Have you ever stayed in an actual haunted house before? Sometimes, we can let our brains get the best of us. But other times, things just happen that can’t be explained — like faucets running by themselves, or brief visions of beings in the night. But it’s not just homes that can be haunted. There are a ton of spooky restaurants around the world. Apparently, spirits like food just as much as we do.
While there are plenty of haunted restaurants in the United States, hearing about international haunted restaurants is slightly more thrilling.
Probably because it gives us another excuse to book a vacation (and since summer will be here before you know it, you might want to grab those tickets now) and because restaurants from around the world are most likely so much older (remember, the U.S. is a fairly new country). Dining on international cuisine by itself is a pleasure, but knowing it was created in a haunted kitchen is even cooler.
Behind every haunted restaurant is a wonderful story.
Sometimes, it’s a myth — other times, it’s accurate (yet embellished as time has moved forward). Here are ten of the best haunted restaurants around the world.
The Banshee Labrynth Pub & Restaurant, Scotland
Known as Scotland’s “most haunted pub,” the current owners of The Banshee are pretty proud of their eerie reputation.
Half of the venue used to host underground vaults that attracted criminals.
The spirit that’s most prevalent these days is called — you guessed it — The Banshee. “When refurbishing the venue a group of workmen believed they all heard a terrifying scream,” the pub’s website states. “A few hours later, one of the workmen received a phone call informing him that a family member had passed away.”
Buma Inn, Beijing
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Back in the day, being poisoned seemed pretty common — a theme you’ll likely hear in a few of these stories.
The Buma Inn is actually haunted by two possible spirits.
The one people seem to recognize the most is a man who was poisoned by the head chef of the restaurant. The other is the chef himself, who stabbed himself shortly after the incident. People like to think the diner might keep coming back to try and find the chef who killed him.
Nottingham Road Hotel Restaurant & Pub, South Africa
If you like a good love story, you should hear about the Nottingham Road Hotel Restaurant and Pub. Not only is it the oldest pub in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, but it’s haunted by a ghost named Charlotte who once lived there back in the 1800s.
She reportedly fell for a British soldier who passed through.
When Charlotte heard he died in battle, people say she threw herself over the balcony because she was so broken-hearted. She only reveals herself to a few people, but she has been spotted at the location since.
The Mermaid Inn and Restaurant, Rye England
To be fair, most of the ghosts at the Mermaid Inn and Restaurant seem to hang out in the guest rooms — but, there are a lot of ghosts.
And a lot of stories.
According to the location itself, the bar has had a few suspicious moments in its history. “Experience a drink in the Giant’s Fireplace Bar and imagine how the Hawkhurst Gang, local smugglers in the 1730s and 1740s, caroused in the bar,” they wrote. “Can you see the secret passageway entrance?”
Brennan’s Restaurant, New Orleans LA
Like many places in New Orleans, this restaurant has its fair share of ghosts. The famous chef there, Chef Paul Blange, has reportedly never left the kitchen (despite passing away in the 70s). Apparently, at the restaurant’s close, he’ll bang on the pots and pans.
And he’s not the only former worker staying on the grounds.
The sommelier, Herman Funk, assists waiters in the wine cellar by clinking the bottles he enjoys and recommends. While these two ghosts are there for their love of the restaurant, one ghost is less pleasant. Monsieur LeFleur haunts the restaurant’s Red Room, after committing suicide there after murdering his family. We’ll skip out on the Red Room for the banging pots and pans at this place.
Marsden Grotto Restaurant, South Shields England
Marsden Grotto reportedly has a history that includes smugglers and contraband runners. Created by Jack the Blaster in 1782 to be used as a beach home, the smugglers found a way to hide cargo there.
One, named Jack the Jibber, was allegedly murdered there after he reportedly sold information to HM Customs.
The area is best known now for being an attraction and a seafood restaurant. Patrons have reported incidents of paranormal activity and strange noises while there, with many believing it to be the spirit of the deceased smuggler.
The Keg Mansion, Toronto
Known as Canada’s most haunted restaurant, The Keg Mansion has a lot of creepy history behind it. The mansion, which now serves as a steakhouse, was built in 1867.
Years later, Hart Massey moved in with his family and unfortunately witnessed the untimely death of his daughter, Lillian Massey, while in the home.
Munchies interviewed the manager back in 2015, who also revealed that a maid hanged herself and a boy had died after falling down a staircase in the years that followed. The boy, in particular, is often seen by children who visit the location today.
Milano’s Bar and Tavern, Melbourne, Australia
Milano’s in Australia is a waterfront restaurant that has a great vibe — well, aside from the ghosts. The building is 170 years old, and rumor has it that the original owners assaulted and killed a young girl on the property.
There’ve also been stories about deadly fights and suicides in and around the building.
But the ghost that’s seen the most is named Tilly, who, according to The Shadowlands, is aggressive towards male staff members. So, might want to take note of that if you’re thinking about working there.
Poogan’s Porch, Charleston SC
Named after a little pooch, Poogan’s Porch in South Carolina has a couple of resident ghosts — Poogan, the restaurant’s greeter dog, and Zoe St. Amand, resident of the house before it became a restaurant. Some diners catch a glimpse of the ghost pup, while some others have claimed to be able to feel Poogan running underneath the table.
As for Zoe, she used to live in the house with her sister Elizabeth.
They were super close, and when Elizabeth passed away, Zoe frantically looked for her. One legend says Zoe fell down the stairs to her death, while another claims she was taken to an institution where she passed. Either way, her ghost can be seen running around the dining room. Spooky stuff.
Skirrid Mountain Inn, Abergabenny, England
According to Haunted Rooms, the property used to be the courtroom of Judge Jeffreys, otherwise known as the “Hanging Judge,” and the the wood-paneled restaurant inside has remained true since the Skirrid Mountain Inn was established.
The inn’s website states that Shakespeare found inspiration here, and that the name of the mountain itself translates to “shiver” in Welsh.
That said, it’s the perfect place to spot a ghost. John Crowther, a sheep rustler who was sentenced to death many years ago, has been spotted by some, but he’s not the only one.
Jimmy’s World Grill, Luton England
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The scary part about the ghost in Jimmy’s World Grill is that he was actually caught on tape. Even though a lot of people think the incident may have been a publicity stunt, there’s no doubt about it (okay, fine, maybe reeeeally good editing) — a plate was definitely thrown from a table at random.
The staff working then admitted to being spooked and confused, the manager at the time even saying he’s heard noises in certain parts of the restaurant.
It’s been over five years since the incident, but we still get the chills thinking about it.
The Steward House, County Cork Ireland
Unfortunately, like a few haunted restaurants on the list, The Steward House is no longer open. But it might be for the best, after a renovation lead to a grim discovery.
Bon Appetit reports that a tiny skeleton was found in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
After it was discovered, the staff working on the redesign reported sightings of both a black cat who had glowing red eyes, and nuns who were walking around the premise that didn’t actually exist. It sounds like the plot of a horror film.
Manhattan Bistro, New York NY
Now a clothing store, the Manhattan Bistro building in NYC is terrifyingly haunted. There’s a 200-plus-year-old well that was part of an infamously unsolved murder case.
Lovers from a boarding house back in the 1700s had a plan to elope, but over a week later, Gulielma Elmore Sands’ body was found in that very well.
Somehow, through various renovations, the spooky well has remained in the building. The old restaurant staff would report paranormal activity near the well, suggesting the bride-to-be haunts the place.
Casey Moore’s Oyster House, Tempe AZ
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKBL-QMw-Lo"]Before becoming a pub, this place used to be the home of William and Mary Moeur. The couple died within its walls and can be heard dancing in the upper floors of the building, while there have also been reports of forks flying off tables and a dark-haired woman roaming the premise.
It was rumored that after the Moeurs’ deaths, the building became a brothel before turning into a restaurant, which might account for some of the spirits that wander there.
It’s nestled right inside of a college town, so students looking for a place to wind down on the weekends should look out for any ghostly encounters.
