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Remembering the dead does not have to be a sad occasion, as is the reminder on Día de los Muertos every year. There are parties happening at restaurants and bars all around town; here’s a look at a few of the best that involve food and drink.
Burritt Room
Drink mezcal and tequila cocktails made by bartenders from Burritt Room, Dirty Habit, Forgery and more alongside a Mexican feast with whole suckling pig, chicken mole and pumpkin tamales. Don your best face paint and and costume for a $500 prize. Grab tickets here.
Calavera
Calavera is going all out for the holiday. The two-week-long celebration kicks off tonight and runs through Wednesday, November 4 with tons of marigolds, a flower altar paying tribute to Selena and a rotating selection of specially-created moles and cocktails (including the super intense Charlie & the Chapuline Factory, a blend of mezcal, grasshoppers, peanuts, chipotle morita, pineapple, lime, egg whites and Judah's sal de chapuline). A series of events takes place throughout the weeks, starting with a free mezcal tasting on Thursday, October 22. Then, from October 31 through November 2, local local Oakland face painter Claudia Adelman will be on hand to decorate your face (for a fee).
Comal
Comal’s hosting a Day of the Dead double header with DJ Jose Ruiz spinning on Sunday, November 1 and come Monday, November 2, Chef Matt Gandin is making a four course-meal paired with Don Amado mezcals at 6:30 p.m. Just show on up on Sunday, but grab a ticket to Monday’s dinner here.
Gourmet Ghetto in Berkeley
Shattuck Avenue between Rose and Vine Streets will shut down Monday, November 2 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with food trucks, a wine and beer garden, free face painting and arts and crafts vendors. Expect live music, a candle light procession and strewn marigold petals.
Tres Tequila Lounge
All-day happy hour, rotisserie pig, a Don Julia bar truck, mariachis and a food truck will all be on hand at the Tres Tequila Lounge Día de los Muertos party that also happens to coincide with the restaurant’s 10th anniversary on Friday, October 3 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Ten percent of sales that evening benefit the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital.
