Halloween season in Houston has a new address for its spookiest bar. The Cursed Cauldron opens its fourth season at Incanto in The Heights, taking over the bungalow-style space at 1426 Yale for about a month. Entry is free, and reservations are strongly encouraged.
Co-founders Alexis Mijares (beverage and operations director) and Angelique Cook-Cavazos (artistic director) redesigned the pop-up around the cozy size of its new home. “That really inspired the storytelling and world-building for this year’s design,” Mijares said.
Two Realms, One Witch’s Dwelling
The Nightshade Parlor is the indoor half: salon-style seating in a shadowy, spookeasy-inspired room. Past it, the Cauldron Conservatory is an open-air, overgrown garden that the team calls a Green Witch World.
The drinks. Mijares’s menu mixes spirited and spirit-free cocktails, and select items come in shareable “coven-size” servings for small groups. Highlights include:
Coven’s Calling (Citadel Gin, elderflower, sage, black pepper, lemon, tonic); Hexpresso Martini (Reyka Vodka, hazelnut, cinnamon, vanilla, espresso); Harvest Moon Punch (Redemption Bourbon, amaretto, allspice, lemon, apple cider); Lilith’s Lullaby (Camarena Blanco, ancho chili, pomegranate, hibiscus, beet); Oshun’s Offering (Planteray Rum, pumpkin, brown butter, almond); and the non-alcoholic Familiar Feeling (Cut Above N/A Tequila, black cherry, spiced turbinado, ginger beer).
The food. Sharing plates return, including the Char-Boo-terie Board, Imp-anadas, and Wicked Good Pizza, along with other seasonal items.
A Calendar Built for Return Visits
This season adds more programming than before, including a Murder Mystery Party, a Full Moon Tea Party, and special Halloween weekend events. The weekly lineup:
Tuesdays: Tarot Tuesdays, 6 p.m. until late.
Wednesdays: Cauldron Cabaret on Oct. 7 and Bewitched Burlesque on Oct. 14, 21 and 28, with shows at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are required.
Sundays: Witch Craft Classes, Pumpkin Paint and Sip, and Flash Tattoos.
Plan your visit
The pop-up runs October 2 through November 1. It’s open Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to midnight and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Witches Hour runs Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. It is closed Mondays. Walk-in seating is limited and depends on daily capacity, so book ahead through the official website, where you can also buy special event tickets. Themed attire is encouraged. For updates, follow @cursedcauldronhtx on Instagram.
