
The Most Haunted Restaurants in Portland
Posted: 02.05.2025 | Updated: 02.05.2025
Portland, Oregon, ranks among the most haunted cities in the Pacific Northwest. Portland is home to the notorious Shanghai Tunnels, where countless sailors were forced into human trafficking in the late 19th and early 20th century. Although the tunnels are merely a tourist attraction now, the ghosts of Portland live on as a reminder of the city’s darker days.
Have you ever visited any of the haunted restaurants in Portland? Interested in learning more about the history of Portland and its legendary hauntings? Book a ghost tour with Portland Ghosts today to get the full scoop!
What Are The Most Haunted Restaurants In Portland?
The most haunted restaurants in Portland all share a connection to the Shanghai Tunnels and the days when many seafront establishments doubled as brothels. At Kell’s Irish Pub, strange activity has been reported in the basement, which used to connect to the tunnels.
At White Eagle Saloon and Hotel, the spirits of sex workers and sailors have been known to accost patrons. Old Town Pizza, often cited as the most haunted restaurant in Portland, the ghost of a kidnapped woman etched her name in brick so she would never be forgotten.
These restless spirits have all been known to make themselves at home as an additional dinner guest.
Kell’s Irish Pub

Staff at Kell’s Irish Pub report hauntings that include a piano that plays by itself, televisions turning on and off on their own, unseen forces watching and brushing up against them, and a black mist that travels through the pub.
There are at least three ghosts who haunt Kell’s Irish Pub. Staff and patrons have seen the apparition of a young girl with red hair known to play tricks on adults. She also enjoys playing with children visiting the pub during daytime hours. The red-haired girl’s identity is unknown but her friendly spirit is a staple of the pub. Some speculate that she was a victim of the 1913 flu epidemic that claimed countless lives.
Patrons looking into the Guinness mirror above the bar at Kell’s sometimes see a smiling man in a derby hat. However, there’s no one matching that description in the bar. This jovial ghost has been nicknamed Charlie and many sit at the bar in the hopes of encountering his spectral visage.
Located in the pub’s basement, Kell’s Cigars is located next to the notorious Shanghai Tunnels, which were used for human trafficking in the early days of Portland. Today, visitors see the apparition of a fallen firefighter named David Campbell. It’s apparently easy to spot his spirit since he’s always seen in full firefighter regalia.
White Eagle Saloon & Hotel

The neighborhood that McMenamin’s White Eagle Saloon and Hotel is located in used to be called “Bucket of Blood,” which should tell you all you need to know about its reputation. The saloon and hotel started out respectably enough upon opening its doors in 1905.
Still, as the area became industrialized and more sailors came to town, White Eagle took on a seedier reputation.
The hotel became a brothel where sex workers were murdered and sailors were Shanghai’ed. It’s believed that the majority of the spirits who reside at the saloon and hotel are the result of this tumultuous and violent time in the building’s history.
For instance, the ghost of a woman named Rose has been seen crying in room three of the hotel. Rose is said to have been a sex worker who was murdered by a man after she refused to marry him.
Next door in room two, the ghost of a former caretaker named Sam has been spotted. Sam was adopted by a former owner when he was 10 and spent the rest of his life at White Eagle.
The upstairs rooms of the hotel are said to be so haunted that they weren’t rented out for many years due to guests complaining about the ghosts.
The Basement
A great deal of paranormal phenomena has been reported in the basement of White Eagle, which was where Black and Asian sex workers were forced to work when the building was a brothel. Staff have heard music coming from the basement and the freezer doors open and close on their own. People have also been inappropriately touched by unseen hands in the basement.
Throughout the building, staff and patrons find coins on the floor and have even had coins drop on their heads from the ceiling. There is also an entity with a teardrop shape to it that’s been spotted throughout the saloon and hotel. This is definitely one of the most haunted restaurants in Portland.
Old Town Pizza
Old Town Pizza opened in 1974 and sits in the lobby of the old Merchant Hotel. The Merchant Hotel opened in 1880, and like other hotels in the area, it later became a brothel. The owners of Old Town Pizza believe that their restaurant is haunted by the ghost of a young woman who lost her life during the building’s tenure as a bordello.
The resident ghost of Old Town Pizza is a woman named Nina (pronounced Nigh-na) who was a victim of human trafficking in the early 20th century. Nina was forced into prostitution at the Merchant Hotel but made a plan for her escape.
Nina had given information about the hotel to two missionaries working in the area. Tragically, before Nina could provide enough information to guarantee her freedom, her lifeless body was found at the bottom of an elevator shaft. It’s believed she was pushed by someone who ran the brothel and uncovered her plan.
Over the years, Nina’s spirit has been reported wandering Old Town Pizza. Staff and guests have heard a woman whispering, smelled perfume, and felt a hand brush up against them.
During renovations to the building’s basement, construction workers were annoyed to find that staff had messed with their equipment. When the owner looked at the mess, he noticed the name “Nina” etched into a brick. He believed Nina’s ghost wanted to make herself known.
The bravest of guests can even sit in a booth located inside the elevator shaft where Nina met her untimely demise. It’s in this space where Nina’s ghostly whisper has been heard.
Haunted Portland
Don’t forget to book a ghost tour with Portland Ghosts to learn all the creepy lore Portland has to offer! If learning about Portland’s dark side sounds like your idea of a good time, be sure to book a walking tour today and step into the city’s haunting past. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and keep reading our blog for more real Oregon hauntings.
Sources
- https://spookt.com/lore/the_famous_ghosts_of_kells_irish_pub
- https://www.otbrewing.com/haunted-past
- https://hauntedhouses.com/oregon/white-eagle-pub-and-hotel/
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