Despite what your parents might tell you, Halloween is not just for kids. Although using bin bags and plastic teeth to dress up as Count Dracula may be among your favourite childhood memories, there is still plenty of Halloween fun to be had as an adult. We will concede though – our taste buds have definitely grown more sophisticated since the days of apple bobbing and buckets of sweets. If you are after a grown-up Halloween this year, look no further, as we have got the lowdown on everywhere you should be eating, drinking and partying in London this All Hallow’s Eve.
For the uninitiated, (have you been living under a coffin?) Halloween is a celebration of all things spooky and creepy which takes place on 31 October every year. Historically, this date was a Christian celebration which was dedicated to remembering the dead. However, like with most holy traditions (Christmas, Easter etc.), Halloween has become much more commercialised over the years and is now better known as a time to dress up, go trick or treating and brush up on the choreography from Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’.
This year, Halloween falls on a Monday, so we’re expecting the majority of London’s celebrations to take place on the Friday and Saturday beforehand, although there are a few restaurants and bars which will be flying their freak flags high on the actual day itself too. To help you plan your Halloween night out, we have rounded up the best Halloween-inspired food London has to offer, as well as throwing in a few Halloween parties for good measure.
If you are staying in this year (or throwing your own spooky soiree), use the links below to skip straight to our section of ghoulish treats that London’s best bakeries have whipped up for the occasion.
Best Halloween menus at London restaurants
Whether it’s a haunted brunch, cutesy bao buns or paranormal puddings, London’s restaurant scene has embraced Halloween menus like never before this year. Try them at your own risk…
Skylight Halloween Party at Peckham
What: Skylight Peckham is known for its first class views and extensive cocktail list, but this October it’s swapping stylish for spooky as it holds a Halloween to celebrate everyone’s favourite fearsome holiday. Special guest DJ Annabel will be on the decks, there will be complimentary cocktails on arrival, plus prizes for the best dressed – so put on your ghoulish garms and head to this south London hotspot for the ultimate fright night.
When: 28 October 2023, 7pm – 1am
How much: £15 per person
Where: Theatre Walk, 120 Peckham Hill Street, SE15 5JT
Book now: Skylight Peckham
Sky Garden Halloween Party
What: It’s the annual Halloween party we’ve all been waiting for, and it’s happening at Sky Garden this October. Have fun from eight ‘til late tucking into carefully curated cocktails and dancing along to live music, including some spellbinding numbers from ALR Music. Tickets start at £65 with the inclusion of a welcome cocktail, and go up to £660 for a VIP table for six guests, two bottles of Moët & Chandon Champagne, two sharing platters and dedicated waiter service until midnight.
When: 27 October 2023
How much: From £65 per person
Where: 1 Sky Garden Walk, EC3M 8AF
Book now: Sky Garden
Theatre Royal Halloween Afternoon Tea
What: Theatre Royal on Drury Lane is known as one of the most haunted theatres in the world, and this spooky season it’s inviting guests to tuck into a Halloween afternoon tea with savoury bites from The Lane’s chefs, and sweet treats from infamous London baker Lily Vanilli. There’s also a chance to go along for the after-hours Theatre Tour with a special Halloween cocktail included, where you can keep an eye out for the resident ghost ‘the man in grey’.
When: 13-31 October 2023
How much: From £30 per person
Where: Catherine Street, WC2B 5JF
Book now: Lily Vanilli at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Los Muertos Halloween Parties at 100 Wardour Street
What: 100 Wardour Street is celebrating Los Muertos with the ultimate two day party, in collaboration with tequila and mezcal brand Casamigos. A frozen Margarita cocktail comes included in the cocktail price, plus you can show off your freakiest dance moves at this spooktacular bash. If you’re not around at the weekend then pop by on Thursday 2 November for another Mexican-style fiesta with a live mariachi band, three course menu and a Casamigos margarita.
When: 27-28 October and 2 November 2023
How much: From £15pp
Where: 100 Wardour Street, W1F 0TN
Book now: 100 Wardour Street
Rocky Horror Halloween Brunch at Devonshire Terrace by Drake & Morgan
What: If you prefer to celebrate at brunch over burning the midnight oil, then head to Devonshire Terrace for the Rocky Horror Halloween Brunch,
When: 21 and 28 October and 4 November 2023
How much: From £49.95 per person
Where: 7th floor, 6 Devonshire Square, EC2M 4YE
Book now: Devonshire Terrace
Best Halloween menus at London bakeries
If you are staying home this Halloween or planning a party of your own, you can order some of these spook-tacular treats from some of the capital’s best bakeries.
Ole & Steen’s Spooky Treats
What: Known for their legendary cinnamon slices, Ole & Steen has launched three spooky treats for Halloween this year: the ‘Eye See You’ carrot muffin, a ‘Boo the Bat’ chocolate muffin and a ‘Spooky the Marshmallow’ whip. Available until 31 October, you can pick up the treats in store for just over a week this month! Don’t miss out.
Crosstown’s Halloween Box
What: Doughnut experts Crosstown are back with those moreish Halloween Dough Bites; black cocoa dough meets homemade raspberry jam and dark berry glaze, with a spooky Halloween creation decorating each one. The Dough Bites are available as part of a Halloween box that includes 15 bites, and they’re joined this year by two ice cream flavours – a spiced pumpkin cake ice cream (with pumpkin doughnut pieces folded through) and a ghoulish green mint with pick’n’mix!
Biscuiteers Haunted House Biscuit Tin
What: To mark the scariest night of the year, the bakers at Biscuiteers created a Haunted House treat box last year, filled with nine hand-iced chocolate biscuits presented in a keepsake tin. Inside the box were its classic biscuits decorated as eyeballs, gravestones and witches potions. We love these themed treat boxes so we hope this one makes a return for this spooky season.
Lola’s Cupcakes Made With Monsters Fantasy Cake
What: Lola’s Cupcakes went all out with its 2022 Halloween offering, which featured cupcakes, brownies and giant cookies. We were most impressed by the Made With Monsters Fantasy Cake though, which came decorated with dark black buttercream, vibrant green drip, creepy eyes, bones and topped with tentacles. Inside, you were tricked and treated to surprising layers of orange and green buttercream sandwiched between the sponge for added shock-factor.
If you can’t get enough of spooky season, check out these 14 Halloween cakes and dessert ideas to get you feeling spooky…
