Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl

Ghost stories taste better with a drink nearby. Montreal’s Haunted Pub Crawl pairs local folklore, grim history, and three downtown bars in a relaxed afternoon outing. I like the strong storytelling, especially when guides such as Jason, Max, Anton, Donovan, and Cara bring the tales to life. I also like the short route, which keeps walking easy while giving you a look at several well-known pubs.

The main thing to understand is the format. This is not a walking ghost tour with long stretches through dark streets. Most of the storytelling happens inside the pubs, and the pace can feel slow if you want quick drinks and constant movement. Alcohol costs extra, and the bars charge their normal prices.

Key things to know before booking

• Three named pubs: McKibbin’s, Sir Winston Churchill Pub, and Hurley’s Irish Pub.
• About two and a half hours: The planned time is roughly 45 minutes at each pub, plus short transfers.
• A story-led experience: Expect ghost tales, crime stories, old Montreal history, and folklore tied to the city.
• Easy walking route: The crawl begins on Bishop Street, less than two blocks from Sherbrooke Street, and ends on Crescent Street.
• Drinks are extra: You buy beer or other alcoholic drinks directly from each bar at regular prices.
• Small enough to feel social, but not guaranteed to be intimate: The maximum group size is 25.

What kind of haunted tour is this?

This experience works best as a pub-based storytelling session with three stops. You sit inside each bar while the guide explains local hauntings, murders, strange deaths, and supernatural legends connected to Montreal.

That distinction matters. If you picture a Savannah-style crawl with a guide leading you through old streets while you carry a drink from one stop to the next, adjust your expectations. Montreal does not allow alcohol to be carried openly between bars, so the stories are told inside the establishments.

The tour begins at 3:00 pm at McKibbin’s, at 1426 Rue Bishop. It ends at Hurley’s Irish Pub, at 1225 Rue Crescent. These locations put you in the downtown area, close to public transportation and within easy reach of Sherbrooke Street.

The operator describes the tour as a personal experience, but the current maximum is 25 people. That is still manageable for a confident guide, though it may not feel private or especially quiet when the group is full. Past departures have also varied in size, so I would not book this expecting a tiny gathering.

The overall rating is strong, at 4.7 out of 5 from 108 ratings, with 91 percent recommending it. That matches the basic appeal: a low-effort afternoon activity where you can hear local stories, order a drink, and meet other people without committing to a long march across town.

McKibbin’s and the Griffintown ghosts

The first stop is McKibbin’s Irish Pub, where the guide introduces the pub itself and several of Montreal’s darker tales. The planned stop lasts about 45 minutes.

You hear about the mysterious side of McKibbin’s, the ghosts associated with Griffintown, and the famous McTavish ghost story. The McTavish tale is one of the tour’s headline stories, and the setting helps establish the mood. You are not standing outside a haunted building for five minutes. You are inside a pub, with time to order a drink while the guide builds the story.

This first stop also sets the rhythm for the afternoon. The guide speaks, the group listens, and the bar handles drink orders. You should expect a real pub visit, not a staged theater performance with drinks already waiting at the table.

Some guides have received especially warm praise for their delivery. Jason is described as animated and committed, while Anton and Donovan are noted for their lively storytelling. The best version of this tour depends heavily on the person leading it. Ghost stories are simple on paper. Timing, voice, humor, and a sense of when to move on make the difference.

The first pub can also be the longest-feeling stop if the guide gives a large amount of background before moving to the next location. This is the point where the tour may feel like a history lesson to anyone who wants only short, spooky stories. If you enjoy the grim details behind a legend, that extra context will likely be a plus.

Sir Winston Churchill Pub and darker city tales

The second stop is Sir Winston Churchill Pub, often called Winnies, on Crescent Street. The planned visit lasts another 45 minutes.

Here, the stories include the ghost of Nick Auf de Mar and the tale of Montreal’s vampire serial killer. The pub gives the guide another indoor setting, and the stories expand beyond one building to the city’s wider folklore.

This stop shows why the crawl is not limited to ghosts that supposedly haunt the exact room where you are sitting. The guide may connect a pub to wider Montreal stories, crimes, and haunted places. That adds local context, but it can also disappoint you if you want every story to be directly tied to the bar.

The bar setting makes the experience social. You can order another drink, compare impressions with the people around you, and listen without worrying about uneven sidewalks or bad weather. One participant particularly enjoyed this stop because of the combination of stories and drinks.

There is a practical point here: you need to allow time for servers to take orders and deliver drinks. A pub crawl cannot move at the speed of a museum tour. If the group is large or the bar is busy, the transition from arrival to storytelling may take a while.

The tour has also had departures where a pub closed unexpectedly, including a period when Covid restrictions affected bars. On those occasions, guides adapted the route or continued at fewer stops. That is not something to expect on a normal departure, but it explains why the exact experience can occasionally change.

Hurley’s Irish Pub and the burning lady

The final stop is Hurley’s Irish Pub, where the tour ends after roughly 45 minutes. Hurley’s is on Rue Crescent, a convenient finish if you want to continue your evening downtown.

The main story here concerns a burning lady ghost. You also hear about the ghosts of Club le Cinq and the well-known Mary Gallagher story. These tales give the final stop a broad range, from a pub-centered haunting to stories connected with other parts of Montreal.

The ending is useful because you can stay in the area after the formal tour. The route does not leave you at an isolated meeting point. You are already near restaurants, bars, and downtown transport, though the experience itself does not include food or discounted drinks.

Hurley’s seems to be one of the stronger stops for lingering conversation. If you are interested in paranormal stories, you may find yourself discussing the tales with the guide and other members of the group after the formal storytelling is finished. If you prefer a quick finish, remember that the scheduled time is still about 45 minutes.

A request worth considering is bar food. The experience does not include snacks, and there is no stated food option built into the booking. You can buy drinks at each stop, but you should eat beforehand or plan a separate meal if you need more than a beverage during the afternoon.

The guides make or break the afternoon

The clearest strength of this experience is its guides. Jason has been praised for detailed, passionate storytelling and for bringing the ghost tales to life. Max is described as an excellent storyteller, while Anton is credited with strong animation and historical detail. Donovan has also been singled out for his energy and humor, and Cara for being friendly, funny, and engaging.

That variety is worth noting because the tour is built around a single performer. You are not moving through an attraction with actors stationed at every corner. One guide carries the full afternoon, so the tone may differ depending on who leads your departure.

At its best, the guide combines three ingredients:

• Ghost stories that give the tour its spooky purpose.
• Montreal history that explains the people and events behind the tales.
• Humor and performance that keep a seated presentation lively.

The experience is less successful for people who want short, polished bites of information. Two lower ratings describe long pauses, extended explanations, and a presentation that felt more like a class than a crawl. Another complaint was that some stories were not directly connected to the pub where they were told.

I would treat that as a genuine warning, not an outlier to ignore. You need to enjoy listening. The guide may spend time on the background of a murder, a haunting, or a historical figure before reaching the supernatural part. If you are checking the clock after ten minutes, the format may wear thin.

On the other hand, the detailed approach is exactly what makes the tour useful for newcomers and people who want more than a few spooky punchlines. You get a sense of Montreal’s darker past, not just a collection of generic haunted-house stories.

Walking, timing, and the practical details

The tour lasts about two hours and 30 minutes. Each pub receives roughly 45 minutes, with the remaining time used for short walks and the movement of the group.

Walking is limited, which makes this a good choice if you want a city activity without a strenuous route. The starting point at McKibbin’s is less than two blocks from Sherbrooke Street. The final stop at Hurley’s places you on Crescent Street.

Use public transportation, a rideshare, or a taxi if possible. The starting area is served by public transportation, while downtown parking can be scarce and expensive. Driving creates an avoidable problem, especially because McKibbin’s has more than one location. Follow the exact address on your confirmation rather than searching only for the pub name.

The ticket is mobile, and confirmation is provided when you book. The tour is offered in English. Most people can take part, but the old pubs may include stairs and difficult access. The experience is not recommended for people with serious mobility limits or anyone who needs a fully accessible route.

The starting time is 3:00 pm. Arrive early enough to find the correct pub and settle in, but do not assume the group will feel like a private appointment. The maximum group size is 25, and past departures have included larger social groups.

What you actually pay for

The listed price is $26.29 per person. For a guided experience lasting around two and a half hours, that is a fair price if you value the storytelling.

It is not an all-inclusive pub crawl. Alcoholic drinks are not included, and there are no special tour discounts. You pay each bar its regular price. Add two or three drinks and perhaps food, and your actual afternoon budget will be much higher than the ticket alone.

The value comes from the guide and the access to three pub settings. You are paying for someone to research and perform Montreal ghost stories, not for free drinks or a reserved tasting menu. At the price of a standard city activity, that is reasonable for people who enjoy local folklore.

I would not book it mainly as a cheap way to drink. You can visit these kinds of bars on your own. Book it because you want the stories and like having a guide shape the afternoon.

Who will enjoy this pub crawl?

I think this tour suits you if you enjoy:

• Local ghost stories mixed with crime and history.
• A seated activity with little walking.
• Irish pubs and casual afternoon drinks.
• Animated guides who tell stories at length.
• Meeting other people in a social group.
• A low-pressure introduction to Montreal’s darker folklore.

Solo participants can fit in well, and couples or friends have plenty of time to talk between stories. The tour also works for newcomers who want a different introduction to Montreal than a standard sightseeing route.

You may want another activity if you prefer:

• A fast-moving crawl with short stops.
• Stories told while walking through the city.
• A cemetery, church, or supposedly haunted building as the main setting.
• Included drinks or food.
• A small group guaranteed to be six people or fewer.
• A fully accessible route without stairs.

The operator also offers separate walking ghost tours for people who want to visit streets and other haunted locations. This pub crawl is specifically about hearing stories inside bars.

Booking advice and cancellation terms

The tour can be canceled for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that 24-hour window are not refunded or accepted.

The experience requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not reached and the departure is canceled, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Because the crawl is booked an average of 20 days ahead, reserving early makes sense if your schedule is fixed. Check the exact starting address carefully, especially if you are traveling by car. The correct starting point is McKibbin’s at 1426 Rue Bishop, not simply any Montreal bar with the same name.

Should you book the Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl?

Book it if you want well-told ghost stories, three pub settings, and very little walking. The price is fair for the amount of guided entertainment, and the strongest guides make the afternoon funny, eerie, and informative.

Skip it if you want a true walking crawl, quick stops, or drinks included in the ticket. The biggest risk is not the price. It is the pace. You may spend most of the time seated while one guide gives detailed stories, and some tales reach beyond the pub where they are told.

My advice is simple: arrive by public transportation, eat before you start, budget for your own drinks, and go in ready to listen. If that sounds like a good afternoon in Montreal, this is an enjoyable way to meet the city’s darker characters without spending the evening on your feet.

FAQ

Where does the Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl start?

It starts at McKibbin’s, 1426 Rue Bishop, Montréal, Quebec H3G 2E6, Canada.

Where does the pub crawl end?

The experience ends at Hurley’s Irish Pub, 1225 Rue Crescent, Montréal, Quebec H3G 2B1, Canada.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 3:00 pm.

How long does the experience last?

It lasts approximately two hours and 30 minutes.

Which pubs are included?

The planned stops are McKibbin’s, Sir Winston Churchill Pub, and Hurley’s Irish Pub.

Are drinks included in the ticket price?

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

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

How large can the group be?

The maximum group size is 25 people.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded.