Ghost Bus Pub Crawl

San Antonio’s Ghost Bus Pub Crawl mixes old bars, haunted legends, and a moving air-conditioned ride into one lively evening. You spend about 30 minutes at each stop, with the bus handling the gaps between them, so the night feels more like a guided story than a long bar hop.

I like the historic setting at Menger Bar and Hotel Havana, and I like the unusual stop at Southtown House of Spirits, a Victorian-era séance-themed bar with pink bulbs and electric candles. The main thing to consider is that alcoholic drinks are not included, and a group of up to 33 people may feel less personal than a small walking tour.

Key points to know before booking

• Three very different haunted drinking spots: You move from a historic hotel bar to a séance-themed Southtown room and a moody River Walk hideaway.
• Menger Bar is the anchor stop: It is presented as the oldest and most historical bar in Texas, giving the crawl a strong opening rooted in San Antonio’s past.
• Lady Lex and Robert bring personality: The guiding style includes storytelling, character work, and room for personal conversation.
• A tarantula may be part of the oddities: One account specifically recalls an unexpected tarantula encounter, which may appeal to fans of the strange and creepy.
• The vehicle matters: The air-conditioned bus saves you from arranging transport between bars and keeps the group together.
• Budget for your own drinks: Admission and the ride are included, but alcoholic beverages are not.

What the Ghost Bus Pub Crawl is really like

This is not a standard haunted walk through San Antonio. You are not simply following a guide down dark streets while hearing old tales. Instead, you board a vehicle and visit three bars, each with a different mood and story.

The total outing lasts about two to three hours. Each listed stop takes around 30 minutes, leaving the rest of the time for driving, getting on and off the bus, and settling into each location. That makes the pace fairly brisk. You get a taste of several places rather than a long evening in one bar.

The tour starts at Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours & Oddities Parlor at 204 Alamo Plaza, Suite J. That location gives the night an appropriately strange starting point. You will receive a mobile ticket, and the tour is offered in English.

The bus is air-conditioned, a useful detail in San Antonio. You can focus on the stories and the drinks without worrying about arranging rides between downtown, Southtown, and the River Walk. The group can reach as many as 33 people, so expect a social outing rather than a private ghost investigation.

Menger Bar, where Texas bar history sets the tone

The first stop is Menger Bar, described as the oldest and most historical bar in Texas. Its location beside the Alamo Plaza area gives the visit a strong connection to San Antonio’s best-known historic center.

You have about 30 minutes here. That is enough time to take in the atmosphere, hear the guide’s stories, and decide if you want a drink, but it is not long enough for a leisurely night at the bar. Since admission is included and alcohol is not, you can choose how much you want to spend once you arrive.

I like this stop because it gives the crawl a solid historical base. A haunted bar works best when the building feels like part of the story, and an old drinking place carries more weight than a newly themed room. The bar’s age also helps set up the contrast with the newer, more theatrical settings later in the evening.

The short visit may be a drawback if you prefer to settle in with a cocktail and soak up the room. This experience is designed around movement. You are being introduced to a place, not spending the whole night there.

Southtown House of Spirits brings the séance theme

The second stop shifts the mood. Southtown House of Spirits is in San Antonio’s historic Southtown district at 727 S. Alamo Street. It opened on Halloween in 2024 and occupies a second-floor space with a Victorian-era séance theme.

The details here sound deliberately theatrical. Vintage wooden furniture, pink bulbs, and electric candles create a dim, intimate room. It is the kind of setting that does much of the storytelling before the guide says a word.

This stop should suit you if you like atmosphere more than conventional pub design. The bar is not presented as a bright, casual drinking room. It aims for a more enclosed and eerie feeling, with the décor doing plenty of the work.

The second-floor location is worth noting. You should be prepared for a bar environment that may involve stairs or a different access arrangement, though the supplied information does not specify accessibility details. Most people can participate in the overall activity, but anyone with mobility concerns should ask the operator before booking.

The visit lasts about 30 minutes, so treat it as a focused stop. You can take in the room, hear the story, and order a drink if you wish. The unusual setting is likely to be one of the most memorable parts of the night, especially for anyone who enjoys oddities and theatrical ghost lore.

Hotel Havana adds old-world atmosphere by the River Walk

The final listed stop is Hotel Havana, a boutique hotel built in 1914 on San Antonio’s River Walk. Its vintage furnishings and old-world style give it a different character from Southtown House of Spirits.

The hotel is associated with stories of ghostly guests lingering in its halls. Its basement bar was once a speakeasy and now serves craft cocktails in a dim, intimate setting. The hotel’s Ocho restaurant has a candlelit mood and combines Cuban and Texan influences.

This is the stop where the themes of history, drinking, and ghost stories come together most clearly. You have a historic building, a former speakeasy, a basement bar, and a reputation for eerie encounters. Even if you are more interested in architecture than the supernatural, Hotel Havana offers a strong sense of place.

You should keep one practical point in mind: bar locations can change. Hotel Havana is part of the planned experience, but the operator notes that locations are subject to change. Check the current details before setting out, especially if you have your heart set on a particular room or cocktail program.

As with the other stops, about 30 minutes gives you a sample rather than a full evening. The short stay is useful for a crawl, but it can feel limiting if you want to explore the hotel at a slower pace.

The guides make more difference than the bus

The best part of a story-based tour is often the guide’s delivery. The guiding team has included Lexi, also called Lady Lex, and Robert. Lexi’s style includes character work and storytelling, with enough personality to keep the night from feeling like a string of facts.

That matters here because the locations already provide the setting. A guide who simply recites dates would leave much of the atmosphere unused. The stronger approach is to connect each bar’s room, past, and ghostly reputation into one evening.

One account of the experience also describes a problem involving a manager at a hotel bar the tour regularly visits with permission. Lexi handled the awkward moment calmly and kept the evening moving. That is useful information for you because bar-based tours depend on live venues, and real-world snags can happen.

The same account points to a personal conversation with Lexi about real-life experiences. That suggests the tour can offer more than a fixed script, at least when the group and timing allow it. Do not expect a private conversation, but a guide with that kind of warmth can make a group outing feel more human.

A separate account describes Lady Lex and Robert taking good care of the group. Another recalls an unexpected tarantula, which may be connected to the oddities side of the Sisters Grimm operation. The tarantula is not listed as a guaranteed part of the crawl, so think of it as a possible surprise rather than a promised feature.

What the included transport adds

The air-conditioned vehicle is more than a convenience. It lets the tour connect downtown, Southtown, and the River Walk without asking you to navigate between bars after dark.

That also makes this a practical choice if you do not want to arrange separate rides. You can stay with the group, hear more of the guide’s presentation while moving, and avoid losing time finding each address.

The tradeoff is group size. With a maximum of 33 people, boarding and unloading may take a little time. You will also have less control over how long you stay at each bar. If you want to linger, order several drinks, or change plans on the fly, an independent evening may suit you better.

The end point is behind the Menger Hotel, outside Morton’s The Steakhouse at 300 East Crockett Street. That is not the same as the starting point, so plan your evening around the drop-off rather than assuming you will return to the oddities parlor.

Drinks, admission, and the real value

The experience includes a local guide, the air-conditioned vehicle, and admission tickets for the listed stops. Alcoholic beverages are not included.

Since no tour price is provided here, I cannot judge the exact dollar value. The useful way to assess it is to separate the costs. You are paying for the guide’s storytelling, access to the three venues, and transport between them. You then decide how much to spend on drinks.

That arrangement can work well if you want a guided night but do not plan to drink heavily. You can enjoy the setting and stories while keeping your bar tab under control. It may feel less valuable if your main goal is a long cocktail session, since each stop lasts only about half an hour.

Admission inclusion also reduces the need to sort out cover charges at each location. The exact bar setup can change, though, and the operator notes that locations are subject to change. Bring a flexible attitude and enough time for the group to move at its own pace.

Who will enjoy this night most

I would recommend the crawl to adults who like haunted history, themed bars, unusual décor, and guided storytelling. It is especially suited to a first evening in San Antonio when you want an activity that combines nightlife with local atmosphere.

It also works for people who prefer not to spend the night planning routes. The bus handles the movement, and the air conditioning is a welcome feature in San Antonio’s warm weather.

The tour may suit couples, friends, and families with adults who enjoy spooky material. The supplied information says most people can participate, but it does not provide a minimum age. Check the operator’s current requirements before booking if your group includes younger people.

I would be more cautious about booking it if you dislike theatrical ghost stories, dislike group activities, or want a quiet meal. The séance décor and oddities angle are central to the experience. This is meant to be fun and atmospheric, not a serious study of paranormal evidence.

Timing, weather, and booking details

Allow the full two to three hours rather than planning another fixed activity immediately afterward. The three 30-minute stops do not include all driving and transition time.

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. It also requires a minimum number of participants, so the operator may offer another date or experience, or a full refund, if that minimum is not reached.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund.

Public transportation is nearby, and the starting point is at Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours & Oddities Parlor, 204 Alamo Plaza, Suite J. Since the ending point is behind the Menger Hotel near Morton’s, you should note the difference before you arrive.

Should you book the Ghost Bus Pub Crawl?

Book it if you want three different haunted bar settings, a guide-led night, and a simple way to move around San Antonio without arranging transport yourself. Menger Bar provides the historic beginning, Southtown House of Spirits supplies the theatrical séance mood, and Hotel Havana adds a 1914 hotel, a former speakeasy, and River Walk atmosphere.

Skip it if you want long visits, a small private group, or drinks included in the price. The strongest reasons to go are the guide’s personality, the unusual venues, and the mix of history with oddities. If that combination sounds like your kind of evening, the Ghost Bus Pub Crawl offers a memorable way to see a stranger side of San Antonio.

FAQ

How long does the Ghost Bus Pub Crawl last?

The experience lasts approximately two to three hours.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours & Oddities Parlor, 204 Alamo Plaza, Suite J, San Antonio, Texas 78205.

Where does the tour end?

The bus drops you behind the Menger Hotel, outside Morton’s The Steakhouse at 300 East Crockett Street in San Antonio.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included.

Is transportation included?

Yes. The experience includes an air-conditioned vehicle.

What bars are included?

The planned stops are Menger Bar, Southtown House of Spirits, and Hotel Havana. Bar locations are subject to change.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.