywhere you should be eating, drinking and partying this All Hallow’s Eve.
Bounce, Farringdon
What: Bounce on down to this ping pong joint for a thrilling Halloween party. You can expect moonwalking flash mobs and face painters, alongside alcoholic ‘blood’ bags and haunted house party tunes blasting all night. Pizzas are on hand for munching, while some ghoulish cocktails might help to calm your nerves.
Where: 121 Holborn, EC1N 2TD
Bread Street Kitchen, St Paul’s
What: You’ll find Gordon Ramsay’s St Paul’s outpost dressed for a ghoulish Halloween takeover. The kitchen will also be serving up a four-course ’ween menu, including dishes such as pig’s head croquettes with truffle mayo, braised beef feather blade with smashed pumpkin, and a sinfully rich chocolate fondant for dessert.
Where: 10 Bread Street, EC4M 9AJ
Bulgari Hotel, Knightsbridge
What: This cute-as-can-be pastry from Bulgari might be the sweetest treat we’ve seen this spooky season. The miniature pumpkin is made up of a pecan nut sponge concealing chocolate mousse and pumpkin brûlée, which is finished with a sprinkling of toasted pumpkin seeds and a (sort of) menacing chocolate face. Available until 1 November.
Where: Bulgari Hotel, 171 Knightsbridge, SW7 1DW
The Counter at Delaunay, Covent Garden
What: For slightly more grown-up Halloween treats, head to The Counter at The Delaunay, where head pastry chef Regis Negrier has created an array of frighteningly good sweets. Expect to find the likes of this life-size solid chocolate Scream Mask, alongside pumpkin and skull chocolate lollipops, and homemade Halloween biscuits.
Where: 55 Aldwych, WC2B 4BB
Galvin Hop, City
What: This Spitalfields bistrot from the Galvin brothers is marking the creepiest time of the year with a Halloween brunch on 27 and 28 October. Daring dishes to try include the likes of veal brain with pickled tongue and smoked mash, or octopus with Bloody Mary and chorizo. To finish, there’s red velvet vol-au-vent and a ‘blue murder’ cheese board.
Where: 35 Spital Square, E1 6DY
Honi Poké, Fenchurch and Soho
What: For one day only, fast casual spot Honi Poké will be re-vamping its ice cream bowls with a fang-tastic twist. The KakiGORY is blood red in colour, and lives up to its name thanks to a smothering of strawberry syrup and a topping of wriggly jelly snakes. It’s the perfect treat for all the blood-thirsty Londoners in town.
Where: 4-6 New London Street, EC3R 7NA; 82 Dean Street, W1D 3SP
The Ivy Soho Brasserie, Soho
What: The Ivy is usually a safe choice for a decent meal out, but diners on Halloween will feel anything but safe. For one night only, the Soho site will host a thrilled-themed evening where you can eat, drink and be scary. On the schedule, there’s spooky decor, Zombie cocktails and a pumpkin-inspired twist on the group’s signature melting chocolate bombe.
Where: 26-28 Broadwick Street, W1F 8JB
The Little Blue Door, Fulham
What: At this mock house share, you can attend one of a series of seven-course supper clubs called ‘Pleasure vs Pain’ (running 31 October to 2 November). The evenings will see dishes which all incorporate sight, sound, touch and taste, with examples including fish heads and locusts. Wash it all down with a hellfire jalapeño Martini.
Where: 871-873 Fulham Road, SW6 5HP
New Street Grill, City
What: The Halloween offering here is certainly not for the squeamish. New Street Grill will be dishing out Sweeney Todd pies from 29 October to 4 November, which is a game meat pie stuffed with diced wild boar, diced venison, partridge meat and pigeon meat. Completing the gruesome feast are two partridge legs sticking out of the pastry – only for the brave.
Where: 16a New Street, EC2M 4TR
Oscar Bar & Restaurant, Fitzrovia
What: Forget the tricks and enjoy the treats at a Halloween Afternoon Tea at Oscar Bar & Restaurant, available from 23-31 October. The seasonal tea includes cumin, pumpkin and goat’s cheese on granary bread, alongside gingerbread witches’ hats, a vanilla Chantilly pumpkin choux and spider web vanilla panna cotta macarons.
Where: Charlotte Street Hotel, 15-17 Charlotte Street, W1T 1RJ
Savage Garden, City
What: If all the zombies and ghosts roaming the streets on Halloween have left you in need of a stiff drink, take a trip to Savage Garden. Here, you can sip on the Devil’s Advocate cocktail, which is the classic ‘El Diablo’ reimagined with a savage-style twist: Olmeca Blanco mixed with pink grapefruit, lemon, blackcurrant and fresh sage.
Where: Doubletree by Hilton Hotel London – Tower of London, 7 Pepys Street, EC3N 4AF
Shoryu Ramen, Shoreditch
What: For a cutesy Halloween treat that you can take the kids to (even though this is really for you), make your way to Shoryu Ramen, which is offering a spooktacular three-course menu for £20. The menu features adorable ‘ghost’ bao buns, alongside ‘dracula’ ramen and a witch’s hat dessert.
Where: 45 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3HP
Terrace Bar at The Chesterfield, Mayfair
What: If you’re looking to capture that perfect ’ween 18 Instagram pic, we’d recommend flying over on your broomstick to The Chesterfield Hotel’s Terrace Bar. It’s serving up a Pumpkin Bloody Mary which mixes homemade pumpkin juice with vodka, Tabasco and lemon juice, and is served inside a smoking cauldron.
Where: Chesterfield Mayfair, 35 Charles Street, W1J 5EB
Wild Heart, Soho
What: For a side of devilishly good entertainment with your Halloween feast, saunter on down to Wild Heart at Sanctum Soho. You’ll tuck into a three-course menu, including a glass of Champagne, which sees the likes of devilled chicken liver on toasted brioche, and is finished off with a deliciously dark chocolate mousse.
Where: Sanctum Soho Hotel, 20 Warwick Street, W1B 5NF
If you’re more into actual spooks than Halloween’s faux-horrors, take a look at our feature on London pubs that are filled with spirits (and not the alcoholic kind…) .