Portland has a dark side—this crawl walks it. You get a guide calling the shots on a 2-hour route of haunted corners and bar stops, with stories tied to Portland’s past. The vibe is equal parts history and make-you-shiver street theater, and the group format keeps things more relaxed than going solo at dusk.

I especially liked the way the tour uses real bar-hangout locations as story stages, from the Old Chinatown District area to places like the Roseland Theater and Shanghai Tunnel Bar. And the guides can make the whole thing feel personal—people rave about guides like Kris, Victoria, Houston, and Lori for their pacing and Portland-flavored storytelling.

One drawback to plan for: it’s a short time window, and the “pub crawl” part can vary. Some stops may be outside only, or a location might be closed or inaccessible, and extra spending for alcohol (not included) can add up fast.

Key Things to Know Before You Go

• Drink costs extra: the tour price covers the walk and stories, not the booze or food you may buy along the way.
• Short, punchy timing: with an approx. 2-hour duration, you’re moving often and staying at each stop briefly.
• Most fun with a good guide: multiple guides are highlighted by name (Kris, Victoria, Houston, Lori, Jessica), and that matters a lot for your experience.
• Some stops might not be fully accessible: you may end up standing outside while the guide tells the story rather than going in.
• Age and venue vibe: it’s not for anyone under 21, so you’re going to be around adult pub energy.
• Small-ish group: max 20 travelers helps keep the whole thing from feeling chaotic.

A 2-Hour Haunted Pub Crawl That Moves Through Old Chinatown

This is the kind of Portland tour that fits an evening when you want something fun without committing to a whole night. You start at The Benson Portland area and work your way through a cluster of downtown stops tied to haunted lore. The format is built for conversation—your guide talks, you ask questions, and the group stays together.

What makes this one work is the pairing of place + story. A bar isn’t just a place to buy a drink; it becomes the setup for a ghost narrative, like a living footnote to Portland’s weird past. And since you’re with a small group, it feels safer and more social than striking out alone after work.

Just keep your expectations aligned with time. You’re not settling in for a long, slow investigation. You’re doing short stop after short stop, which can be great if you like momentum—and a letdown if you want deeper time inside specific locations.

Where It Starts: The Benson Portland and a 5:00 PM Kickoff

Your meeting point is The Benson Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton, at 309 SW Broadway, starting at 5:00 pm. That early evening start helps a lot. You get daylight fading into streetlight, which is usually the sweet spot for ghosty storytelling without feeling like you’re walking in the dark the whole time.

The tour uses a mobile ticket, and confirmation is typically sent within 48 hours of booking. Since it’s a straightforward check-in, you can focus on the real goal: getting spooked and getting your bearings.

One small practical note: because this is a walking crawl with stops at bars and nearby attractions, you’ll want shoes you can move in comfortably. The tour lists a moderate physical fitness level, so you’re not sprinting, but you are walking between spots.

The Pub Stops: What the “Boos and Booze” Part Really Feels Like

This tour leans into adult drink culture, but the details matter. Alcoholic beverages are not included, so you’re deciding on your own when to order. The stops are built around ordering something if you want it, plus hearing stories while you’re there.

In practice, that means two things for you:

• You might spend money at multiple bars if you’re drinking each time.
• The “pub crawl” portion may feel lighter than you hoped, depending on timing and how many stops are fully on the menu.

That’s where reviews get honest. Some people loved having two drink stops with good variety, and others felt the crawl aspect was more limited—like only one bar visit happened before the tour moved on. If you want a long bar-hopping night, check that your expectations match the approx. 2-hour timeframe.

Still, even when you don’t plan to drink much, the bar atmosphere helps the stories land. A bartender-style hangout turns creepy facts into something you can hear without falling asleep.

Itinerary Highlights You’ll Actually Notice on the Ground

You hit a chain of stops that walk you through key points downtown. Each stop is short—think quick story setup, quick listening, and then onward—so your guide has to keep the energy moving.

Here’s what stands out about the main stops and what to watch for:

Stop 1: The Benson Portland Curio Collection by Hilton

You begin with a drink option and a haunted story at this hotel hotspot. It’s a strong starting point because it feels like a real “gather here” place, and it sets the tone immediately. If you arrive a bit early, you’ll likely find it easier to settle your group before you start walking.

Stop 2: Kelly’s Olympian

Next comes Kelly’s Olympian, another classic watering hole angle. People enjoy how these bars aren’t treated like random waypoints. The guide ties the ghost story to the setting, so you’re not just hearing spooky stuff in a vacuum.

Stop 3: Roseland Theater

Then you shift to the Roseland Theater, where the focus moves from drinking to haunted location storytelling. This stop works well if you like old venue vibes—like theaters, stages, and backstage history—because those spaces naturally feel like they’re holding onto past lives.

Stop 4: Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub

Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub is a major stop on paper, and it’s often a favorite because it’s a full pub environment. But plan for variability. Some people reported issues like the basement being closed on the day they went, and there are mentions of the space not matching expectations.

So here’s my advice: if you’re hoping for inside access for the haunted elements, be flexible. You may mostly hear the story from outside, depending on what’s open.

Stop 5: Shanghai Tunnel Bar & Venue

This is one of the most intriguing names on the route: Shanghai Tunnel Bar & Venue. It’s a good fit for the tour’s theme because the area links directly to Portland’s underground lore.

One more practical point: the tour’s energy swings with venue accessibility. If a bar is busy or a specific area is closed, your guide may keep the story going from where the group can safely stand.

Stop 6: Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnels Tour

This stop is where many people’s expectations concentrate, because it’s the name that feels like a must-do. The tour includes a Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnels Tour segment.

But here’s the reality check you should listen for: some reviews say the Shanghai tunnels part didn’t happen. That can happen due to timing, access, or operational issues on the day. If underground access is your main goal, you should treat that as a possibility that may depend on conditions rather than guaranteed.

Stop 7: 9 NW 2nd Ave

Then you’re back into the street-lore zone at 9 NW 2nd Ave, with a story and a dark slice of local history. This kind of stop is a good reminder of why walking tours can feel better than reading about places: you’re seeing the setting while someone puts context on it.

Stop 8: Old Town Pizza & Brewing

The tour finishes at Old Town Pizza & Brewing, where you’re set up to end with drinks and food. For a lot of people, the last stop is when the night feels most normal: you’ve heard the spooky stuff, now you can eat, cool down, and compare notes with your group.

If you want photos, this is also a smart place to linger a bit—if the crowd isn’t heavy and you’ve got the time.

Guides Matter More Than You Think (So Pick Your Night Carefully)

A big part of what people love here is the guide. And in this case, you get multiple named examples from past tours, which is a rare clarity perk.

• Kris gets big praise for answering questions and keeping the energy fun.
• Victoria shows up repeatedly as a standout for interesting stories and strong hosting.
• Houston is praised for research and for explaining Portland in a way that sticks.
• Lori is mentioned for passion, humor, and creativity in storytelling.
• Jessica also receives high marks for making the experience fun and creepy.

So how does that help you decide? If you’re booking close to peak weekends versus slower weekdays, your guide quality likely makes more difference than you’d expect. A strong storyteller can turn a short stop into something you remember, even if you don’t get every location accessed the same way.

Also, you’re not locked into a rigid pace. One review notes a slow pace worked well for older folks, and the tour structure can be adapted to keep the group comfortable.

What About Ambience? Daylight vs Dread

The time slot starts at 5:00 pm, which is usually okay for evening mood. Still, some people felt the ambience wasn’t as strong as they hoped because parts of the tour felt like they were in daylight rather than full dark.

This is important if you’re chasing maximum creep-factor. If you’re the type who wants true night shadow vibes, you might consider that this isn’t a late-night-only ghost hunt. It’s a “start early evening, move fast, hear stories at real locations” kind of format.

That said, Portland streetlight and bar glow can still do the trick. You don’t need a midnight moon to feel spooked—you just need a good guide and a little imagination.

Value Check: Is $36 a Good Deal for This Format?

At $36 per person, the price feels reasonable for a guided night activity in Portland—especially because the tour includes all fees and taxes. Where value can change for you is in how much you plan to spend on your own.

Because alcohol isn’t included, your final cost depends on your bar choices. If you buy one drink and snack, you’ll likely feel good about the price. If you plan to drink at each bar stop, it can quickly become a more expensive night out.

Also, value depends on stop fulfillment. Some people say they didn’t get the full set of stops, or that they couldn’t go into some locations and mostly heard stories from outside. That’s not always within the guide’s control, but it does affect whether you feel like you got what you paid for.

If you want the best “value per minute,” go into it expecting:

• short story stops,
• possible outside-only storytelling,
• and extra spending for drinks/food.

That mindset turns this into a fun evening experiment rather than a checklist that has to go perfectly.

Who Should Book This Tour (and Who Might Want a Different Option)

This tour is a strong match for you if:

• you want a guided haunted experience without planning every detail yourself,
• you prefer an adult social vibe and don’t mind spending on drinks,
• you like hearing ghost lore tied to specific downtown locations,
• you enjoy walking with a group rather than solo at night.

It’s less ideal if:

• underground access (like the Shanghai tunnels) is your top priority and you’d be disappointed if it’s skipped,
• you want a longer, slower deep-dive tour with lots of time inside buildings,
• you’re looking for a strict “bar crawl” with many confirmed stops every time.

One review specifically called out that only a smaller number of stops happened on their night, and another said they were missing key items like the tunnels and Kells in practice. That doesn’t mean it will happen to you, but it does mean you should choose this tour as a short guided spooky outing, not as a guarantee of every haunted location being accessible.

Should You Book Portland Ghosts Boos and Booze?

If you want a compact, guided, haunted downtown evening, I’d say yes—book it, especially if you’re okay buying your own drinks and you’re open to that some stops may be outside-only. The experience shines when you have a strong guide—people highlighted guides like Kris, Victoria, Houston, Lori, and Jessica for exactly that.

If your dream night is every stop fully accessed, including underground spaces, then I’d be cautious. Consider this more of a Portland ghost story route with pub stops, not a guaranteed multi-location inside-the-building adventure.

My bottom line: for $36, it’s a fun way to see Portland’s darker legends in real places and get a spooky evening without heavy planning. Just go in with flexible expectations, and you’ll likely have a great time.

FAQ

How long is the Portland Ghosts Boos and Booze pub crawl?

It runs for about 2 hours.

What does the tour cost?

The price is $36.00 per person.

What is included in the ticket price?

The ticket includes all fees and taxes.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the price.

Where does the tour start, and when?

It starts at The Benson Portland, Curio Collection by Hilton, 309 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205, with a start time of 5:00 pm.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at Old Town Pizza & Brewing, 226 NW Davis St, Portland, OR 97209.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, the tour is offered in English.

Who is it for in terms of age?

It is not for travelers under age 21.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time. Within 24 hours, the amount paid is not refunded.