Portland has ghosts in its downtown bars. This Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl turns a simple drink run into a night of unsettling tales, with nine haunted stops and a guaranteed stop at Kell’s Irish Pub that tests even the ghost skeptics. I also like how the tour is paced in short chunks, so you’re not stuck listening the whole time. One drawback to plan around: on some nights a bar may be closed or the guide may move fast enough that you have to strain to catch every word.

The tour starts at The Benson Hotel Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton (309 SW Broadway). Your guide is dressed up and carrying a lantern, and you’ll want to arrive about 15 minutes early so you’re not rushing when the fun begins. Drinks aren’t included, but you can sample what the bars offer as you hop between the sites.

One more thing to know up front: this is a 21+ activity (under 21 isn’t allowed), and while it’s listed as wheelchair accessible, it also notes it’s not suitable for people with mobility impairments—so if that’s relevant, confirm what works before you book. You’ll also be walking outdoors in rain or shine, so bring comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.

Key things I’d prioritize on this Portland haunted pub crawl

• Lantern-carrying guide meeting at The Benson Hotel sets the mood from minute one
• Kelly’s Olympian and Kell’s Irish Pub are major story anchors, not just photo stops
• Shanghai Tunnels Bar closes the loop with a darker, more eerie feel
• Nine historic haunted sites (including four pubs) means you get variety without a long night
• An EMF reader moment can show up and adds a playful, skeptical twist (per reviews)
• Stop timing varies (about 15–20 minutes up to an hour), so your schedule stays flexible

The Benson Hotel meet-up: where the night starts

Every haunted crawl needs a strong opening, and this one uses the right kind of building. The meeting point is The Benson Hotel Portland (Curio Collection by Hilton) at 309 SW Broadway. You’ll show up, find your group, and spot your guide—dressed up and carrying a lantern—which instantly makes it feel like you’re entering a story instead of joining a casual bar crawl.

From there, you’re guided downtown through multiple historic locations. One thing I like here is that the tour doesn’t treat the haunted part as background noise. It’s built around the locations and the tales tied to them—think heartless pirates, ruthless murders, and government secrets. Even if you don’t fully buy the supernatural angle, these stories make the city feel different than it does in daylight.

Practical tip: be ready to walk. Even though each stop isn’t long, the tour is still outside a lot of the time. Also, the guide covers multiple sites, so if you’re hard of hearing or need instructions repeated, position yourself where you can see the guide easily.

Kelly’s Olympian: a historic bar with a story you can feel

One of the best parts of this crawl is that it doesn’t just hand you rumors. It gives you context and location. Kelly’s Olympian is the next big stop after the Benson Hotel, and it functions like the tour’s first major “you’re in it now” moment.

The vibe here is all about atmosphere: you’re at a historic bar, and the guide’s stories connect that place to Portland’s darker side. You’re meant to sip your favorite drink while the narrative builds—part ghost tale, part old-city Portland storytelling. The highlight promise is that you’ll “dance with the spirits” of Kelly’s Olympian, and that’s basically what the experience aims for: you’re not just listening, you’re participating in the mood.

What makes this stop valuable is the mix. It’s both social and themed. If you like your history a bit darker—ships and pirates, crimes, secrets—Kelly’s Olympian is where the tour starts feeling like a full evening plan.

Possible trade-off: depending on the day, your time at each stop can range from roughly 15–20 minutes to as long as an hour. If your group wants more lingering, you may feel the tour’s forward motion. If your group prefers tight pacing, this structure works well.

Kell’s Irish Pub: the stop built for ghost skeptics

Next comes Kell’s Irish Pub, and this is the stop that stands out for people who don’t usually believe in paranormal stuff. The tour frames it as a place where skeptics become believers—meaning the guide’s storytelling and the bar’s eerie reputation are meant to do more than entertain.

Here’s why this works: the tour doesn’t ask you to “prove” anything. Instead, it leans into the human side—fear, legend, and how stories survive in local communities. That’s often where these tours shine. You end up paying attention not only to what’s claimed, but to why the city keeps telling the same kind of spooky story.

If you’re the type who likes interactive bits, you might catch an EMF reader moment. At least one review called the EMF reader a fun addition, which suggests the tour can include some playful tech-to-the-paranormal flavor during the night. You’re not going to get a lab experiment—this is still a pub crawl with a guide—but it gives the evening a hands-on feel.

One downside to keep in mind: not every night is identical. Some schedules may mean a specific drink moment doesn’t happen exactly how you expect, and there’s at least one report of a bar being closed on a Sunday. If you’re going on a weekend and want a strict drink plan, have flexibility going in.

The in-between haunted stops: how you fit more story into less time

Between the main watering holes, the tour includes additional haunted sites—visits to a total of nine historic haunted sites, including four pubs. That matters because the tour avoids the “one bar, same story, done” problem that some pub crawls fall into.

These in-between stops are where you learn how the city’s past connects to its present streets. You’ll hear how things like crimes and secrets get tied to specific corners and buildings, and the guide uses that to keep the night moving. Think of it as a walking theater show, where the stage changes every few blocks.

Why this is good value: you’re paying for time with a guide plus structured storytelling at multiple locations. If you tried to DIY this alone, you’d spend time looking up legends, double-checking opening hours, and figuring out where to stand for the best view. Here, the tour handles the sequencing.

What to watch for: because stops vary in length, you may get a shorter look at a site if the group moves quickly. One review also mentioned the guide walking too fast and being hard to hear. If that’s a concern for you, keep close to the guide and don’t rely on hearing from the back of the group.

Shanghai Tunnels Bar: finishing in Portland’s underground atmosphere

The ending point is Shanghai Tunnels Bar, and the tour leans into its dark history and eerie environment. This is a great choice for a finale because it gives the night a “last act” feeling: the stories tend to land harder when the setting is more unusual and the mood shifts toward the macabre.

The Shanghai Tunnels theme fits perfectly with the tour’s overall tone—pirates, crime, government secrets, and murder stories. Even if you’re skeptical, there’s something about finishing somewhere that sounds legendary in itself. It’s the kind of location that makes you slow down and look around.

Another practical note: finishing spots matter for crowds and stamina. You’re only out for about two hours total, and the stop timing can vary, but this tour’s final structure helps you get a complete arc without dragging into late-night fatigue. If you’ve got dinner plans after, you’re in reasonable shape to make them.

What the two-hour format really means for your night

On paper, the tour is two hours. In real life, that means you’re balancing outdoor walking with multiple stops that can last anywhere from 15–20 minutes up to an hour depending on the day and season. That flexibility can be a plus—your guide can react to the local atmosphere—but it also means you shouldn’t plan a tight schedule right after.

The order is set: The Benson Hotel start, then Kelly’s Olympian, then Kell’s Irish Pub, and finally Shanghai Tunnels Bar. Between those, you’ll hit additional haunted sites. You’ll also have time at the bars to order what you want, since drinks are not included.

This matters for value. You’re paying for the guide and the guided route through haunted sites. If you’re hoping the price covers free drinks, it doesn’t. But if you’re planning to enjoy a drink anyway, the cost can feel more reasonable because you’re getting the stories and access to multiple locations for one ticket.

Price and value: is $30 fair for this Portland night?

At $30 per person for about two hours, this tour is priced like a mid-pack experience: not cheap, not premium. The value depends on what you want from the night.

If you want:

• a guided route through nine historic haunted sites,
• a structured walk that avoids the guesswork,
• and a story-first approach at four pubs,

then $30 starts to make sense. You’re not just paying to wander; you’re paying to have someone connect locations into a narrative.

If you only want:

• one casual bar stop,
• or mostly drinking time,
• or lots of time sitting still,

then the format can feel less worth it—especially if a bar doesn’t match your expectations for that day or if the group pace doesn’t fit your style. One review even flagged a case where the tour didn’t stop for a drink at the first bar and said it didn’t feel worth the cost. That’s a reminder: the tour is story-led, not drink-led.

My advice: treat the drink as part of the setting, not the main product. If you do that, you’re more likely to feel you got your money’s worth.

Pacing, sound, and what to bring so you don’t miss the good parts

This is a walking tour, and that means your comfort affects how much you enjoy it. Bring:

• comfortable shoes,
• weather-appropriate clothing (rain or shine),
• and your ID (a copy is accepted).

Also remember:

• no smoking,
• no video recording.

Those rules keep the atmosphere focused and safer for a group. The ID requirement is a real thing here because it’s a 21+ tour, and you may need to show it at stops.

For sound: keep where you can hear. One review said the guide walked too fast and was hard to hear, which can happen when groups get spread out. Staying near the guide helps you catch the stories without playing catch-up.

For clothing: Portland weather shifts fast. Even if the forecast looks mild, wear layers. You’ll be outside enough that you’ll notice.

Who should book this Ghosts Boos and Booze crawl

This tour fits best if you like:

• ghost stories tied to real places,
• old Portland crime-and-secrets lore,
• and the blend of history + pub atmosphere.

It’s also a nice option for people who want something different from a museum day but still prefer guided structure over free-form wandering.

Skip it if you:

• don’t enjoy walking in weather,
• struggle with hearing in noisy bar environments,
• or are expecting the night to be mostly drinking instead of storytelling.

And double-check suitability if mobility is a concern. The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, but it also states it’s not suitable for people with mobility impairments. That’s a contradiction you should resolve directly before booking.

Finally, age matters: it’s not suitable for people under 21.

Should you book it? My practical call

I’d book this Portland haunted pub crawl if you want an easy-to-manage haunted night with a real plan: nine haunted sites, four pub stops, and a story arc that starts at The Benson Hotel and ends at Shanghai Tunnels Bar. The strongest reason to go is the guide-led storytelling paired with atmospheric places—especially Kell’s Irish Pub for the ghost-skeptic energy and Kelly’s Olympian for the “this city has secrets” feeling.

I wouldn’t book it if you’re mainly chasing free drinks or long, slow hangs at bars. It’s two hours, paced by the guide, and the focus stays on the haunted sites and the tales. If you can go with that mindset, you’ll likely have a fun, spooky night instead of a slightly frustrating one.

FAQ

FAQ

Where does the haunted pub crawl start?

It meets at The Benson Hotel Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton, 309 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205. Arrive about 15 minutes early.

How long is the tour?

The duration is about 2 hours.

How much does it cost?

It costs $30 per person.

What’s included in the ticket price?

The tour includes a guide and visits to 9 historic haunted sites, including 4 pubs.

Are drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, but you’ll have chances to sample beverages at the bars.

Which bars are on the route?

You’ll start at The Benson Hotel, visit Kelly’s Olympian, visit Kell’s Irish Pub, and end at Shanghai Tunnels Bar.

How long do you spend at each stop?

Time at each destination can vary, from about 15–20 minutes up to one hour, depending on the day of the week and season.

Is the tour rain or shine?

Yes. Tours run rain or shine, so you should dress appropriately for the weather.

Is there an age limit?

Yes. It is not suitable for people under 21.

Can I smoke or record video during the tour?

No. Smoking is not allowed, and video recording is not allowed.