As Halloween approaches on Saturday, October 31, the Philadelphia area is gearing up for a spirited lineup of celebrations, from family-friendly festivities to lively neighborhood parties and late-night entertainment. Across the city, restaurants and bars are embracing the holiday with plenty of ways to celebrate with friends and family. Whether planning a festive brunch with the kids, joining a Halloween street party, enjoying a late-night happy hour, or catching live music and seasonal cocktails, Philadelphia-area destinations are offering something for everyone, including Patchwork, Sassafras, Red Owl Tavern, and The Twisted Tail.
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Patchwork, a lively New American restaurant and bar located on the second floor of Hyatt Centric Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia, is celebrating Halloween with a family-friendly brunch on Saturday, October 31, from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event will feature entertainment for all ages, including balloon twisting, face painting, temporary tattoos, magic tricks, and games, along with a special appearance by Spider-Man for photo opportunities.
Guests can choose between the brunch buffet ($33) and a selection of à la carte offerings, including Ricotta Pancakes ($21) topped with fruit compote, lemon butter, and powdered sugar; Eggs Benedict ($19) featuring smoked prosciutto and hollandaise on an English muffin, served with a side salad; and Chicken & Waffles ($24) with buttermilk and sage butter.
Reservations for Halloween brunch are encouraged and can be made here.
Hours of operation: Monday – Friday 6:30 am – 10:30 am; 5 pm – 9 pm; Friday – Saturday 5 pm – 10 pm; Saturday – Sunday 7 am – 12 pm
1620 Chancellor Street, Philadelphia PA | 215.985.1234 | Website | Facebook | Instagram
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Red Owl Tavern, the contemporary kitchen and bar located across from Independence Hall, is teaming up with Fernet-Branca for Bitter Treats, a month-long Halloween activation running Monday through Friday from 9–11 p.m. through October 30. Guests can choose from four Fernet-Branca signature serves: The OG (Fernet-Branca shot), Hard Start (Fernet-Branca and Brancamenta), Forghetti (Fernet-Branca and Borghetti Espresso), and The Original Sin (Fernet-Branca and cola highball).
The activation also features a complimentary in-bar game, where guests pull five tabs from a game board for a chance to win a Bitter Treats prize. Match three symbols to win.
Reservations are encouraged and can be made here.
Hours of operation: Monday through Friday 7:30am—10:45am, Saturday and Sunday 8am—10am (breakfast); Monday through Friday 11:30am—4:30pm (lunch); Monday through Friday 4:30pm—10pm, Saturday 5pm—10pm (dinner); and Saturday 10am—4pm and Sunday 10am—2pm (brunch)
433 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA | 215.923.2267 | Website | Instagram
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As spooky season creeps in, Sassafras, Old City’s “Grand Dame” of neighborhood bars and restaurants, will get into the spirit with its first-ever “Samhain in the Street” celebration on Saturday, October 31, a tribute to owners Donal McCoy and Neill Laughlin’s Irish heritage inspired by the ancient Gaelic festival behind modern day Halloween, celebrated from sunset on October 31 to sunset on November 1. Traditionally believed to be when the veil between the physical and spiritual realms was at its thinnest, Samhain’s festivities will begin at 6p.m.–close on Saturday, October 31, boasting a hauntingly good lineup of celebratory fare, spanning:
- Samhain-inspired cocktails
- Seasonal décor and installations
- Traditional food from Sassafras’ beloved Belfast-born baker, Fergus
- Live Irish fiddle and bouzouki performances
- Fire dancers, jugglers, and snake charmers
- Tattoo flash and specials courtesy of Olde City Tattoo
The festivities will continue on All Hallow’s Day on Sunday, November 1 from 2p.m. to 6p.m., with continued food and cocktail specials for guests to enjoy in Sassafras. An over-the-top weekend of ancient roots, live entertainment, and seasonal spirit, Sassafras’ inaugural Samhain celebration promises an unforgettable Halloween weekend on Second Street.
Hours of operation: Monday and Tuesday, 4PM—2AM; Wednesday through Sunday, 12PM—2AM
48 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA | 215.925.2317 | Website | Instagram
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The Twisted Tail, a Southern-inspired restaurant, bar, and live music venue in Headhouse Square, is celebrating Halloween with two days of festivities. The fun begins Friday, October 30, with a family-friendly Pumpkin Carving and Painting event, followed by the “Haunted House of Blues” Halloween celebration on Saturday, October 31.
Friday’s festivities will take place on the restaurant’s front patio, where children can decorate, color, or carve their own pumpkins during sessions at 4 and 5 p.m., each limited to 15 children. Every participant will receive a pumpkin to take home. While the kids get creative, families can enjoy The Twisted Tail’s Social Hour from 4–6 p.m., featuring $8 food specials, 50% off draft beers, and $6 house wine.
On Saturday, the venue will embrace its darker side with ‘Haunted House of Blues,’ a Southern Gothic-inspired celebration featuring live blues music by Abby Lee, haunted cocktails, and a costume contest with prizes for Best Costume. The festivities will continue with the Witching Hour, featuring rotating drink specials every 15 minutes beginning at 11 p.m. Guests can also hear the restaurant’s paranormal tales, including staff accounts of unexplained encounters.
More information about Pumpkin Carving and Painting and Haunted House of Blues is available online.
Hours of operation: Monday–Thursday, 4–10pm; Friday, 4pm–12am; Saturday, 11am–12am; Sunday, 10am–10pm.
509 S. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA | 215.558.2471 | Website | Instagram | Facebook