Washington DC: Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl

Washington’s ghost stories tend to come with a bar tab. On this two-hour walk, you’ll pass eight historic sites, including four pubs, and hear about political deals, bootleggers, a grisly murder, and the spirit said to haunt Round Robin. The mix of ghost lore and capital-city history is the real draw.

I like two things in particular: the stories connect familiar names such as Ulysses S. Grant to real Washington places, and the pub stops give you a chance to pause, order a drink, and talk with the group. Guides such as Anton, Dena, EJ, Mary, and Tristan have led tours, with the best-known strength being lively storytelling that blends history with hauntings.

One point to weigh: the tour fee does not cover food or drinks, and bars may be busy or noisy. If you want a quiet, reserved tasting experience, this is not quite that. Think of it as a guided night walk with optional stops for a cocktail or mocktail.

At a glance: eight stops, four pubs, two hours

• Round Robin brings presidential lore to the bar. The story here links the spirit of Ulysses S. Grant with a brandy, a fitting detail for a pub crawl built around Washington’s political past.
• The National Theatre adds a darker chapter. Expect a tale involving a grisly murder, alongside the tour’s broader mix of ghost stories and city history.
• Rhode’s Tavern site puts old Washington on the route. The tavern is gone, but its former location offers a way to picture the city’s earlier social life.
• Four pubs make this a walking tour with room for a drink. Food and drinks cost extra, so you can choose what, if anything, to order at each stop.
• Guides carry the evening. Anton, Dena, EJ, Mary, and Tristan are among the guides whose storytelling has been singled out for its energy and historical detail.
• The mood is social, not solemn. Drinking games are included, and the format suits people who want ghost tales, local history, and an easy way to meet others.

The tour begins outside Old Ebbitt Grill

Meet your guide at Old Ebbitt Grill, 675 15th Street NW. Look for a black US Ghost Adventures T-shirt and a lantern. That visual cue helps in a busy downtown setting, and the lantern suits the evening’s ghost-story mood without suggesting that you’ll be walking through pitch-black streets.

The walk is designed to cover eight historic, supposedly haunted sites in about two hours. Four are pubs. That pace gives the guide time to tell stories at each stop, but it is not an extended visit to any one bar. You’ll move between places rather than settle in for a full meal or a long tasting.

The route connects familiar Washington names and institutions with the less polished side of the capital: taverns, backroom dealings, bootlegging, and scandals. That mix is a useful change from a day spent at monuments and museums. You still get history, but here it comes with spirits of the supernatural and alcoholic kind.

Round Robin and the presidential afterlife

Round Robin is one of the tour’s most evocative stops. The pub’s connection to presidents and officials gives the guide a natural opening to talk about the people who have worked, negotiated, and socialized in Washington for generations. The story of Ulysses S. Grant’s ghost is the evening’s signature presidential tale, with brandy as its fitting companion.

You should not expect a paranormal investigation with equipment or a guaranteed ghost sighting. The appeal is the story, the historic setting, and the chance to look around with fresh eyes. You can try for a ghostly photo, but treat it as a bit of fun rather than the main event.

Drinks are not included in the $30 price. If you want to order a brandy or another cocktail, budget for it separately. Mocktails may also suit you, but the tour fee does not include those either. You are free to focus on the stories and skip the bar tab.

The National Theatre and Washington’s darker stories

At the National Theatre, expect the ghostly side of the tour to take a more unsettling turn. The story connected with the theatre includes a grisly murder, giving the evening a dose of true-crime drama alongside its tales of lingering spirits.

The subject matter is not a detailed crime-history lecture. Rather, the guide uses places and stories to show how Washington’s past can be scandalous, odd, and sometimes grim. That works well if you like your sightseeing with a little edge. If you prefer light ghost stories only, this stop may be darker than you expect.

The tour also touches on politicians’ secrets, backroom deals, and bootleggers. These tales fit the setting: Washington’s public image is all formal power, while the pubs offer a view of the social world around it. The contrast is part of the fun.

From vanished taverns to modern bars

One of the more useful stops is the site of Rhode’s Tavern. The old tavern itself is no longer there, but hearing about its place in the city’s past helps you imagine how Washington’s social geography has changed. It is a good reminder that a walking tour can make even an empty patch of pavement feel like a chapter in the city’s story.

The tour’s stories include the British attack on Washington in 1814 and the tale of liquor cabinets at the White House. These details add a lively, human scale to an episode often presented through buildings and dates. The guide can also field questions, so you can follow a historical thread that catches your interest.

You may also encounter a rooftop bar near the White House. That kind of stop can be a pleasant surprise, but it is best not to book this tour expecting a specific drink or rooftop visit as a guaranteed part of the evening. The stated experience centers on eight haunted sites and four pubs, while individual stops can be shaped by the night.

Four pubs, but drinks are your call

The pub stops are not a package of included tastings. You pay for food and drinks yourself, and the tour includes drinking games rather than a set menu or drinks flight. That distinction matters when you compare the $30 tour fee with the cost of a regular bar crawl.

The upside is choice. You can order a cocktail, try a mocktail, share appetizers if available, or keep your spending to the tour price. The pubs are described as distinct from one another, so the variety of settings is part of the experience even if you do not order at every stop.

There is a practical tradeoff. Bars are working businesses, not private tour rooms. A busy venue may be loud, and you may feel that the group is sharing space with regular customers rather than having a reserved area. If you want to hear every word, stay close to the guide and be ready for some ambient bar noise.

What makes the guide important

This tour depends heavily on the person holding the lantern. The strongest guides mix ghost stories with city history, keep the group moving, and make room for questions. Anton has been praised for connecting spooky tales with lesser-known places, including Rhode’s Tavern. Dena, EJ, Mary, and Tristan have also been named as engaging guides.

That guide-led format makes the experience more than a list of haunted addresses. A good storyteller can explain why a place matters, then shift from a political anecdote to a ghost story without losing the thread. The evening’s strongest value is this combination of local context and entertainment, not access to a private room or a paranormal guarantee.

The tour can still be enjoyable with a small group. One person has described taking it alone and having a good evening, which makes it a reasonable choice if you want a structured activity that also gives you a chance to meet people. Larger groups, including celebratory parties, can add energy, though the mood may be livelier and less focused.

Is $30 a fair price?

At $30 per person, you’re paying for a two-hour guided walk that visits eight historic sites, including four pubs, with a guide and drinking games included. That is fair value if you want an organized night out and enjoy stories as much as drinks. It is less compelling if you mainly want a cocktail tasting, since every drink and any food come at extra cost.

Think of the price as covering the route and the storytelling. The guide supplies context you might not get by wandering between bars on your own, including tales tied to Grant, bootleggers, political scandals, the National Theatre, and older tavern sites. You also avoid having to plan your own sequence of stops.

The experience has an overall rating of 4.2 from 73 reviews, so it is well liked but not flawless. The clearest caution is the possibility of noisy bars without reserved group space. If that would spoil the evening for you, a quieter history walk may be a better fit.

Who should book this haunted pub crawl?

I’d put this tour high on the list for adults who enjoy ghost stories, political history, and a casual evening out. It also suits couples, friends, and solo visitors who would like a guide to connect the stops and keep the night social. The tone is more playful than academic, with drinking games and bar visits alongside the history.

It is less suitable if you want a quiet, seated tasting, a guaranteed paranormal encounter, or a fully accessible route. The experience is not suitable for people under 21 or people with mobility impairments. You’ll be walking outdoors between locations, so comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing matter.

The tour runs rain or shine. Bring a passport or ID card, and remember that smoking and video recording are not allowed. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a spot without paying at the time of booking.

Should you book?

Book it if you want a fun evening that adds local stories to a few drinks, and you are comfortable with the fact that the pubs may be busy. The strongest reason to go is the guide-led blend of Washington history, political gossip, and ghost lore, with Round Robin and the National Theatre offering memorable settings.

Skip it if you want a quiet bar experience, included drinks, or a detailed paranormal investigation. At $30, it makes sense as an entertaining walking tour with optional spending at the pubs, not as an all-inclusive crawl. Go with curiosity, comfortable shoes, and a flexible attitude about the bar stops.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts two hours.

How much does it cost?

The listed price is $30 per person. Food and drinks are not included.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet at Old Ebbitt Grill, 675 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001. Your guide will wear a black US Ghost Adventures T-shirt and carry a lantern.

What is included in the tour?

The tour includes a guide, drinking games, and visits to eight historic, haunted sites, including four pubs.

Are drinks or food included?

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

Can people under 21 join?

No. The tour is not suitable for people under 21.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

Yes. It runs rain or shine, so bring comfortable shoes and clothing suited to the weather.