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Your Guide to Chicago’s Spookiest Spots

Posted on October 15
Kayleigh Padar

Kayleigh Padar

Pedestrians walk past and linger outside the Medieval Torture Museum on North State Street in Chicago, its facade featuring a large illustrated sign with a menacing red-hooded figure and skeletal imagery above the entrance.

Visitors exiting (or debating whether to enter) the Medieval Torture Museum. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Whether you want to celebrate October by drinking coffee based on a horror movie, buying a T-shirt to show off your favorite monster, or exploring a museum of true crime artifacts, there’s somewhere in Chicago for you!

Medieval Torture Museum (Loop)

At the Medieval Torture Museum, 177 N. State Street, you can explore more than 6,000 square feet of torture devices that have been reconstructed from historical documents. The fully interactive exhibits are designed to allow visitors to “enter the minds of fanatics, madmen, and murderers.”

The Horror House / Cryptic Closet (Avondale)

The Horror House at 2842 N Milwaukee Ave. is a one-stop shop for scary movie merch. They have countless T-shirts with original designs featuring monsters from all of your favorite movies, plus a wide variety of trinkets to match.

  • 🎃 They’re hosting a Halloween Hangout at Revolution Brewing, 3340 N. Kedzie Ave., Oct. 24 from 12-6 p.m. The free market will feature over 25 vendors, and the first 100 attendees will receive a free Halloween tote bag.

The Brewed Coffee (Avondale)

After you’re done shopping at The Horror House, head across the street for coffee at The Brewed. Obviously, the drinks are on theme here! For example, they’re currently serving a corn milk peach cream soda called Children of the Creamed Corn. The creepy cafe at 2843 N. Milwaukee Ave. is also packed with vintage horror collectibles and retro decor.

  • 🎬 Sign up for email alerts to their Monster Movie Club to attend their next horror flick screening!

Graveface Museum (Wicker Park)

The Graveface Museum at 1829 N. Milwaukee Ave. blends a museum experience with a scary gift shop full of retro horror DVDs and clothing. The exhibits explore the dark and underrepresented parts of history. It’s also home to the largest collection of Chicago-born serial killer John Wayne Gacy’s artwork and personal belongings.

  • 🌙 If visiting in the daytime isn’t spooky enough for you, they offer after-hours ghost tours with experts who’ve investigated paranormal activity at the museum.

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