Spirit Lounge – Sinister Pointe Conjures up Frightful Fun for Adults

The bar is dimly lit and glowing red as I order a “Chainsaw Massacre” from the bartender, whose face is painted in the same manner as Pazuzu from The Exorcist. I take in the décor as I wait for my specialty cocktail: a demon’s head mounted on the wall, a life-sized girl in pajamas with what looks like black tar oozing from her mouth and the Necronomicon clutched in her gnarled hand, and a video projection of a close-up eyeball forever watching over the soiree. The demonic bartender returns with a blood-red drink in one hand and a chainsaw in the other. The chainsaw whirrs to life as she drops something extra in my drink… a finger. Welcome to Sinister Pointe’s Spirit Lounge!

Photo: Eric Boguslavsky

Sinister Pointe, a beloved haunted attraction in Orange County, CA, is the latest to join in the immersive pop-up craze with their Hallloween-themed bar: the Spirit Lounge. Taking over the Sky Lounge in downtown Brea, Sinister Pointe has transformed the joint into a delightfully decorated playground for adult horror lovers aged 21 and up. Adorned with floor-to-ceiling spooky memorabilia, nothing has been left out – not even the bathrooms, which provide some of the creepier aesthetics of the evening (I will let the bravest among you seek out those chills for yourselves).

Photo: Eric Boguslavsky

Most immersive pop-up bars point to their specialty cocktails as a feature, but Spirit Lounge elevates that designation by having interactive drinks for consumption, in addition to a full bar. The four horror-themed cocktails – Chainsaw Massacre, The Holy Water, Killer Klown, and Ectoplasm – come with a little extra oomph to excite guests and are all sweetly delicious (for those who like a little sugar in their drinks). Plus, the bartenders also join in on the fun along the way, like the chainsaw-wielding Pazuzu woman who plopped a finger in my drink earlier.

Photo: Eric Boguslavsky

A pop-up bar wouldn’t be complete without some fantastic photo opportunities, and Spirit Lounge has plenty of installations from a nice variety of properties. Guests can comfort a possessed Regan, relax with a cursed nun, say cheese with a Killer Klown, or pose next to Annabelle or Vigo the Carpathian as Gremlins watch from their high vantage point. In addition to the fixed, interactive art, live monsters roam the Lounge looking for guests to chat up…or scare, like Samara from The Ring. While I enjoyed the interactive elements of Spirit Lounge, I did wish there were more actors and additional “boo!” moments woven in throughout the night – if only to make sipping on some Holy Water a little more worth the drive from Los Angeles.

Photo: Eric Boguslavsky

The sheer level of detail and thought that has gone into Spirit Lounge must be applauded. Changing video projections show ghostly specters stuck in a Containment Unit (just be careful about ordering the Ectoplasm), horror movies play on the televisions behind one of the two bars, the music rotates through a variety of famous scary movie soundtracks, and an animatronic boar’s head shows its displeasure by spewing ample amounts of fog. Look in any direction (even down to the ice cubes!) and horror fans will find something to fawn over, even hidden within the eerie ivy hanging from the ceiling.

Photo: Eric Boguslavsky

Sinister Pointe has created an impressive and fun night out for horror enthusiasts filled with delicious drinks and plenty of spooky paraphernalia. With the ample amount of entertaining décor and photo ops, Spirit Lounge had a huge grin filling my face the entire time I was there, and I still marvel at the exquisitely eerie experience. If you live in the Brea area, or plan to stop by, make sure the Spirit Lounge is on your itinerary!

Photo: Eric Boguslavsky

The Spirit Lounge is strictly 21+. Book your reservations here, and follow Sinister Pointe on Facebook and Instagram. Check out our Event Guide for more immersive and horror entertainment throughout the year.

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