Justin Rush, co-owner of Masquerade Food & Drink, stands behind the bar.

It took a spiral staircase for a fantasy-themed Astoria restaurant to come to life.

Courtney Pownall first saw the basement at the Hidden Underground Experience, at 10th Street and Marine Drive, on a springtime Goonies-themed visit to Astoria. She fell in love with the space and conjured up a business idea.

“I’ve always been interested in creating safe places for people to explore their imagination and I’m fascinated by things you can’t see around you but you hear stories about all the time, like fairy tales and lore,” Pownall said. “When I found this space, I really wanted to build something that reflected that.”

Masquerade Food & Drink is now open with limited hours, and will — fittingly — host a masquerade ball and costume party as a grand opening event from 8 to 11 p.m. Aug. 26.

Furniture pieces in the restaurant are secondhand and every art piece is handmade by the owners.

There are chandeliers and paintings, entomology dioramas and a disco break room for fairy figures inside a magic tree in the corner. There are also plenty of references to movies. “There are a few Easter eggs here, too,” said co-owner Justin Rush. “From ‘The Goonies’ to the ‘Lord of the Rings’ to ‘Princess Bride.’”

In addition to being a restaurant and bar, Masquerade Food & Drink aims to create a space to gather — with a little bit of magic.

Rush, a teacher by profession, hopes the space will hold events, from intimate concert performances to karaoke and game nights. Pownall and Rush met over a game of “Magic: The Gathering.”

“The response has been really good from the community, people are excited for our space and what we’re trying to offer,” Rush said.

An artist with 17 years of experience as a tattooist, Pownall also included a tattoo studio, Artemis Tattoo, in the street-level storefront atop the spiral staircase.

Pownall is also a face painter, costume maker and photographer. In addition to her work, the tattoo studio hosts guest artists.

On a recent visit from Hood River, tattoo artist Philip Dawson expressed appreciation. “It’s kind of an industry thing,” he said. “Whenever we open a new shop, we grab our friends and bring new artists to the area. (Pownall) is bringing in a lot of heavy hitters, really talented artists, to give clients a little versatility. I’m definitely coming back.”

Pownall’s partner, Geovanni Jaskier Pownall, also known as Buttercup, tends the bar. He also acts as a guide through the space, one describes as a gloomy castle with a forest.

“I like to entertain people,” Buttercup said, adding his main spooky-but-playful prop is a pair of bright-colored contact lenses. All staff dress up for business hours. “My primary goal is to get people to be smiling on the way out,” he said.

The space is available for event rentals, such as themed birthday parties or music performances. “Anything you can think of that’s interesting and not illegal, it would be a good time,” Courtney Pownall said. “We really just want to inspire the imagination and let people have fun in a safe manner.”

Masquerade Food & Drink also aims to be the only mead-focused restaurant in Astoria. Until then, with a liquor license pending, the restaurant hones in on sandwiches, salads, cupcakes and sodas.

The space’s grand opening party will feature a masquerade ball and costume contest, a dance-off (the prize is a custom mask), raffles, a temporary full bar as well as a night market in the basement hallway.

Masquerade Food & Drink

Hidden Underground Experience, 1004 Marine Drive, Astoria

Temporary hours are Noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays, with expanded hours planned.

Masquerade ball grand opening will be held at 8 p.m. Aug. 26. Cost is $15 per person or $25 per couple.

@masquerade.astoria