Portland Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl

Portland gets stranger after dark. This two-hour walk mixes local ghost stories with drinks, old downtown addresses, and Portland’s Old Chinatown District, making it a lively way to see the city without spending a full evening in a formal bar. I like the guide-led storytelling, especially when guides such as Kris, Victoria Rose, Houston, Jessica, and Lori bring humor and local detail to the walk. I also like the small-group limit of 20 people, which makes it easier to hear the stories and stay together.

The catch is important: the advertised stops have not always matched the route delivered. Some people reached only one to four bars, found Kells closed, or missed the Shanghai Tunnels entirely. At $36, the tour can be fair value for a fun history walk with a drink or two, but it is a poor bargain if you are booking mainly for a full pub crawl or guaranteed tunnel access.

Key points at a glance

• Portland history with a spooky angle: You hear stories tied to Old Town, downtown bars, theaters, hotels, and the Shanghai Tunnels.
• Drinks cost extra: The $36 price covers the tour and fees, but not beer, cocktails, food, or tastings.
• The route may change: Several stops can be closed, inaccessible, or skipped, so do not treat every named location as guaranteed.
• Strong guide potential: Kris, Victoria Rose, Houston, Jessica, and Lori have all been praised for humor, energy, research, and storytelling.
• A short evening walk: The experience lasts about two hours and covers roughly 20 blocks according to one account.
• Adults only: Every participant must be at least 21, and the group can have up to 20 people.

Starting at The Benson at 5 p.m.

The tour begins outside The Benson Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton, at 309 SW Broadway. The hotel supplies a polished opening to an otherwise gritty subject: you meet your guide, get your bearings, and hear a ghost story connected with one of Portland’s best-known downtown hotels.

The first stop is planned as a drink-and-story session. You pay for your own drink, so budget for that from the start. If you are not drinking alcohol, the supplied details do not promise a special nonalcoholic tasting arrangement, but the tour is primarily about the stories rather than included beverages.

The 5 p.m. start has two sides. It is convenient for an early evening outing and gives you time to eat afterward. But in much of the year, the opening portion may happen in daylight. One disappointed participant felt this weakened the spooky mood, especially around Halloween. If you want a truly dark ghost walk, check the sunset time for your date and set your expectations accordingly.

Walking through downtown and Old Chinatown

The tour moves on foot through downtown and the Old Chinatown District. One account describes covering about 20 blocks, so comfortable shoes matter. This is not a sit-down storytelling session with a few quick transfers. You should expect regular walking, standing outside, and moving with the group between stops.

The group format has practical value. You are not wandering unfamiliar streets alone, and a guide keeps everyone moving together. That said, a group does not remove every concern about downtown conditions. One person specifically felt uncomfortable with the state of downtown Portland, so stay aware of your surroundings, keep your valuables secure, and avoid assuming that a ghost tour makes the streets carefree.

The guide is a major part of the experience. Houston was praised for doing substantial research and explaining details such as why Portland’s blocks are so small. That is the sort of information that gives the walk more weight than a string of spooky claims. Victoria Rose has been praised for confidence, personality, and a theatrical touch, including a Victorian-style outfit. Kris received especially warm praise for answering questions and making the evening fun.

Kelly’s Olympian and the working pub-crawl question

Kelly’s Olympian is intended to be one of the more social stops. The plan is simple: hear a haunted story, order a drink, and enjoy the atmosphere of a Portland watering hole. Because drinks are not included, you can choose what fits your budget rather than being locked into a package.

This is also where you should understand the difference between a haunted pub walk and a traditional pub crawl. A classic pub crawl normally takes you into several bars and gives you time to drink at each one. Here, the guide may tell a story outside a venue, enter only briefly, or adjust the route if a place is closed. Some people had drinks at two locations, while others reached only one bar.

That gap is the tour’s biggest weakness. If your main goal is sampling several Portland bars, you may feel shortchanged. If your goal is hearing unusual stories while making a few drink stops, the format makes more sense. I would treat the alcohol as an optional extra, not the main product.

Roseland Theater and stories from the sidewalk

The Roseland Theater receives a short stop of about five minutes. That tells you what kind of visit to expect: a quick exterior look and a story, not an extended theater tour.

Several stops on this experience work in the same way. You may stand outside a building while the guide explains its past, its dark reputation, or the tale connected with it. This can be effective because the city itself becomes the setting, but it can also disappoint anyone expecting entry into every haunted room.

The short theater stop helps keep the group moving, yet it also leaves little room for atmosphere. You will not linger long enough to explore the venue in depth. Think of it as one chapter in a walking narrative rather than a standalone attraction.

Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub

Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub is planned as another drink-and-story stop. It is one of the places that gives the tour its pub flavor, with a chance to pause, order something, and hear about the darker side of the building.

Access is not dependable. On one occasion, Kells was closed. On another, the basement connected with the haunted story was unavailable. That matters because the basement is part of what makes the stop appealing. If you arrive hoping to see a particular room, you may instead hear the tale from outside or from another part of the route.

Service at a bar is also outside the guide’s control. One group had a poor experience with staff at Kells. That does not necessarily reflect the guide, but it is worth remembering that this is a partnership with working businesses, not a private theater set up for the tour.

Shanghai Tunnel Bar and the missing tunnel visit

The Shanghai Tunnel Bar & Venue is one of the most appealing names on the route. It promises a natural blend of Portland folklore, drinks, and a setting tied to one of the city’s most famous legends.

The separate Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnels Tour is listed as a brief ten-minute stop. In theory, this is the moment when the evening shifts from bar stories to the city’s underground past. In practice, access has been inconsistent. Several people specifically expected the tunnels and did not see them.

This is the single most important point to clarify before paying. The experience may discuss the Shanghai Tunnels without taking you underground. A closed venue, an outdated route, or a change in local access can remove this portion. If tunnel access is the reason you are booking, contact the operator before your date and ask exactly what is open and included.

Even if you do not enter, the subject can still add useful context to the walk. Just do not pay the $36 assuming a guaranteed underground tour. The supplied information does not promise a separate, extended tunnel visit.

9 NW 2nd Avenue and Old Town Pizza

The stop at 9 NW 2nd Avenue is built around dark local stories rather than a named attraction. You hear about the address, its sordid past, and the people or events tied to it. This kind of stop can be memorable because it connects the supernatural material to ordinary city streets.

The route ends at Old Town Pizza & Brewing, at 226 NW Davis Street. The closing stop is planned as a chance to order food and drinks while hearing more strange Portland stories. Food and beverages are extra, but ending at a restaurant gives you a practical place to continue the evening.

This final stop may be one of the tour’s better features for people who want a relaxed finish. You can eat after walking, compare notes with the group, and decide if you want to stay in Old Town. It also means the advertised ending is not simply a sidewalk goodbye.

Still, a changing route can affect the ending. Some groups reached fewer stops than expected and ended earlier than the full sequence suggested. Confirm the route on the day if the final meal matters to you.

What the $36 price really buys

At $36 per person, the cost is reasonable for a guided two-hour city walk if you value storytelling, local oddities, and the social setting. The fee includes all taxes and tour charges. It does not include alcoholic drinks, food, snacks, or samples.

Your total cost depends on how much you order. A single drink keeps the night fairly affordable. Several drinks and a meal at Old Town Pizza can easily make the outing much more expensive than the advertised price. I would carry enough for at least one drink and food afterward, while remembering that the alcohol is optional.

The value depends heavily on the guide. A good storyteller can turn a closed door or a short exterior stop into an entertaining piece of Portland history. Kris was praised for being warm, funny, and ready for questions. Houston was praised for research and local detail. Jessica was praised for making the locations and food stops fun. Lori was described as energetic and highly committed to her stories.

But the price feels high if the route shrinks to one bar and three or four stops. The operator has acknowledged that the advertised route may reflect an older version of the tour. That makes current route confirmation especially important.

Pace, group size, and practical comfort

The tour lasts about two hours and allows up to 20 people. That is large enough to create a social evening but small enough for a guide to address the group without shouting constantly. A slower pace has worked well for people with older companions or anyone who prefers not to rush.

You need a moderate level of physical fitness. Expect walking and standing, with no promise that every stop has seating. Wear shoes that can handle city pavement and bring a light layer if the evening is cool.

The tour is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. It is near public transportation, which helps with arrival and departure. Service animals are allowed. The minimum age is 21, so this is not a family outing for children or younger teens, even if some of the historical material might appeal to them.

Book at least a little ahead if possible. The experience is often reserved about 15 days in advance, and confirmation arrives within 48 hours, subject to availability. If you need to cancel, you receive a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

Who will enjoy this Portland ghost walk?

I would recommend it most to an adult who wants a light, social introduction to Portland’s darker stories. It suits solo visitors who prefer company, couples looking for an unusual evening, and small groups who enjoy mixing local history with a drink.

It also works for people who like guide-led city walks but do not need every stop to be indoors. The best moments come from the guide’s delivery, the odd details about Portland, and the sense of moving through real streets rather than visiting a staged haunted attraction.

I would be cautious if you are booking for three specific reasons:

• You want guaranteed entry to the Shanghai Tunnels.
• You expect a drink at every named bar.
• You dislike route changes or mostly outdoor storytelling.

The experience also may not suit anyone who wants a late-night atmosphere. Starting at 5 p.m. means daylight can shape the first part of the tour. Halloween season adds mood, but it does not change the short duration or guarantee darkness.

Should you book Portland Ghosts Boos and Booze?

Book it if you see the $36 as payment for a guided Portland history walk with spooky stories and possible pub stops. Go in with flexible expectations, ask about the current route, and do not count on entering every building or visiting the Shanghai Tunnels underground.

Skip it if the pub crawl itself is your priority. You may visit only one or two bars, and drinks are extra. You may also be disappointed if Kells or another stop is closed.

For the best chance at a good evening, arrive ready to walk, wear comfortable shoes, keep the group together, and judge the tour by the guide’s storytelling rather than by the number of venues. With a strong guide such as Kris, Victoria Rose, Houston, Jessica, or Lori, the experience can be a fun and informative look at Portland’s stranger side. Just confirm the route before booking, because the gap between the promised sequence and the actual evening is too large to ignore.

FAQ

Where does the Portland Ghosts Boos and Booze tour start?

It starts at The Benson Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton, at 309 SW Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97205.

What time does the tour begin?

The tour begins at 5:00 p.m.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at Old Town Pizza & Brewing, at 226 NW Davis Street, Portland, Oregon 97209.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

Are drinks included in the $36 price?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included. Food and drinks at the stops must be purchased separately.

Is the tour suitable for children?

No. Participants must be at least 21 years old.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 20 people.