Portland: Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl

Portland’s Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl mixes old bars with grim tales of murders, pirates, government secrets, and restless spirits. The two-hour walk begins at the Benson Hotel and visits nine historic haunted sites, including four pubs, so you get more than a simple bar-to-bar outing.

I like the variety of stops and the fact that the guide uses the city itself as the stage. I also like the private rooms sometimes used for storytelling and the fun addition of an EMF reader. The main caution is that the tour can feel less worthwhile if a pub is closed or the group moves too fast to hear every story clearly.

Key points to know

• Nine haunted sites in two hours: Four pubs are included, with other historic locations visited along the route.
• Starts at the Benson Hotel: Find the guide at 309 SW Broadway, dressed up and carrying a lantern.
• Three named pub stops: Kelly’s Olympian, Kell’s Irish Pub, and the Shanghai Tunnels Bar are central to the evening.
• Drinks cost extra: You can order at the pubs, but food and beverages are not included in the $30 price.
• Good storytelling matters: The strongest part of the experience is the guide’s delivery, though fast walking or poor volume can affect the night.
• Adults only: You must be at least 21 and bring an ID or a copy of your ID.

A haunted walk through Portland after dark

This is a walking tour with drinks available along the way, not a pub crawl where you settle in at one bar for the evening. The guide leads you through downtown Portland, stopping at nine historic places connected with strange events, violence, secrets, and ghost stories.

That distinction matters. At $30 per person, you are paying mainly for the guide, the route, and the storytelling. Your drinks are separate, and the amount of time spent at each place can change from 15 or 20 minutes to as long as an hour. The pace depends on the day, season, and what is happening at the pubs.

I like this setup because it gives you a wider look at downtown. You are not simply hearing a ghost story in a dark room. You are moving through the streets and seeing the bars and historic sites tied to Portland’s darker past.

The experience is best treated as entertainment with a historical flavor. It is not a formal academic tour, and the paranormal stories are presented as legends and reported hauntings rather than proven fact. Skeptics can enjoy the odd details and the city’s rougher past without needing to believe every spirit story.

Meeting the guide at the Benson Hotel

Your evening begins outside the Benson Hotel Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton, at 309 SW Broadway. Arrive 15 minutes early. The guide is dressed up and carries a lantern, which should make the meeting point easy to identify.

The Benson gives the tour a fitting start. It is an elegant old hotel with its own ghostly reputation, so the first stop sets the tone before you reach the bars. You begin with a sense that Portland’s polished downtown has a less tidy side beneath it.

Wear comfortable shoes. The tour runs rain or shine, and Portland weather can change quickly, so bring suitable clothing rather than relying on a dry evening. Since the group walks between stops, this is not a good choice for anyone who wants to stay seated for most of the night.

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, but it is also marked as unsuitable for people with mobility impairments. Those details do not fully agree, so if you need step-free access or have trouble walking for two hours, contact the operator before booking.

Kelly’s Olympian and Portland’s barroom ghosts

Kelly’s Olympian is one of the key stops. The bar is known for its old atmosphere and ghost stories, and the tour uses it as a place to connect Portland’s drinking culture with its more unsettling tales.

The experience here is not only about ordering a drink. You might hear stories while sitting or standing inside the pub, then have time to take in the setting before moving on. The tour description refers to dancing with the spirits of Kelly’s Olympian while you sip your drink, but remember that the drink itself is your responsibility.

One practical warning comes from the changing nature of the route. On one Sunday, the first bar did not offer a drink stop and another bar was closed. That does not mean the same thing will happen on your night, but it shows why you should not book this expecting a fixed sequence of drinks.

I would see Kelly’s Olympian as part of the atmosphere rather than a guaranteed long pub visit. The bar gives the stories a physical setting, but the guide remains the main attraction.

Kell’s Irish Pub and the most theatrical stories

Kell’s Irish Pub is another major stop and is presented as a place that has convinced some ghost skeptics. The setting allows the guide to focus on paranormal activity and the long-running stories connected with the pub.

This is one of the places where the guide’s style makes a real difference. A strong storyteller can turn a familiar bar into an uneasy room, especially when the group is gathered together and the story is allowed to build. On some nights, the group may have a private room for the tales, which helps you hear the guide and keeps the mood focused.

The tone is likely to shift between history and theater. You may hear about disturbing events, unexplained activity, and people who claim to have witnessed something unusual. The EMF reader is a playful extra rather than scientific proof, but it gives the group something to watch and discuss.

I like that the tour does not demand belief. You can enjoy the storytelling, inspect the room, and decide for yourself how much weight to give each account. That makes the stop work for couples and groups with mixed opinions about ghosts.

The Shanghai Tunnels Bar and Portland’s darker past

The final named stop is the Shanghai Tunnels Bar. Its appeal comes from the dark history associated with Portland’s underground passages and the stories of people being forced into maritime labor.

The tour also promises tales of heartless pirates, ruthless murders, and government secrets. These subjects give the night a broader scope than a standard haunted-house event. You are hearing about the city’s rough port past, not only about flickering lights and cold spots.

The Shanghai Tunnels Bar has an eerie atmosphere that fits the closing part of the tour. Ending here gives the evening a natural final chapter, though the exact timing can change. Depending on the night, you may spend 15 or 20 minutes at a location or remain for up to an hour.

Do not expect every stop to feel equally haunted. Some places will work mainly as historic settings, while others may provide the strongest ghost stories. That unevenness is normal on a route that uses real businesses, and it is also why a closed bar can affect the value of the evening.

Nine sites, four pubs, and a changing route

The tour includes nine historic haunted sites, four of them pubs. Only several of the pub names are provided in advance, so you should think of the experience as a guided downtown route with bar stops, not a fully disclosed list of drinking venues.

The sites between the pubs are important. They give the walk some structure and keep the night from becoming four separate bar visits. You may hear about crimes, hidden dealings, maritime history, and unexplained events as you move through the city.

That variety is the best reason to choose this tour over a regular pub crawl. You get local history, a walk through central Portland, and a few chances to order a drink. It also means that the evening is not built around heavy drinking. You can participate without ordering at every stop.

The amount of time at each destination varies by weekday and season. If you prefer a tightly timed itinerary, this flexibility may frustrate you. If you like a less rigid night, it allows the guide to respond to the mood of each place and the events taking place there.

How much value do you get for $30?

The $30 price is fair if you want a guided experience and plan to enjoy the stories. The fee covers the guide and visits to nine historic haunted sites, including four pubs. It does not cover drinks or food, so your total cost will rise with every order.

The value is strongest for people who would otherwise spend the evening wandering between downtown bars without context. Here, the route gives you a reason to visit each place and a guide to explain the stories connected with them.

The value is weaker if you mainly want to drink. You may not stop for a beverage at every pub, and one venue may be closed. In that case, you are still paying for the walk and storytelling, not for a set number of drinks.

I would budget for one or two drinks only if you want them, rather than assuming a full evening of bar purchases. The tour is more enjoyable when you see the beverages as optional additions to the stories.

The guide can make or break the evening

The guide is the heart of this experience. The best reports describe a friendly host who tells stories with enthusiasm and gives the group a fun way to learn about Portland’s past.

The guide may also use a lantern and an EMF reader to create a stronger sense of occasion. Those touches are simple, but they help the evening feel different from an ordinary history walk.

There is one clear concern: the guide may walk too fast or speak too quietly for some people. That matters because the route covers a lot in two hours, and the group is often outdoors near city noise. Stay close to the guide and tell them early if you cannot hear. A position near the front can help.

The tour is in English only. If you need detailed historical explanations in another language, this is not the right choice.

What to bring and what to expect

Bring comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and an ID. A copy of your ID is accepted, but you must be 21 or older. Smoking and video recording are not allowed.

The tour runs in rain or shine. That is worth taking seriously because the evening includes outdoor walking between locations. A coat or rain layer can make the difference between enjoying the stories and spending the night worrying about the weather.

Drinks are optional and not included. Food is also not included, so eat beforehand if you need a proper meal. The tour is designed around short visits and storytelling, not dinner service.

You should also expect a social setting. You will be walking with a group, entering public bars, and listening while other people share the space. Private rooms may be available at some stops, but that is not guaranteed at every venue.

Who will enjoy this Portland ghost tour?

I would recommend it to adults who enjoy local legends, old bars, and a little theatrical suspense. It suits visitors who want an evening activity with more character than a standard sightseeing walk.

It is especially useful early in a Portland visit because it introduces several downtown locations. You can return to a favorite pub later, or use the route to decide which parts of the central district you want to explore on your own.

The tour also works well for a mixed group. The believer can watch for signs of paranormal activity, while the skeptic can focus on the murders, pirates, and city history. Nobody has to accept the supernatural claims to enjoy the evening.

I would hesitate to recommend it to anyone with limited mobility, anyone who dislikes walking in poor weather, or anyone expecting a guaranteed drink at each pub. It is also not suitable for children or anyone under 21.

Should you book Ghosts Boos and Booze?

Book this tour if you want a two-hour night walk that combines Portland history, haunted locations, and optional drinks. The strongest features are the nine-site route, the colorful pub settings, the lantern-carrying guide, and the chance to hear stories in places connected with them.

Skip it if your main goal is a conventional pub crawl with a fixed bar schedule. Closures and changing stop lengths can affect the night, and the $30 fee does not include drinks.

For most adults who enjoy ghost stories and do not mind a little uncertainty, this is a good-value introduction to Portland after dark. Go with comfortable shoes, keep your expectations focused on storytelling rather than free drinks, and stay near the guide so you do not miss the best parts.

FAQ

Where does the Portland haunted pub crawl start?

The tour starts at the Benson Hotel Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton, at 309 SW Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97205. Arrive 15 minutes early and look for a guide dressed up and carrying a lantern.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts two hours. Individual stops can last from about 15 or 20 minutes to as long as one hour, depending on the day and season.

Which pubs are included?

The route includes Kelly’s Olympian, Kell’s Irish Pub, and the Shanghai Tunnels Bar. The full experience visits nine historic haunted sites, including four pubs.

Are drinks included in the $30 price?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You can order beverages at the pubs, but you pay for them separately.

What age do you need to be?

You must be at least 21 years old. Bring an ID, or a copy of your ID.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

Yes. Tours run rain or shine, so wear clothing suited to the forecast and comfortable shoes for walking outdoors.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.