LA Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl

Hollywood’s famous strip takes on a different mood after dark, when Boardner’s, Musso and Frank’s, and other old bars become settings for stories of murder, movie stars, and restless spirits. This two-hour crawl mixes cocktails with tales of Charlie Chaplin, Jean Harlow, and Marilyn Monroe.

I like the route’s mix of drinking and sightseeing, especially the chance to hear about Boardner’s connection to I Love Lucy and a 1940s murder case. I also like that the walk adds the Hollywood Wax Museum and Hollywood Toys and Costumes, giving you more than a simple bar hop. The main drawback is that drinks are not included, Musso and Frank’s entry is extra, and the guide’s tone may not suit everyone.

Key things to know

• Four bars in two hours: You receive entry into four bars, but you buy every drink yourself.
• Boardner’s has a story to tell: Hear about its I Love Lucy link and an infamous 1940s murder case.
• Musso and Frank’s costs extra: The legendary restaurant and bar is part of the story, but admission is not included.
• Hollywood ghosts meet movie history: Tales focus on Chaplin, Harlow, Monroe, and other figures from old Los Angeles.
• A guide-led evening walk: Meet outside Footlocker at Hollywood and Highland, then move between bars and paranormal stops.
• Dress for the door staff: Shorts, sleeveless shirts, and tank tops are not suitable because one stop has a dress code.

Hollywood Boulevard after dark

This is not a haunted house with actors jumping from closets. The appeal comes from walking through real Hollywood places while your guide adds stories of people, scandals, and strange encounters tied to them.

You meet outside the Footlocker at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, at the corner of Hollywood and Highland. Arrive at least 15 minutes early. Your guide should be easy to spot in a black US Ghost Adventures shirt, carrying a lantern.

The lantern is a small but useful touch. Hollywood Boulevard can be loud and crowded, so having a clear meeting marker matters. The route stays in the famous Hollywood area, with several stops close enough to connect on foot during the two-hour time limit.

I would treat this as a social evening walk rather than a quiet ghost investigation. You will be near bars, shops, tourists, and traffic. That setting is part of the fun, but it also means the atmosphere depends on the guide and the mood of your group.

Boardner’s, murder, and television history

Boardner’s is one of the more interesting stops because its story combines entertainment history with a darker crime tale. Your guide discusses the bar’s connection to I Love Lucy, along with an infamous murder case from the 1940s.

That combination gives the stop more substance than a generic story about a haunted room. You get a sense of how Hollywood bars served as meeting places for performers, workers, and people living on the edge of fame. Then the mood shifts toward the crime and ghost stories linked to the location.

The exact balance between history and supernatural claims depends on your guide. Some people will enjoy the campfire style, while others may want firmer historical detail. If you have never heard of the Hollywood figures or American television references, ask questions early and clearly.

The guide’s response matters here. One poor experience reported during this tour involved a British participant asking about unfamiliar American figures and feeling mocked rather than helped. I would expect a good guide to explain names and context without assuming everyone knows Hollywood lore. If you are visiting from outside the United States, say so at the start and ask for background when needed.

Musso and Frank’s and the ghosts of old Hollywood

Musso and Frank’s is the most famous name on the route. The restaurant and bar has long been linked with classic Hollywood, and the tour uses it to discuss stars such as Charlie Chaplin and other icons who moved through the area.

The supplied details make an important distinction: Musso and Frank’s entry is not included. The tour includes entry into four bars, but you should not assume that admission to Musso and Frank’s is part of that package. Budget for any separate cost, and check the current arrangement before you go.

This stop works best for people who enjoy atmosphere. You are not simply hearing about ghosts in an anonymous bar. You are walking in the same part of Hollywood associated with Chaplin, Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe, and other major names from the film era.

Still, do not book this expecting a private meal or a long sit-down visit. The crawl lasts two hours and includes several locations. Musso and Frank’s is one part of a moving route, not the whole evening.

One useful feature is the gradual change in tone between bars. The route can move from more casual drinking spots toward classier settings. That gives the night some shape, though the exact order and access can depend on the evening and the guide.

The Hollywood Wax Museum and Hollywood Toys and Costumes

Between drinks, the crawl visits paranormal hotspots including the Hollywood Wax Museum and Hollywood Toys and Costumes. These stops add a different kind of tension because they are not just old bars.

The Hollywood Wax Museum naturally fits a ghost tour. Wax figures already create an eerie effect, especially when the guide points out places where ghost hunters have reported unsettling encounters. The supplied information does not promise a private museum visit or admission, so think of this as an exterior or route stop unless your booking details say otherwise.

Hollywood Toys and Costumes brings a different mood. A shop filled with costumes and theatrical objects can feel playful by day, yet strange stories give it a darker edge at night. The contrast keeps the crawl from becoming a string of identical bar talks.

You may also be able to rent an EMF detector. That can add a hands-on element if you enjoy paranormal equipment, but it is not listed among the included features. Ask about the price and availability before counting on it.

I like these stops because they break up the drinking. You get a reason to keep walking, and the Hollywood setting becomes part of the experience. The limitation is that the tour description does not give exact access details for each site, so you should not expect a full museum tour or a long investigation at every location.

Drinks, bar access, and the real cost

The advertised price is $30 per person. For a two-hour guided walk with entry into four bars, that is a reasonable starting price, especially if you want a planned evening rather than searching for places on your own.

But $30 is not the final cost. Drinks are excluded, guide tips are excluded, and Musso and Frank’s entry is excluded. If you order cocktails at several stops, the bill can quickly become much higher than the booking price.

The tour encourages a classic Hollywood mood, with vintage cocktails and modern mixers. You can listen to the stories while choosing drinks along the way. A useful tip comes from the experience of the guide Bob, who was praised for giving drink recommendations suited to different people in the group. Bob may not be your guide, so treat that as a possible strength rather than a promise.

Four bar entries give the evening a clear structure, but they do not mean four included drinks. Read that detail carefully before booking. The value is strongest if you already plan to spend money on a night out and would like stories and local context added to it.

I would bring a payment method that works easily at multiple bars and keep your drinking pace moderate. The tour has a schedule, and lingering too long at one stop could make the later locations feel rushed.

The pace and walking demands

The crawl lasts two hours. That is long enough for several stories and stops, but short enough to fit into an evening of sightseeing, dinner, or another Hollywood activity.

You need comfortable shoes. The tour moves between bars and paranormal locations on foot, and Hollywood Boulevard is not a place where you want to focus on uncomfortable footwear. The route is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the same information says it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. That conflict needs clarification before you reserve.

If you use a wheelchair or have limited mobility, contact the provider and ask about the exact route, door access, seating, pavements, and restroom arrangements. Do not rely on the general accessibility label alone.

The tour runs rain or shine. Bring clothing that suits the weather, but avoid shorts, sleeveless shirts, and tank tops. One bar has a dress code, and arriving in clothing that does not meet it could create a problem for the whole group.

Smoking and video recording are not allowed. Bring an ID card, and a copy is accepted according to the tour information. Since this is a 21-and-over activity, age checks are part of the evening.

The guide makes or breaks the night

Ghost stories need a good storyteller. The guide must manage several tasks at once: keep the group together, explain Hollywood names, handle bar entries, answer questions, and maintain a respectful tone around stories involving murder and real people.

The strongest feedback centers on Bob, who gave useful drink advice and helped the group choose suitable orders. That is exactly the kind of practical help that improves a pub crawl. You want a guide who can tell a story, but also knows when to help you navigate the next stop.

The overall rating is 4.4 from 23 reviews, which suggests the tour usually works well but is not perfect for every group. Two serious complaints point to the importance of group culture and guide conduct. One person left after feeling dismissed when asking questions about American figures. Another ended the crawl early after racist comments from another participant.

You cannot control every person who joins a public tour. You can, however, judge the guide’s response. The subject is American Hollywood, but that does not excuse ignoring international visitors or allowing offensive behavior to spoil the evening. If you need a more academic, inclusive, or quiet history tour, this may not be the right format.

Who will enjoy this Hollywood pub crawl

I would recommend it most strongly to adults who want a casual night out with a ghost-story theme. It suits visitors who enjoy old Hollywood, famous names, historic bars, and a bit of theatrical storytelling.

It is also a good match if you want a short activity. Two hours leaves room for dinner before or after, and the Hollywood and Highland meeting point is easy to identify.

You may not enjoy it if you dislike drinking environments, want guaranteed access to every named venue, or expect documented paranormal evidence. This is a storytelling pub crawl, not a serious research tour.

International visitors should prepare to ask for context. You may not know every American television or film reference, and the tour data does not promise multilingual guiding. The live tour is in English.

People under 21 cannot join. The dress rules also make this less suitable for anyone planning a very casual daytime outing in shorts or a tank top.

Practical booking advice

Arrive 15 minutes early at the Footlocker on Hollywood Boulevard. Look for the black branded shirt and lantern, but do not wait until the scheduled departure time to start searching.

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes that meet the bar’s dress code. Bring identification, or a copy of it, and keep money aside for drinks, a tip, and possible Musso and Frank’s entry.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Hollywood plans are still changing. Check the available starting times because the duration is fixed at two hours, but the departure schedule varies.

Should you book the LA Ghosts Boos and Booze crawl?

Book it if you want Hollywood stories served with drinks, walking, and a little spooky theater. The Boardner’s connection to I Love Lucy, the 1940s murder story, the Musso and Frank’s setting, and the references to Chaplin, Harlow, and Monroe give the route more character than a standard bar hop.

Before booking, accept the extra costs and the informal nature of the experience. Drinks are not included, Musso and Frank’s entry is extra, and the quality of the evening depends heavily on the guide and group. I would also confirm accessibility if mobility is a concern and make sure the tour’s American Hollywood focus matches what you want to learn.

For a social night with ghost tales and classic Hollywood atmosphere, the $30 starting price is fair. For a quiet, deeply researched history walk, choose another type of tour.

FAQ

How long is the LA Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl?

The tour lasts two hours.

How much does the haunted pub crawl cost?

The listed price is $30 per person.

Are drinks included in the tour price?

No. Drinks are not included, so you pay for cocktails and other beverages separately.

How many bars does the tour include?

The tour includes entry into four bars.

Is entry to Musso and Frank’s included?

No. Entry into Musso and Frank’s is not included.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet outside the Footlocker at the corner of Hollywood and Highland, at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, California.

How will I recognize the guide?

The guide will wear a black US Ghost Adventures shirt and carry a lantern.

Can people under 21 join the tour?

No. The experience is not suitable for people under 21.

What should I wear and bring?

Wear comfortable shoes and bring an ID card or an accepted copy. Avoid shorts, sleeveless shirts, and tank tops because one bar has a dress code.