San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl

San Francisco’s haunted past gets its best setting after dark, when old streets, saloons, and narrow lanes make every grim tale feel close at hand. This two-hour walking pub crawl links paranormal stops with drinks at four bars, including the Old Ship Saloon, Hungry I, and Lion’s Den Lounge and Bar.

I like the small maximum of 15 people, which gives the guide room to tell stories without shouting over a crowd. I also like the mix of documented hauntings and ordinary San Francisco history, including tales of a miner’s ghost and a cook with missing fingers. The main catch is that drinks cost extra, and Sunday closures have sometimes forced the group to use alternate bars.

Key points to know before you book

• Four bar stops: The route begins at High Horse and includes the Old Ship Saloon, Hungry I, and Lion’s Den Lounge and Bar, though bar access can change.
• Stories with historical grounding: Expect documented accounts, local history, and dark tales rather than a promise of supernatural proof.
• Guides make the difference: Ben, Taylor, Mark, Silver, Mike, and Michaela have all led tours, with card tricks and a friendly ghost-hunting dog adding extra personality on some departures.
• Small-group format: The tour accepts no more than 15 people, and some departures have had only two participants.
• Drinks are extra: The $36 price covers the tour and fees, but you pay separately for anything you order at the bars.
• Easy urban outing: You walk between stops, meet near public transportation, and need a moderate level of fitness.

San Francisco ghosts with a drink in hand

This is not a haunted house with actors jumping from closets. It is a guided walk through old San Francisco, using bars, streets, and historic buildings as the stage.

Your guide connects each location to a documented haunting or a grim event from the city’s past. That makes the experience work for people who enjoy history as much as ghost stories. You may hear about a spirit who still lingers in the area, the miner’s ghost, and the darker side of the district’s past.

The tone appears to be social rather than solemn. You move from one bar to the next, hear a story outdoors or along the street, then have a chance to order a drink. Some guides add card tricks, and Mark has occasionally brought Oakley, a dog described as the group’s ghost hunter.

I would treat the ghost stories as folklore supported by historical records, not as a guarantee that you will see an apparition. One person completed the tour without seeing any ghosts and still had a wonderful time. That is the right expectation: you are buying an entertaining history walk with a supernatural angle.

Meeting at High Horse on Washington Street

The tour starts at High Horse, at 582 Washington Street. This first stop gives you a practical beginning point, since you can settle in, meet the guide, and order a drink if you wish.

The starting bar is also important because the advertised route includes four bars, but only three are named in the supplied details: High Horse, the Old Ship Saloon, Hungry I, and the Lion’s Den Lounge and Bar. You should think of High Horse as the opening stop, followed by the three named locations.

One useful detail from the experience is that some people have arrived early expecting to drink at the first bar, only to find it closed on a Sunday. The company substituted other bars in that case. If your date falls on a Sunday, it is wise to keep your plans flexible and confirm the meeting details close to departure.

Drinks are not included in the $36 price. The tour includes fees, taxes, and the guide, but you pay for your own beverages. One participant said the only required drink purchase was at the first bar, though you should not assume every stop will work the same way.

The Old Ship Saloon and its hard past

The Old Ship Saloon is listed as the first named stop, with about 10 minutes set aside for the visit. It is presented as a historic saloon that witnessed considerable human suffering.

That description tells you what kind of story to expect. This is less about a theatrical scare and more about how painful events leave a mark on old places. The guide uses the saloon as a doorway into San Francisco’s rougher past, then links that history to the supernatural story attached to it.

Ten minutes is enough for a short drink and a focused tale, but not for a long sit-down meal. If you want a full dinner, plan to eat before or after the crawl. The schedule is built around moving through several places, not lingering at one bar.

The Old Ship Saloon also shows why comfortable walking shoes matter. The route moves between bars and paranormal sites, so you will spend part of the evening standing outdoors and walking city streets. The tour calls for a moderate level of fitness, a fair description for an urban outing that lasts about two hours.

Hungry I and the ghosts of the street

Hungry I is the second named bar, with another roughly 10-minute stop. Here, the focus shifts to the ghosts said to haunt the street itself.

That change in setting keeps the route from feeling like a series of indoor lectures. You hear some stories inside bars and others near buildings and streets tied to the past. I like this structure because the city remains part of the experience. You are not simply being told that a place is haunted. You are standing near it while the guide explains why.

Hungry I also helps create the social side of the crawl. You can order a drink, chat with the rest of the group, and then return to the story. The small group limit matters here. With no more than 15 people, the guide can usually keep the discussion personal, and a very small departure may feel almost like a private walk.

Still, the pub format may not suit everyone. If you do not drink alcohol, the activity is still possible because the bars are used as meeting points and story settings, but the value will come mainly from the walk and narration. The price does not include drinks, so non-drinkers should judge the tour on the history and storytelling rather than the bar access.

The miner’s ghost and San Francisco’s darker side

Between the bars, the guide covers the history of the area and the miner’s ghost. These outdoor sections are a key part of the experience because they provide the context that makes the bar stories more than isolated spooky anecdotes.

San Francisco has plenty of colorful history, but this tour leans toward its rougher chapters. The miner’s story and the tale of a cook with missing fingers show the range of material. Some stories are eerie, some are gruesome, and some are simply strange.

The quality of your evening depends heavily on the guide’s delivery. That is true of any storytelling walk, but especially so here. Ben has been praised for combining city history with engaging tales. Taylor has been described as well informed about San Francisco and its ghosts. Mark is known for a relaxed manner, patience, card tricks, and, on some tours, Oakley the dog.

Silver and Michaela have also led departures, with Silver noted for making the past feel vivid and Michaela for taking care of the group when communication before the tour was not ideal. Mike has brought strong city knowledge and card tricks to the route. Guide assignments can change, so do not book on the assumption that one particular person will lead your date.

Lion’s Den Lounge and Bar finishes the walk

The tour ends at Lion’s Den Lounge and Bar, at 57 Wentworth Place. This final stop gives the outing a clear finish rather than sending you back to the starting point.

The supplied schedule allows about 10 minutes here, so expect another short bar visit rather than a long evening of drinking. The playful description of leaving without running into ghosts keeps the mood light. After two hours of dark stories, that bit of humor is welcome.

The end point is in a different part of the district from High Horse, which means you should plan your return from Lion’s Den rather than from the original meeting place. The tour does not provide private transportation. Since the route is near public transportation, getting onward should be manageable, but the details of your journey depend on where you are staying.

If you want to continue the night, finishing at a bar gives you an easy option. If you are tired, you can leave at the end without retracing the route.

What the $36 price really covers

At $36 per person, the price is fair if you want a guided urban walk with a social setting and several stories. You are paying for about two hours of guiding, research, organization, and access to a small-group experience. All fees and taxes are included.

The price does not cover drinks. That matters because the phrase pub crawl can lead you to expect beverages to be part of the package. Here, the bars provide the setting, but your orders are separate.

I see the best value for someone who would otherwise pay for a short history walk and then visit a few bars independently. The guide supplies the route and the stories, while you decide how much to spend on drinks. The value is weaker if you want a long time in each bar or a full meal.

A 4.8 rating from 33 reviews, with 97 percent recommending the experience, suggests a strong track record. The written feedback also points to one important qualification: the guide often determines how memorable the evening feels, and substitute bars may be needed when a venue is closed.

How to prepare for the two-hour route

Wear shoes you can walk in comfortably. The tour moves through city streets and includes outdoor story stops, so you should be ready to stand and walk between bars.

Arrive with enough time to find High Horse at 582 Washington Street. Confirmation is provided when you book, and the experience is offered in English. It accepts mobile tickets, so you do not need to print anything.

Keep your evening flexible around the bars. Sunday closures have affected the planned stops, and alternate venues may be used. That does not necessarily ruin the tour, but it can mean you do not visit the exact bar connected with a story you were hoping to hear.

The tour allows service animals and is near public transportation. A moderate fitness level is required, but no private vehicle is provided. The group maximum is 15, and unusually small groups can happen when other bookings do not show.

The cancellation terms are simple: cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

Who will enjoy this haunted pub crawl

I would recommend it to you if you like local history with a slightly spooky edge, prefer small groups, and enjoy meeting in bars without needing a formal dinner. It is also a good choice for a relaxed night out with friends, couples, or solo visitors who want an organized activity.

The tour suits people who enjoy storytelling more than jump scares. You may hear grim tales, but there is no promise that you will see a ghost. The fun comes from connecting old streets and buildings with stories about people who lived, suffered, and supposedly stayed behind.

Families can join, but parents should consider the dark subject matter and bar settings. The material includes suffering, death, and grisly details such as the missing-fingers story. The tour is better for older children and adults who can handle that tone.

I would skip it if you want a late-night crawl built around heavy drinking, since the tour lasts only about two hours and the bar visits are short. I would also hesitate if you need every planned venue to be open, particularly on a Sunday.

Should you book San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze?

Book this if you want an easygoing history walk with documented hauntings, three named historic bars plus the opening stop, and a guide who can make the stories personal. The small group size and strong guide feedback give it a friendly feel, while card tricks and Oakley the dog may add an unexpected lift.

Go in knowing that drinks cost extra, venues can change, and supernatural sightings are not part of the bargain. If those limits suit you, $36 buys a pleasant way to explore San Francisco’s older streets after dark, with enough history to satisfy you even if the ghosts stay quiet.

FAQ

How long does the San Francisco Ghosts Boos and Booze tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $36 per person.

Are drinks included in the price?

No. Drinks are not included, so you pay separately for beverages at the bars.

How many bars does the tour visit?

The experience includes four bar stops. The route begins at High Horse and lists the Old Ship Saloon, Hungry I, and Lion’s Den Lounge and Bar as the other locations.

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at High Horse, 582 Washington Street, San Francisco, California 94111.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Lion’s Den Lounge and Bar, 57 Wentworth Place, San Francisco, California 94108.

Is transportation provided between stops?

No private transportation is included. The experience takes place on foot and is near public transportation.

How large is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 15 people.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.