10 Haunted American Bars and Restaurants

Beardslee Castle - Little Falls, NY

Seriously, could a place look more haunted? Known to locals as “the most haunted spot in the Mohawk Valley,” Captain Beardslee built this home for his family in 1860 and lived there until his death. Between the stories of an Indian raiding party that died in the catacombs beneath the property, to Captain Beardslee himself who haunts the area surrounding the home, there are plenty of scares to go around. Former employees have reportedly run screaming from the place, claiming ghosts were chasing them. Still, the food gets good reviews.

Moss Beach Distillery - Half Moon Bay, CA

Built in 1927, the Moss Beach Distillery started as a speakeasy for visiting silent film stars and San Francisco politicians. Its resident ghost, “The Blue Lady,” supposedly haunts the premises, trying to recapture the romance of the speakeasy years. Stories abound about mysterious phone calls from no one, levitating checkbooks, locked rooms from the inside with no other means of entry, and women diners losing one earring, only to have them found in one place weeks later.

Manhattan Bistro - New York, NY

This SoHo restaurant serves steak frites and wine, but is also associated with the infamous “Manhattan Well Murder.” Back in 1799, a woman died and was found in a well, thus the moniker. The suspected killer, the woman’s lover, was acquitted after a trial. The case remains unsolved. When the new owners were touring a basement, they found a well – the very well the dead woman was discovered in. Her ghost has been known to knock over ashtrays and bottles. If you don’t think wells are creepy, then you haven’t seen “The Ring.”

Succotash - Kansas City, MO

This 100-year-old saloon used to be the Dutch Hill Bar and Grill before it became a brunch hotspot. According to delish.com, Succotash owner Beth Barden encountered a ghostly visitor while renovating. “We would smell cigars. I spoke to one of the old neighbors and some of the old staff, who said there was a gentleman named Radar who was there all the time. He used to sit at the end of the bar and smoke these cigarillos.” To this day, after closing up the restaurant, the staff will smell the distinct musk of a cigar. Said the owner, “I guess this was his home away from home. He was a barfly who spent many, many days here, and when he died, he just stayed.”

Catfish Plantation - Waxahachie, TX

In 1984, Tom and Melissa Baker found this property and turned it into the Catfish Plantation. But after purchasing it, they became believers in the paranormal. Among the resident spirits is a man who likes to “flirt” with female guests by touching their knee or playing with their long hair. Employees tell stories of a fry basket levitating in the kitchen, and a glowing blue light illuminating a room that was empty.

In 2007, the new owners invited the Association for the Study of Unexplained Phenomenon to investigate. Using state of the art research, the group confirmed several “friendly and positive” spirits interacted with investigators.

Poogan's Porch - Charleston, SC

Built in 1888, Poogan’s Porch was named the “Third Haunted Place in America” by the Travel Channel in 2003. It is haunted by its former resident, Zoe St. Amand. Employees have reportedly seen her wearing a long, black Puritan-style dress, and pots and pans occasionally crash in the kitchen. Was it her, or just disgruntled cooks?

Sir Winston’s Restaurant/The Queen Mary - Long Beach, CA

The famous luxury vessel turned floating restaurant and hotel is ground zero for spirit activity in Southern California. Constructed in 1930 in Scotland, it embarked on its maiden voyage in 1937. During its lifetime, it saw royalty and Hollywood icons, until it entered service as a troopship during World War II. It offers a “Dine With the Spirits” meal followed by a ghost tour, as over its 60-year history, the Queen Mary was the site of 49 reported deaths. Hauntings include a young crewman in the engine room, swimmers in the first-class pool, a man in black, and a woman in blue. The kitchen is haunted, as a chef was supposedly stuffed into an oven and roasted by a crew who hated his cooking. It’s easy to dismiss the stories as pure nonsense, until you walk the long hallways alone at night.

Muriel's Jackson Square - New Orleans, LA

Even on a packed night, there is always one table at this restaurant that remains empty. It’s reserved for the ghost of Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan, the former owner who lost the building in a poker game. Not wanting to leave, he committed suicide. Patrons and employees have claimed that glasses have flown from behind the bar. Isn’t all of New Orleans pretty much haunted?