Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl

Montreal’s Haunted Pub Crawl turns a few afternoon drinks into a guided tour of the city’s darker side. Instead of walking from haunted site to haunted site, you settle into three pubs while an actor-guide presents ghost stories, grisly history, and true crime linked to Montreal. Jason, Anton, Max, Donovan, and Cara have all hosted the experience, so the tone can vary with the person leading your group.

I like the short walking distances and the chance to hear several stories without spending two and a half hours outdoors. I also like the route’s practical shape: McKibbin’s, Sir Winston Churchill Pub, and Hurley’s are all in the downtown area, ending on Crescent Street. The main consideration is simple: this is a storytelling event inside bars, not a walking ghost tour. If you want constant movement or quick drinks between outdoor tales, you may find the pace slow.

Key points to know before booking

• Three pubs, about 45 minutes at each: You spend serious time at every stop, rather than rushing in for one drink.
• Stories come before sightseeing: Expect tales about the McTavish ghost, Montreal’s vampire serial killer, Mary Gallagher, and other local hauntings.
• Guides make a major difference: Jason, Anton, Max, Donovan, and Cara have each received strong praise for animated storytelling.
• Drinks are extra: You buy beer or other beverages directly from the bars at regular prices.
• Downtown route with little walking: The crawl starts on Bishop Street and finishes at Hurley’s on Crescent Street.
• Best for adults who enjoy dark history: Some stories are rated around a PG-13 level, though the guide can clip the more graphic sections.

What this Montreal ghost crawl actually feels like

At $26.29 per person, this is priced more like a guided storytelling session than a night of included entertainment. Your ticket pays for the guide, not the beer, so you need to add the cost of drinks at each pub. There are no special bar discounts, themed beverages, or included snacks.

That price can still work well. A standard ghost walk gives you the guide and the route, while this experience gives you three indoor settings and time to sit down. On a rainy Montreal afternoon, that matters. You can listen indoors, order something when you want it, and avoid spending the entire tour in cold or wet weather.

The crawl lasts about two hours and 30 minutes, with roughly 45 minutes at each pub. That is not a quick bar hop. The guide needs time to establish each story, explain the building or neighborhood, and let the group order drinks. If you expect to hear one short tale, finish a beer, and move on after 20 minutes, adjust your expectations before booking.

The tour is offered in English and is capped at 25 people. That is still a fairly broad range for a personal experience, especially compared with a small private walk, but it is manageable inside a pub. Group size may affect how easily you can hear the guide and how quickly the bar serves everyone.

Starting at McKibbin’s on Bishop Street

Meet at McKibbin’s, 1426 Rue Bishop, less than two blocks from Sherbrooke Street. The official start time is 3 p.m. The address matters: there are multiple McKibbin’s locations, and entering the wrong one can send you across town before the tour begins. Use the address on your booking confirmation rather than searching only by the pub name.

The first stop lasts about 45 minutes and sets the pattern for the rest of the crawl. You hear about McKibbin’s, the ghosts of Griffintown, and the famous McTavish ghost story. The material is not limited to a spirit supposedly sitting in the room. The guide also connects the stories with Montreal’s older neighborhoods and grim episodes from the city’s past.

That wider approach is one reason the experience appeals to people who like history as much as they like ghost tales. It also explains the most common criticism. Some people want every story to relate directly to the pub or the street outside. Here, a story may concern another part of Montreal, a historic crime, or a haunting that you will not pass on foot.

I would arrive early enough to find the correct entrance and get settled. The experience needs a little patience at the start, especially if the group is still assembling or ordering drinks. The tour operator suggests public transit, Uber, or another ride service instead of driving. Downtown parking is described as difficult and expensive, and a pub crawl is a poor match for anyone who plans to drink and drive.

Sir Winston Churchill Pub and the darker material

The second stop is Sir Winston Churchill Pub. Here the guide covers the pub, Nick Auf de Mar’s ghost, and the story of Montreal’s vampire serial killer. Those titles give you a fair idea of the tone: this is not a gentle collection of old hotel legends. Some material involves murder, death, torture, and other unpleasant parts of the past.

The guides present the stories as a mixture of folklore, reported hauntings, and true crime. You should not expect a scientific paranormal investigation or proof that a ghost is present. The appeal is the performance and the local setting, with a drink on the table and a storyteller building an eerie mood.

This is also where the crawl’s indoor format becomes clear. You sit in the pub while the guide talks, and staff may come by to take orders. Drinks do not arrive automatically, and a group of 15 to 25 people can take time to serve. If you want an efficient bar crawl with rapid service, this may test your patience. If you are happy to settle in and listen, the wait becomes part of the afternoon.

A few past sessions had to change plans when a bar closed unexpectedly, including a closure connected with Covid-era restrictions. The guide adapted by revising the route or continuing with the available stops. That kind of change is unusual but worth keeping in mind for any pub-based activity. The operator cannot fully control a bar’s hours or sudden closure.

Hurley’s Irish Pub and Mary Gallagher

The final stop is Hurley’s Irish Pub at 1225 Rue Crescent. The program here includes the burning lady ghost story, hauntings associated with Club le Cinq, and the very popular Mary Gallagher story.

Mary Gallagher is one of the names likely to stick with you because the story has become a well-known part of Montreal’s ghost-lore. The pub setting gives the guide room to build the tale slowly, rather than delivering it while the group hurries down a sidewalk. For some people, this final stop becomes the best part of the crawl because the group has settled in and the performance has room to breathe.

Hurley’s is also where the evening can stretch if the group remains interested. The planned visit is about 45 minutes, but the practical pace depends on ordering drinks, paying, and the guide’s presentation. A past tour participant found time to discuss personal paranormal experiences at the last pub. That possibility will appeal to people who like swapping ghost stories, but it may not suit you if you need the tour to finish exactly on schedule.

The route ends at Hurley’s, so you can continue your evening on Crescent Street after the tour. There is no return transfer to McKibbin’s. Plan your route from the final pub, not the starting point.

The guides are the heart of the experience

The strongest part of this crawl is the guide’s delivery. Jason is repeatedly described as animated, funny, and generous with detail. Anton has been praised for bringing the stories to life, while Max is noted for using the pub atmosphere to make the tales feel more immediate. Donovan has also been singled out for his energy and passion. Cara received similar praise for being friendly, funny, and lively.

The guide you get will shape the afternoon. A polished actor can make a familiar ghost story work through timing, pauses, voice, and humor. A less engaging presentation can feel like a long lecture, especially when you are seated indoors rather than walking through a dark street.

There is a genuine split in the experience’s appeal. Some people love the historical background and the number of stories. Others feel the crawl spends too long on history before moving to the next bar. I would book this only if you enjoy listening to a presenter for extended stretches. The word crawl suggests movement, but the format is closer to three short live storytelling sessions linked by a few minutes of walking.

The guide may also adjust the graphic content. Some material is around a PG-13 level, and the more disturbing parts can be clipped. That makes the event workable for a mixed group, though you should still expect murder, death, and supernatural themes.

Walking, seating, stairs, and group comfort

The route involves only a small amount of walking between pubs. That makes it a good choice for a wet afternoon or for anyone who would rather not spend hours on foot. It also means the city itself is not the main visual attraction. You may pass downtown streets and notice features such as the Leonard Cohen mural, but the focus remains indoors.

Several of the pubs are old and include stairs. The experience is not recommended for people with serious mobility limitations, and wheelchair access may be difficult. The operator indicates that other Montreal experiences, including Haunted Downtown, Haunted Griffintown, and Haunted Mountain, may be better options for those who need a more accessible format. Those alternatives are not part of this ticket, so check your needs before booking.

The 25-person maximum deserves a practical note. A group of that size can feel social and lively, but it will not offer the intimacy of a tiny private tour. The description has at times suggested a smaller group, yet the stated maximum is 25. I would plan for a medium-sized group rather than assume a private experience.

Bring a charged phone with your mobile ticket and, most important, confirm the exact starting address. The activity is near public transportation, which is the sensible way to reach Bishop Street. The start is at 3 p.m., and the end comes at Hurley’s roughly two and a half hours later.

Who will enjoy this pub crawl most

I would recommend it to you if you enjoy:

• Local ghost lore mixed with true crime and grim history
• Live storytelling by an actor-guide
• Indoor activities on a rainy or chilly afternoon
• Irish pubs and a relaxed drink with your sightseeing
• Short walks rather than a long outdoor route
• A tour that gives each story time to develop

I would be more cautious if you want a traditional pub crawl. You do not simply walk into a bar, order quickly, and leave. You sit through a presentation at each venue, and your drinks are an extra expense. The operator also does not include food, so consider eating beforehand or bringing enough time and money for your own bar snacks.

This suits solo visitors as well as couples and friends. A solo participant can sit with the group and let the storytelling carry the afternoon. Friends may enjoy the social side and the chance to compare reactions to the more gruesome stories. Couples should know that the mood is spooky and occasionally comic, not a candlelit date-night performance.

Booking, price, and cancellation details

At $26.29, the tour offers reasonable value if you would otherwise pay for a guided ghost walk and buy drinks during the afternoon. It is less compelling if you mainly want a cheap way to visit three bars, since the drinks are not included and there are no tour discounts.

The experience is often booked about 20 days ahead, so I would not leave it until the last afternoon of a short Montreal visit. Confirmation arrives when you book, and free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 3 p.m. start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded. If the minimum number is not reached and the operator cancels, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

The mobile ticket is convenient, but convenience depends on reading the details. Check the street address, not only McKibbin’s name. That small step can prevent a very frustrating start.

Should you book Montreal’s Haunted Pub Crawl?

Book it if you want three indoor storytelling stops, a few drinks, and a tour that treats Montreal’s ghost lore as part folklore, part local history, and part performance. The best guides, especially Jason, Anton, Max, and Donovan, can make the afternoon funny, eerie, and memorable.

Skip it if you want a walking tour of cemeteries, haunted streets, or buildings outside the pubs. Also skip it if long stories make you restless or if you expect a fast-moving crawl with included drinks. For the right audience, the $26.29 ticket is a good way to spend a rainy afternoon in downtown Montreal. For everyone else, choose a dedicated walking ghost tour instead.

FAQ

How long does the Haunted Montreal Pub Crawl last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours and 30 minutes.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 3 p.m.

Where does the tour begin?

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

Where does the tour end?

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

Which pubs are included?

The route includes McKibbin’s, Sir Winston Churchill Pub, and Hurley’s Irish Pub.

Are drinks included in the ticket price?

No. Alcoholic drinks are purchased separately from the bars at their regular prices.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 25 people.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility limitations?

The pubs may have stairs and difficult access for some people with mobility limitations. The experience is not recommended for people with serious mobility issues.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

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