Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl

Montreal’s Haunted Pub Crawl turns a drink in an Irish pub into a lesson in ghosts, grisly crime, and the city’s darker past. You settle into three bars while a guide such as Jason, Anton, Max, Cara, or Donovan tells stories tied to Montreal’s pubs and neighborhoods.

I like the low walking requirement, especially if you want a relaxed afternoon rather than a full city walk. I also like the theatrical storytelling. The strongest guides use humor, dramatic pauses, and plenty of local detail. The main catch is that this is a storytelling tour held in pubs, not a fast-moving crawl with a new bar every 20 minutes.

Key points to know

• Three pubs in about 2.5 hours: McKibbin’s, Sir Winston Churchill Pub, and Hurley’s Irish Pub.
• The stories go beyond the buildings: Expect tales from around Montreal, including ghosts, murders, and grim local folklore.
• Drinks cost extra: You buy alcohol at regular bar prices, with no tour discount.
• Short walks, but not a fully accessible outing: Old pubs may have stairs and difficult access.
• The group can reach 25 people: Ask about the current group size if a very personal tour matters to you.
• Arrive at the correct McKibbin’s: There are multiple locations, and the meeting point is 1426 Rue Bishop.

A haunted afternoon in Montreal’s pub quarter

This experience works best if you think of it as a ghost storytelling session that moves between three bars. You are not following a guide through cemeteries or stopping at every haunted address in the city. Instead, the guide brings the stories into the pubs, where you can order a drink, sit down, and listen.

That format has a practical reason. Montreal does not allow you to carry alcohol from one bar to the next, so the stories take place inside the drinking establishments. The result is less of a walking tour and more of a theatrical pub visit with a local history lesson mixed in.

The tour begins at 3 p.m. on Bishop Street, less than two blocks from Sherbrooke Street. From there, you visit three well-known pubs, spending roughly 45 minutes at each. The walking between stops is limited, which makes the crawl easy on your feet, though the time spent seated may feel long if you prefer constant movement.

McKibbin’s and the ghosts of Griffintown

The first stop is McKibbin’s Irish Pub at 1426 Rue Bishop. This is where the tone is set, and it is also where the guide may spend a substantial portion of the first hour introducing Montreal’s haunted past.

The stories here include the mysterious history of McKibbin’s, the ghosts of Griffintown, and the famous McTavish ghost story. These tales connect the pub to a much wider web of Montreal folklore. You are not simply hearing about a ghost in the corner booth. You are getting the backstory that explains why certain people, crimes, and old neighborhoods remain part of the city’s supernatural reputation.

This is also the stop where the experience can feel most like a history class. Some guides give long, detailed presentations before the group moves on. If you enjoy true crime, old Montreal stories, and grisly details, that extra context adds value. If you want a quick ghost tale followed by another drink, you may find the pace slow.

The guide makes a big difference. Jason has been praised for his animated delivery and extensive preparation, while other hosts have been described as funny, friendly, and energetic. The company uses actors for the storytelling, so the best performances have a staged quality rather than a simple guide reading notes from a phone.

You should not expect a private table for a tiny group. The stated maximum is 25 people, and one past booking description apparently suggested a much smaller group. That mismatch created disappointment for some customers. If personal attention is central to your decision, confirm the group size before booking.

Sir Winston Churchill Pub and darker Montreal tales

The second stop is Sir Winston Churchill Pub, often called Winnie’s. Here, the focus shifts to the pub itself, the ghost of Nick Auf de Mar, and the story of Montreal’s vampire serial killer.

This section shows the unusual mix of material on the tour. Some stories are traditional ghost lore. Others are crime stories, historical accounts, or tales that sound more like urban legend. The guide connects them through Montreal’s long and sometimes unsettling past.

You will probably sit while the guide speaks, then order drinks from the bar. Alcohol is not included in the $26.29 admission price, and there are no special drink discounts. That keeps the ticket price fairly modest, but your final cost depends on what you order at each stop.

The bar service can affect the rhythm. A group of 15 to 25 people ordering at once may take time, and the tour does not include a snack package. One useful improvement would be food or prepared pub snacks, particularly if you plan to spend the whole afternoon drinking. Eat beforehand or plan to order something if the bars offer it that day.

This stop also makes clear why the tour is not identical to a Savannah-style crawl. You do not carry a drink through the streets while listening to the guide outdoors. You settle in at each establishment, which gives you a seat and a bathroom break, but reduces the sense of motion.

Hurley’s Irish Pub and the burning lady

The final stop is Hurley’s Irish Pub at 1225 Rue Crescent. The stories here include the burning lady ghost, the ghosts of Club le Cinq, and the well-known Mary Gallagher story.

Hurley’s is the point where the afternoon either comes together or feels too long. If your guide has built a good rhythm, the final pub gives you a relaxed place to keep listening and ask questions. One strong account described the last stop as a place where people stayed to discuss their own paranormal experiences. That says something about the social side of the tour: the right group can turn the final hour into a lively conversation.

The Mary Gallagher story is one of the better-known pieces of Montreal ghost lore included in the crawl. The tour does not promise that you will walk past the relevant cemetery or haunted site. You hear the story inside Hurley’s, along with the other tales connected to Montreal.

That distinction matters. If you want to visit specific haunted locations, this is the wrong format. Haunted Montreal also offers walking tours focused on areas such as Downtown, Griffintown, and Mount Royal, but those are separate experiences.

How the storytelling affects the experience

The best part of this crawl is the guide’s performance. Jason has been singled out for bringing stories to life, while Anton and Max have received praise for their engaging delivery. Donovan has also been described as animated and passionate, and Cara as energetic and personable.

The variation between guides is normal for a performance-based tour. One guide may lean into jokes and dramatic delivery. Another may spend more time on dates, crimes, and historical background. That can be a strength if you enjoy local detail, but it also means the experience may not feel exactly the same on every departure.

The stories are not all tied directly to the pub where you hear them. Some come from elsewhere in Montreal. This is intentional, since the tour presents the city’s wider ghost lore rather than claiming that every tale happened in the room where you are sitting.

You should also know that this is not a family-friendly ghost attraction in the usual sense. One description rated the content around PG-13 and noted that guides can clip some of the more graphic parts. Expect references to violent deaths, murder, torture, and other grim subjects. The exact amount of detail depends on the guide and the group.

Is $26.29 a fair price?

At $26.29 per person, the tour is reasonably priced for two and a half hours of guided entertainment, especially if you enjoy the subject. The ticket covers the guide and storytelling, while drinks are separate. That means you should compare the admission with the cost of a normal afternoon of three pub stops, not with the price of a museum visit.

The value comes from the performance and the research. You are paying to have someone organize the stories, select the pubs, and keep the afternoon moving. If you would happily spend time in these bars anyway, the added fee is modest. If you do not drink, the price still gives you access to the guided stories, though the setting may feel less natural since each stop is built around a bar.

The tour is often booked about 20 days ahead, so popular dates may fill early. The maximum group size is 25. That is small enough to hear the guide in most settings, but not the same as a private or semi-private outing.

Getting there without a parking headache

The starting address is McKibbin’s, 1426 Rue Bishop, Montréal, QC H3G 2E6. Use the full address, not just the pub name. McKibbin’s has more than one location, and going to the wrong branch can mean missing the start.

The meeting point is close to public transportation and less than two blocks from Sherbrooke Street. The practical choice is to use transit or a rideshare if you plan to drink. Downtown Montreal parking can be difficult and expensive, and driving between the start and end points adds needless stress.

The crawl finishes at Hurley’s Irish Pub, 1225 Rue Crescent, Montréal, QC H3G 2B1. Since the start and end points differ, you do not need to return to Bishop Street after the tour. Plan your dinner, evening walk, or next activity from the Crescent Street area.

Arrive early enough to find the correct entrance and get settled. A delay at the beginning can affect the first story and may leave you trying to catch up with a group already inside.

Walking, stairs, and comfort

This is one of the easier Montreal tours in terms of distance. You walk between three nearby pub locations rather than covering large sections of the city. That makes it appealing on a rainy afternoon or after a long day of sightseeing.

The pubs themselves are the bigger concern. Some are older buildings with stairs and difficult access. The experience is not recommended for people with serious mobility issues, and it may not suit wheelchair users. Ask the operator before booking if you need step-free access.

Bring a coat or umbrella if the weather is poor, since you still walk between bars. Once inside, you will mostly sit and listen. Wear shoes that are comfortable on stairs and pavement, and pace your drinks across the full two and a half hours.

Who will enjoy this crawl most?

I would recommend it to you if you like local legends, true crime, and historical storytelling with a drink in hand. It is also a good choice for a solo afternoon because the pub setting makes it easy to sit with a group and join the conversation. Couples and small friend groups can treat it as both entertainment and a low-key introduction to Montreal nightlife.

It suits first-time visitors who want something different from a standard sightseeing walk. The stories introduce neighborhoods, old buildings, and dark chapters that a glossy city tour may skip. Newcomers to Montreal may also appreciate the historical background, provided they are happy with a serious amount of narration.

I would hesitate if your idea of a pub crawl means one quick drink at each bar, lots of outdoor walking, and constant movement. The tour can spend close to 45 minutes at a stop, and some guides pack in a large number of stories. Two people specifically found the pace too slow and the content too much like a lecture.

You should also skip it if you want a ghost hunt or paranormal investigation. There are no cemetery visits, no promised sightings, and no claim that anything supernatural will happen during the afternoon. You get folklore, atmosphere, and performance.

Booking details worth knowing

The experience is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Confirmation is provided at booking, and most people can participate if they are comfortable with the pub setting and stairs.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the 3 p.m. start time. Cancelling inside that window does not qualify for a refund, and last-minute changes are not accepted. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation by the operator may lead to another date, another experience, or a full refund.

The published recommendation level is strong, with 91 percent of customers recommending the experience and an overall rating of 4.7 from 108 ratings. Those numbers suggest a good fit for the intended audience, but they do not remove the main warning: you need to enjoy long-form storytelling.

Should you book the Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl?

Book it if you want three comfortable pub stops, Montreal ghost lore, and a guide who performs the stories. The $26.29 price is fair for the guided portion, and the short walks make it an easy afternoon activity. Jason, Anton, Max, Cara, and Donovan are among the guides associated with especially engaging sessions.

Do not book it expecting a fast bar hop or a walking ghost tour. You will buy your own drinks, sit through detailed stories, and hear about haunted places that may not be anywhere near the pub. For the right audience, that is the point. For anyone seeking constant movement and brief spooky anecdotes, choose one of the company’s walking tours instead.

FAQ

How long does the Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours and 30 minutes. It starts at 3 p.m. and visits three pubs, with about 45 minutes planned at each stop.

Which pubs does the tour visit?

The planned stops are McKibbin’s, Sir Winston Churchill Pub, and Hurley’s Irish Pub. The tour begins at McKibbin’s on Rue Bishop and ends at Hurley’s on Rue Crescent.

Are drinks included in the ticket price?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included. You can buy drinks from each bar at regular prices, with no special tour discount.

Where does the tour begin?

The meeting point is McKibbin’s at 1426 Rue Bishop, Montréal, QC H3G 2E6. Check the full address carefully because there are multiple McKibbin’s locations.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is 25 people. The actual number may vary by departure.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the tour are not refundable.