Haunted Bars

Looking for a quick drink with a haunted edge in New Orleans? Perhaps a French Quarter Phantoms ghost tour will whet your whistle along with a visit to all of the ghostly cemetery hot spots like St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 or St. Roch Cemetery. We here at FrightFind have put together the four most frightening and haunted bars in all of New Orleans for you to visit for a cold one… if you dare.

The Old Absinthe House

No better place to indulge your favorite drink than at the Old Absinthe House located right on Bourbon Street in the heart of the French Quarter. However, a visit here and absinthe may not be the only spirit you are liable to encounter. The most famous spirit here is said to be that of pirate Jean Lafitte himself! The early 19th-century pirate and bootlegger are said to haunt the second floor of the bar, where some people have claimed to see not only Lafitte standing near the window in his trademark hat but also next to the ghost of former President Andrew Jackson.

Former employees at the Old Absinthe also have spoken about drink glasses mysteriously being moved around or accidentally knocked off bar tables by unseen forces. Even with some table chairs being rearranged, one of the more audible manifestations is the sound of laughter and merriment from corners of the bar in which nobody is present at all. Did we mention the Absinthe drinks?

Pat O’Brien’s Bar

The hottest spot before, during, and after Mardi Gras is none other than Pat O’Brien’s bar, where you’re likely to encounter spirits in both the bottom of a glass as well as floating past you! The bar’s location on St. Peter street was originally constructed all the way back in 1791. The most haunted spot in the bar is said to be the ladies’ restroom up on the second floor. Women visitors and employees alike have said that even the ascent to the second floor near the restroom brings forth a certain eeriness. Vicious cold spots along with a heavy stomping sound that seems to descend from the antiquated attic storage area above are what they notice most.

Like most establishments in New Orleans, the backside area holds smaller courtyards and the one at Pat O’Briens features typical patio furniture for visitors. Many times during non-peak hours, the staff will have the patio furniture straightened and perfected for any visitors, only to walk back outside moments later and see that the furniture has been completely strewn about in disarray by an unseen force.

Tableau

Tableau is, of course, one of the more popular establishments in all of New Orleans. Sitting on at the corners of Chartres and St. Peter Street, this open kitchen bar that’s built within a vintage stage theatre was first formalized in 1916 although historical records date part of the actual brick and mortar building to go as far back as 1789! To start there is the spirit of a particularly self-conscious Civil War Union soldier that has been seen inside Tableau.

Visitors recount seeing a younger man in Union soldier dress blues who appears to be straightening his gloves, lapel, and even hair all in the direction of what is just a normal wall. In 2017, a YouTube video surfaced of camera footage from the bar area. A bartender is quietly sweeping the floor when a dozen wine bottles on their racks fly off and smash across the room! Think we’re kidding? Check out the footage and when you’re in New Orleans, check out the Tableau for yourself if you dare!

May Baily’s at Dauphine Orleans Hotel

Located just a mere two blocks over from the aptly haunted St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the Dauphine Orleans Hotel is a French Quarter staple. Guests at the bar and hotel have reported seeing a young, slender woman in a flowing white dress that passes by them in an instant, only to disappear seconds later! Urban legends over time have many believing that the woman in the ghostly bridal dress is none other than Millie Baily herself, May Baily’s younger lovelorn sister.

There are also sightings of other female entities that can be seen dancing through the courtyard areas at any hour of the day in a period dress who seemingly disappear without a trace! As for the hotel half, one family in particular on the second floor reported to be awoken late at night with their bed shaking violently and fleeting cold spots felt, all in the middle of sweltering Louisiana July heat with absolutely zero explanation! Phantom brides, Civil War-era bordello ghost women, and shaking beds? Sign us up!

Haunted Honorable Mentions: Kerry Irish Pub, The Alibi, Tujague’s, The Bourbon Pub, The Jimani, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop

There are all kinds of places in America to get a cold frosty one. There are sports bars, wine bars, hotel bars, live music bars, dive bars, college bars, biker bars, neighborhood bars, tap rooms, pubs, public houses, and bars where dogs are welcome. The best type of bar is an open bar because the only thing better than a cocktail is a free cocktail. But how many bars have you been to where the patrons and staff aren’t the only ones mulling around? That’s right, America is full of haunted bars that you may have already visited. Here’s our list of America’s top haunted bars.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop

If you’re ever in New Orleans, make sure you stop by its oldest and most haunted bar, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. The shop was built sometimes between 1761 and 1762 by notorious pirate Jean Lafitte who used it as a front to hide all of his illegal activity. Guests have reported seeing Jean Lafitte himself sitting near the fireplace, lingering at a shadowy back table, or roaming near the women’s bathroom. It is said that Lafitte hid his gold somewhere near the fireplace and is protective of that area of the shop. An unknown distraught woman has also been seen wandering the back of the building.

Ear Inn

Ear Inn is one of New York City’s oldest bars, serving the Big Apple since the nineteenth century. Considering the bar sits next to the Hudson River, it is to no one’s surprise that it would be full of pirates, sailors, and other undesirables. And where there are undesirables, there are typically undesirable activities such as prostitution, constant bar fights, smuggling, and more. It’s no surprise that the spirits of these old customers are often seen milling around the bar. Most often seen is a sailor named Mickey who was shot in front of the bar.

The Menger Bar

The Menger Bar, along with The Menger Hotel, opened its doors in San Antonio in 1859, the time of heated gunfights, Civil War soldiers, and wide roaming, notorious outlaws. Considering the amount of history in the San Antonio area, it’s unsurprising that some of it leaked into The Menger Bar. As many as 32 separate ghosts have been reported wanding the bar and hotel. Most of the spirits have been described as being good-natured, but some seem to be a bit more reserved and intimidating.

Simon’s Tavern

Since its opening in the late 30s, Simon’s Tavern has been hopping with scandalous history and ghost activity. In the 40s, the family-owned tavern faced a fiery love affair with a married woman, a fatal car accident, and an extensive family cover-up. The owner of the Chicago bar, Scott, gives tours of the haunted building for just a nickel. Numerous guests have felt cold spots, heard strange noises and quiet voices, as well as seen full apparitions.

The Tavern

Prohibition was a dark time for bars, but where many failed, others got creative to keep afloat. This Austin, Texas hot spot was a grocery store during the day, but by night became a bustling bar, casino, and brothel. The ghost most likely to be seen in the tavern is a young woman named Emily closely followed by her small daughter. Both are dressed in early twentieth-century attire and make a habit of walking up and down the halls and staring out windows. Emily has been known to cause disturbances in the bar such as changing TV channels, making phone calls from the manager’s office, and smashing dishes in the kitchen when no one is around.

Tiger’s Tap Room

Tiger’s Tap Room and Hotel Congress have been buzzing with activity, alive and ghostly, since its opening in 1919. The Tuscan located establishment has had its fair share of unpleasant events, from a woman killing herself in room 242 (the bullet hole still visible for those willing to go poking around the closest) to Wyatt Earp shooting Frank Stilwell across the street. Many guests have experienced disembodied voices excusing themselves or blessing a living patron after they have sneezed. Others have seen full apparitions strolling through the bar or looking out of windows.

Pioneer Saloon

In the old forgotten mining town of Goodsprings in the hot Nevada desert, not too far from Las Vegas, stands the Pioneer Saloon. In the early twentieth century, Goodsprings was booming with life and activity, especially in the saloon. It was not uncommon for bar fights to break out between patrons. In one instance, a hot-headed man was shot and killed inside the bar after he lunged at a card dealer who he thought to be cheating in their game of cards. It is said that the man can still be seen sitting at the small table playing cards. One mixologist has said that in the early evening a kindly looking prospector will sometimes sit at the end of the bar.

Shaker’s Cigar Bar

The self-proclaimed “Milwaukee Haunted Bar” is teaming with ghosts and history for those interested enough to go looking. The ghost of a young woman named Elizabeth has been heard wailing in the bathroom while a former brothel worker named Molly, who was brutally murdered upstairs, can be seen waltzing through the penthouse at all hours of the night. The owner is always willing to give tours of Shaker’s haunted floors to those who ask.

Captain Tony’s Saloon

Not everyone wants to have a drink in a bar that was formerly a morgue, but the Key West, Florida locals don’t seem to mind too much. Before it was a morgue, it is said that the site was used to hang criminals from a large tree. Guests are warned to watch out for the bathroom doors that lock on their own.

The White Horse Tavern

In 1673, The Whitehorse Tavern opened its doors in the Rhode Island Colony making it the oldest bar in the country. Throughout the centuries, the tavern has been used as a boarding house and British military quarters during the Revolutionary War. It’s no surprise that with all the activity in the tavern over the years, several ghosts have been seen by guests. A poplar spirit being an elderly man who died while renting a room above the bar in the early years of The Whitehorse Tavern. Another is a young girl who can be heard wailing on the second floor.

The Most Haunted Bars in New Orleans