16 True Crime Bars Where Creepy Things Really Took Place

There’s a popular old whiskey bar in my neighborhood. I went for drinks one night with my sister and we got to chatting with the bartender. After a couple of drinks, he whispered to us, “You know this place is haunted?” He proceeded to tell us about a vicious fight between lovers that happened in the bar a long time ago that ended tragically for the girlfriend. Ever since then workers have reported seeing the figure of a woman haunting the back rooms.

We’d like to think drinking a nice cocktail in a lounge is fun and all, but horrible things can happen anywhere (especially when there’s alcohol involved). Some bars are infamous for mafia activity, crimes of passion, and even drug overdoses. Whispers of unsolved mysteries, echoes of screams, and lingering restless souls haunt these places. Are you brave enough to drink in a bar with such a chilling history? 

1. The Hero of Waterloo

Fancy a pint steeped in a little mystery? Visit The Hero of Waterloo in Sydney, Australia, a historic sailor hangout where some patrons never left. In the 1800s, rumors swirled about drugged drinks, chains in the basement, and a secret tunnel to the harbor.

It sounds like a recipe for a real-life pirate movie, with a tragic ending for the unsuspecting sailors. Adding to the eerie lore, there is talk of a man pushing his wife down the stairs to her death there in 1849, and some patrons report hearing classical music late at night. Could it be Anne’s ghost playing the piano?

2. The Frolic Room

Step into the Frolic Room on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, and you might just brush shoulders with a ghost…or at least a ghost story. In 1947, Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia, was last seen at this bar before her infamous murder. While the Black Dahlia case is the most notorious, it’s not the only spooky story clinging to the Frolic Room’s walls.

Patrons have reported strange occurrences, from unexplained chills and disembodied whispers to flickering lights and the feeling of being watched. But it’s still open and fully embraces its dark past. 

3. Dante’s

This Seattle, Washington hangout has a brush with infamy that’ll send shivers down your spine. The story goes that Ted Bundy, the notorious serial killer, was a regular at Dante’s. It gets even creepier—Lynda Ann Healy, believed to be Bundy’s first victim, was allegedly last seen at Dante’s the night she vanished in 1974.

Could Bundy have been scouting his prey? The coincidence is enough to make your skin crawl. Strangely, Dante’s burned down in 2015, and though a revival was promised, it’s now set to be bulldozed. 

4. The Station Nightclub

The Station Nightclub in Rhode Island isn’t your typical true crime bar with a disturbing aura, but it holds a far more tragic story. In 2003, a Great White concert turned deadly when pyrotechnics ignited the club’s walls, engulfing it in flames.

With poor fire safety and blocked exits, 100 lives were tragically lost, and over 230 were injured, making it the state’s deadliest nightclub fire. Today, a memorial stands where the club once was, honoring the victims.

5. Shaker’s Cigar Bar

Built in 1894 on a former cemetery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Shaker’s has all the makings of a haunted hotspot. Legend says the notorious mobster Al Capone ran a speakeasy and brothel with the help of his cronies on the upper floors during Prohibition.

A woman named Molly Brennan supposedly vanished after working there, and some believe her spirit roams the halls. The strangest part is that the former brothel area is now an Airbnb with a warning to guests about the resident ghost. The rental owners don’t recommend trying a Ouija board during your stay… just in case. 

6. The Viper Room 

The Viper Room, once co-owned by Johnny Depp, earned its place in Hollywood history as it offered a place for A-listers to escape the spotlight and indulge in a little too much fun. On Halloween night, 1993, actor River Phoenix collapsed and died right outside the Viper Room’s entrance.

His death, attributed to a drug overdose, cast a long shadow over the club. Believe it or not, The Viper Room is still open for business on the Sunset Strip, but some say the ambiance is a hint more somber now, perhaps a nod to the events of that fateful Halloween night.

7. White Horse Tavern

The White Horse Tavern in New York City is more literary legend than a crime scene, famous for its writer patrons in the ’50s and ’60s, like Jack Kerouac and James Baldwin.

But the tale goes that Dylan Thomas, the famed Welsh poet, supposedly downed 18 whiskeys here one night, contributing to his death a few days later (though some say his illness was unrelated). Still open in the West Village, it serves drinks and bar food alongside its literary legacy. 

8. The Mermaid Inn

This 600-year-old English establishment is steeped in a past that’s equal parts charming and chilling. While the Mermaid Inn might have played host to Shakespearean theatrics, it also served as the secret headquarters for the notorious Hawkhurst Gang.

Smuggling tea might seem quaint, but these guys were ruthless. Mess with them and risk getting nailed to your own door…literally. In 1993, actress Kiki Kendrick witnessed a ghostly sword fight at 4 am, an event eerily confirmed by a newspaper article.

The Mermaid Inn is still open, so if you’re looking for a place to quench your thirst for history (and maybe the paranormal), head down to Rye in Southeast England.

9. City View Tavern

This tavern in Cincinnati boasts a killer view of the city, but its claim to fame is much creepier. Charles Manson, the infamous cult leader, was quite the fan of the tavern’s deck. After a few tequilas, Manson threatened to jump off the ledge he was perched on.

Some even claim he took the plunge, though strangely, with no lasting damage. Fed up with Manson’s antics, the owners took a drastic step – they banished tequila from the menu entirely! This policy, remarkably, stands strong to this day.

10. The Blind Beggar

London’s East End pubs are known for their interesting history, and The Blind Beggar is no exception. In 1966, Ronnie Kray, a notorious gangster from the infamous Kray twins, strolled into The Blind Beggar with a score to settle. Right there, at the bar, he shot and killed his rival, George Cornell, while he was enjoying a gin and tonic.

This menacing act solidified The Blind Beggar’s place in London’s true crime lore. Built in 1894, the pub still stands on Whitechapel Road, drawing both locals and celebrities with its unique blend of history and good drinks.

11. The Pioneer Saloon

It may be a 30-minute drive from the glitz of the Las Vegas strip, but this saloon offers a taste of the Wild West that’ll leave your jaw on the floor. Those bullet holes in the walls aren’t just for show—they were left by a poker dealer who caught a gambler cheating.

Actor Clark Gable also sought solace here after his wife’s tragic plane crash nearby, leaving a mark on the bar and the saloon’s history. Today, the Pioneer Saloon still serves drinks and stories, drawing tourists and locals alike for a taste of its haunted past and Old West charm.

12. Bridge Café 

Back in the day, NYC’s Bridge Cafe wasn’t known for white tablecloths and gourmet eats. It was a grog shop and a brothel, catering to a rough-and-tumble crowd of pirates and sailors. Patrons report disembodied footsteps echoing from the supposedly empty second floor, electronics acting up with a mind of their own, and the occasional whiff of lavender in the air.

If the Bridge Cafe has undergone a posh transformation, do the ghosts linger amidst the clinking of glasses and the murmur of conversation? Sadly, the Bridge Café, the city’s oldest continuously running tavern, closed in 2012 after Superstorm Sandy. So we’ll never know. 

13. The Tavern

In Prohibition’s wild days, The Tavern was a master of disguise in Austin, Texas. By day, it was a grocery store; by night, it was a bustling speakeasy with gambling and a brothel. According to the old story, one of the brothel’s hostesses, Emily, met a tragic end in a fight during the 1940s.

Visitors claim to see Emily’s ghost peering from a second-floor window late at night and feel her presence nearby. The bar even displays a pair of shoes found during renovations, rumored to have belonged to Emily.

14. The Esquire

Once rumored to be the Mexican Mafia’s Texas haunt in the 1970s and 1980s, this place was a scene of gangsters sipping champagne secretly while shady deals went down. The place even had a reputation for being so rough that they had to install metal detectors at the door!

Those days are long gone, though. The Esquire underwent a major makeover in 2011, shedding its shady past for a classy, vintage vibe. Curious tourists and locals today enjoy expertly crafted cocktails instead of gangland brawls.

15. Waterfront Tavern

The Waterfront Tavern in Bellingham, Washington, has a more chilling reputation than a spilled beer. Ted Bundy, the Hillside Strangler Kenneth Bianchi, and D.C. Sniper John Allen Muhammad are rumored to have visited this dive bar.

While the bar can’t confirm every sighting, some stories are too creepy to ignore. Bartenders have reported an unsettling vibe from certain patrons, and the feeling of dark deeds lingers in the air. Whether it’s a true crime hotspot or urban legend, a drink at the Waterfront Tavern is unlike any other.

16. Happy Land Nightclub

This New York City nightclub wasn’t haunted by ghosts but by a terrible act of arson. A scorned ex-boyfriend, Julio González, set the club on fire. The flames engulfed the building, trapping the patrons inside. The only exit was locked, and there were no fire escapes.

As a result, 87 people perished, making it the deadliest fire in NYC since 1911. The Happy Land no longer exists. The building that once housed laughter and music now stands as a grim memory of the fire’s devastation. 

Is there a bar in your town with a creepy story?

Share it with us in the comments!

Source: Wine Enthusiast, Oxygen True Crime, Men’s Journal