Portland: Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl

Portland’s haunted pub crawl mixes ghost stories with real bars, so the evening feels less like a staged scare show and more like a walking history lesson with a drink in hand. You begin at the Benson Hotel, then follow your lantern-carrying guide through downtown sites tied to murder, secrets, pirates, and strange sightings.

I like the nine historic stops and the chance to hear stories inside four pubs instead of standing outside every location. I also like the small touches, including an EMF reader and private rooms at some stops for storytelling. The main caution is pace: one Sunday outing had a closed bar, no drink stop at the first pub, and a guide who walked too fast and was hard to hear.

Key points before you book

• Four pubs anchor the route: Visit Kelly’s Olympian, Kell’s Irish Pub, the Shanghai Tunnels Bar, and other historic watering holes during the two-hour crawl.
• Nine haunted sites add context: The walk includes more than bar stops, with stories tied to Portland’s darker past.
• The Benson Hotel is the meeting point: Arrive 15 minutes early and look for a guide carrying a lantern.
• Drinks cost extra: Bring money and a valid ID, but remember that food and beverages are not included in the $30 price.
• The schedule can change: Time at each place may range from 15 minutes to one hour, depending on the day and season.
• The tour runs in all weather: Wear comfortable shoes and clothing suited to rain or changing conditions.

A ghost walk that uses Portland’s bars as its stage

I like the basic idea here because the pubs are not just places to pause for a drink. They are part of the story. Portland’s older downtown streets provide the setting, while the guide connects each stop to tales of violence, secrecy, strange sightings, and the city’s rougher past.

The tour costs $30 per person and lasts about two hours. That is a fair price if you want a guided evening walk with several historic interiors and a steady stream of stories. It is less attractive if you expect drinks, a meal, or a long stay at every bar, since all food and beverages are paid for separately.

You should also set your expectations correctly. This is not a formal paranormal investigation, and the supplied details do not promise proof of ghosts. It is an entertaining blend of local history, folklore, atmospheric pubs, and ghost-hunting flavor. The EMF reader adds a playful touch, but the quality of the night depends heavily on the guide’s delivery and the pace of the group.

Meeting beneath the Benson Hotel’s ghost stories

The tour begins at the Benson Hotel, Portland’s Curio Collection property at 309 SW Broadway. This is a useful meeting point in downtown because it is easy to identify, and the elegant hotel gives the evening an immediate old-Portland feel.

Your guide will be dressed up and carrying a lantern. That detail matters in a city setting, where a group can otherwise be difficult to spot. Arrive 15 minutes early so you are not trying to find the group after the walk has started.

The Benson is also one of the haunted sites discussed during the experience. You begin with a grand hotel associated with ghostly sightings, then move into a broader story about Portland’s past. I prefer this opening to a simple introduction on a street corner because the location itself sets the mood before anyone has ordered a drink.

The tour is in English, and guide quality matters here. A recent outing received praise for friendly, enthusiastic storytelling, while another had trouble with a guide who walked quickly and was difficult to hear. Stay near the guide if you can, especially in the first few minutes, and speak up if the group spreads out.

Kelly’s Olympian and the first pub stop

Kelly’s Olympian is one of the tour’s main stops. The historic bar is presented as a place with a spooky past, and the experience invites you to sip a drink while listening for stories of its lingering spirits.

The appeal is the setting. You are not simply hearing a story about a haunted place from a sidewalk. You have the chance to sit inside a real bar and absorb its atmosphere while the guide explains the legends connected to it. The tour description also promises time to dance with the spirits of Kelly’s Olympian, which signals a playful tone rather than a purely grim one.

Plan to buy your own drink if you want one. Drinks are not included in the ticket, and the amount of time at each stop can change. One Sunday outing did not include a drink stop at the first bar, so you should not assume that every location will follow the same order or offer the same amount of time.

That flexibility can work in your favor when a bar is lively or the group needs more time for a story. It can also be frustrating if you have pictured a full drink at every pub. I would treat the beverages as optional additions, not as part of the $30 package.

Kell’s Irish Pub and the stronger paranormal angle

Kell’s Irish Pub is described as a place that has turned ghost skeptics into believers. You should read that as part of the tour’s storytelling style, not as a guarantee of a supernatural encounter. Still, an Irish pub with a long-running reputation for paranormal activity makes a natural setting for the evening’s more intense tales.

This stop is valuable for two reasons. First, it offers a change of mood from the Benson’s hotel setting and Kelly’s bar atmosphere. Second, the guide can tell stories in a place where the surroundings support the subject. Some past groups had private rooms in which to gather, which made it easier to hear the stories and gave the spooky material more room to breathe.

The private-room setup is one of the best practical details of the tour. A ghost story loses its effect when you are straining to hear over a crowded bar. Still, the tour does not promise a private room at every stop, so expect conditions to vary by day, season, and crowd level.

If you are a skeptic, this may be one of the more enjoyable stops because you can take the stories as folklore and local color. If you already enjoy paranormal tales, you will likely appreciate the setting and the guide’s dramatic delivery.

The Shanghai Tunnels Bar and Portland’s darker side

The final named stop is the Shanghai Tunnels Bar, which brings the tour into one of Portland’s most unsettling historical themes. The name points to the city’s old stories of underground passages, forced labor, and criminal activity, though the supplied tour details do not spell out which claims or incidents the guide will cover on a particular night.

You can expect the bar to provide a darker finish than the opening hotel. The tour’s wider subject matter includes heartless pirates, ruthless murders, and government secrets, so this part of the route is aimed at people who enjoy disturbing history as much as ghost tales.

The Shanghai Tunnels Bar also helps explain why this tour is more than a pub crawl. You are moving through places tied to Portland’s past, with the bars acting as story rooms along the way. You may order a drink, but the main purpose of the stop is the guided account of what makes the location eerie.

The exact order and timing may shift. Visits can last from 15 or 20 minutes to as long as an hour. That means you should leave the rest of your evening open rather than scheduling a meal or show immediately after the advertised end time.

Nine historic sites, not just four bars

The four pubs get the attention, but the ticket also includes visits to nine historic haunted sites. The remaining locations between the bars add walking time and let the guide connect separate stories into a larger picture of downtown Portland.

I like this structure because it prevents the evening from becoming four unrelated drink stops. You get movement, changes of scenery, and short periods outdoors between indoor locations. The walk also gives the guide room to discuss sites that may not function as pubs but still carry a grim reputation.

At the same time, this is a walking tour. The provided details do not give a total distance, so I would not book it if you need a short, seated activity. Comfortable shoes are specifically recommended, and rain or shine operation means you need a coat or waterproof layer when the forecast calls for it.

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, but it is also marked as not suitable for people with mobility impairments. Those two details do not fully agree. If you use a wheelchair or have difficulty walking, contact the provider before booking and ask about the route, entrances, restrooms, and time spent standing.

What the guide adds to the night

A good guide is central to this experience. The most praised feature is the storytelling: the best version of this crawl gives you clear explanations, a strong sense of place, and enough drama to make each stop memorable without turning every tale into a cheap scare.

One recent group particularly enjoyed the private rooms and the EMF reader. The device gives the group a fun activity and can help break up long stretches of listening. It should be treated as entertainment rather than scientific proof, but it fits the tour’s light paranormal style.

Guide delivery can vary. A friendly guide who is clearly invested in the stories can make even a familiar ghost legend work. A fast pace or low speaking volume can make the same route tiring. I would stay close, avoid lingering at the back, and tell the guide early if you cannot hear.

The tour is not recommended for anyone under 21, and you need an ID card. A copy is accepted. Smoking and video recording are not allowed, so this is meant to be a shared live experience rather than a chance to film each story for later.

Is $30 good value?

At $30, the tour sits in a reasonable range for a two-hour guided downtown activity. You are paying for a live guide, nine historic haunted sites, four pub visits, and the convenience of having the evening’s route organized for you.

The price works best if you value storytelling and atmosphere. It is harder to justify if you mainly want drinks, since those are extra and the group may not stop for a full beverage at every pub. You could visit bars on your own for less, but you would not get the connected history, guided access to the stories, or the lantern-led structure.

The 4.7 rating from 34 reviews suggests a strong overall response, but the practical details matter more than the number. The most consistent strengths are fun, friendly guides, atmospheric locations, and lively storytelling. The clearest weaknesses are variable bar access, uneven pacing, and the chance that a stop will be closed on a particular day.

I would book this as a modestly priced evening activity, not as a full dinner or premium ghost investigation. Bring enough money for a drink if you want one, but make sure you are comfortable paying the ticket price for the walk and stories alone.

Who will enjoy this Portland pub crawl?

I would recommend it to adults who enjoy local history with a spooky edge, especially people who want something more distinctive than a standard bar night. It also works well for friends looking for a social evening that does not require planning four separate downtown stops.

It suits paranormal fans, history-minded visitors, and skeptics who enjoy testing a story without needing to believe every claim. The tone appears to balance serious incidents with playful moments, so it is not simply a horror show.

I would be cautious if you dislike walking in bad weather, need guaranteed seating, or want a predictable itinerary. The tour runs rain or shine, visits can vary in length, and one bar may be closed or skipped. It is also not suitable for anyone under 21.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those options are useful if your Portland plans are still shifting.

Should you book Ghosts Boos and Booze?

Book it if you want a two-hour downtown walk built around real pubs, unsettling stories, and a guide who brings energy to the telling. The Benson Hotel, Kelly’s Olympian, Kell’s Irish Pub, and the Shanghai Tunnels Bar give the night a clear sense of place, while the nine-site format keeps it from feeling like a simple bar hop.

Skip it if you expect drinks to be included, need a perfectly fixed schedule, or want a quiet paranormal investigation. For everyone else, $30 is a sensible price for a lively introduction to Portland’s darker stories. Arrive early, wear good shoes, stay close to the guide, and keep your evening flexible.

FAQ

Where does the haunted pub crawl meet?

The tour meets at the Benson Hotel Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton, at 309 SW Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97205.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start time. The guide will be dressed up and carrying a lantern.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about two hours.

What locations are included?

The route includes nine historic haunted sites, including four pubs. Named stops include the Benson Hotel, Kelly’s Olympian, Kell’s Irish Pub, and the Shanghai Tunnels Bar.

Are drinks and food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, so you pay separately for anything you order at the pubs.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The live tour guide speaks English.

Can people under 21 join?

No. The activity is not suitable for people under 21, and you need an ID card. A copy is accepted.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

Yes. Tours run rain or shine, so wear clothing suited to the weather.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, but it is also marked as not suitable for people with mobility impairments. Contact the provider before booking to confirm whether the route meets your needs.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.