Halloween Weekend in Monterey: A Grown-Up Date Night Inside a 1910 Firehouse

Where should you go for Halloween date night in Monterey?

Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31, 2026. For couples who'd rather trade costumes for candlelight, Montrio is the date night restaurant in Monterey to book. It's a Michelin Guide 2026–selected restaurant inside a restored 1910 firehouse at 414 Calle Principal, open until 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. Order the Onion Soup Gratinée to share, the Olo Ranch Braised Short Ribs, and a Browned Butter Old Fashioned. Better still, daylight saving time ends at 2 AM on Sunday, November 1, so you get an extra hour to linger.

Why is Halloween weekend a good date night in Monterey?

A Saturday Halloween means the whole town is out. Some of it is in costume, and some of it just wants a very good dinner. Late October evenings on the Peninsula drop into the mid-50s°F, sometimes with fog rolling in off the bay. That's real sweater weather, and the kind of night that calls for something braised and a drink with some weight to it. Costumes are welcome and entirely optional.

What should a couple order at Montrio on Halloween weekend?

Start with the Onion Soup Gratinée. A deep caramelized onion broth sits under bubbling gruyère and country sourdough. It's the most autumnal thing on the Montrio menu, and it's made for two spoons.

Then go for the Olo Ranch Braised Short Ribs. They're slow-braised until they give way under a fork, then served over pommes purée with confit tomatoes, sautéed spinach, Nueske's lardons, and a glossy pan jus. If one of you can't stop at your share of the potatoes, the Pommes Purée is also on the menu as its own side.

And pour a Browned Butter Old Fashioned. It's brown butter–washed bourbon with a house-toasted almond syrup and chicory-pecan bitters, and it tastes like the last week of October. If you'd rather share a bottle, the Montrio wine program, holder of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2026, leans on Central Coast reds that stand up to a braise.

What makes Montrio feel made for a date?

Some of it is the building. Montrio lives in the first firehouse in California, built in 1910, and the bones are still there: exposed brick and a wood-fired oven glowing at the heart of the kitchen. Some of it is the cooking. Executive Chef Kurt Boucher trained in classical French technique with Asian influences and has cooked alongside chefs like Emeril Lagasse and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. That shows in plates that feel generous without ever feeling heavy-handed.

It's why Montrio keeps landing on lists of romantic restaurants in Monterey. The service matters too: warm and attentive, never stuffy.

How should you plan Halloween night?

Book early. Saturday tables go first on a holiday weekend, and Halloween this year is both. An early seating gives you a relaxed dinner and leaves the rest of the night open, whether that means a downtown party or a slow walk home. If you're celebrating on Friday the 30th instead, the same menu and the same 10 PM close apply.

Frequently asked questions

Is Montrio open on Halloween?

Halloween 2026 is a Saturday, and Montrio's posted Saturday hours are 4:30 to 10 PM. Call (831) 648-8880 to confirm holiday hours.

Do I need to wear a costume?

No. Come as you are, or come as anyone you like.

When does daylight saving time end in 2026?

At 2 AM on Sunday, November 1, 2026, which means one extra hour on Halloween night.

What's the best dish to share at Montrio?

The Onion Soup Gratinée is made for sharing. For entrées, the Olo Ranch Braised Short Ribs are the cool-weather favorite.

Make this Halloween the one you remember — reserve your table at Montrio, or call (831) 648-8880.