Ghost Bus Pub Crawl

Ghost stories taste better with a drink. San Antonio’s Ghost Bus Pub Crawl mixes local history, haunted tales, and three very different bars, all linked by an air-conditioned ride through downtown and Southtown. I like the historic stops, especially the Menger Bar and Hotel Havana, and I like the small-group feel, with no more than 33 people. The main catch is that drinks are not included, and bar locations can change.

The tour also depends on good weather and a minimum number of bookings. Guides such as Lexi, known as Lady Lex, and Robert have brought plenty of energy to the evening, with character work, personal ghost stories, and quick thinking when plans hit a snag. If you enjoy theatrical storytelling more than a quiet drink, this is a strong pick. If you want a fixed bar menu and a calm night, it may feel a little busy.

Key points to know before you book

• Three historic drinking spots: Visit Menger Bar, Southtown House of Spirits, and Hotel Havana, with about 30 minutes at each stop.
• A moving ghost tour: An air-conditioned vehicle carries you between venues, saving your feet while adding a social, late-night feel.
• Drinks cost extra: Your ticket covers the guide, transportation, and admission, but not alcoholic beverages.
• The guides are part of the show: Lexi or Lady Lex and Robert have been praised for entertaining storytelling and friendly care.
• Expect a theatrical surprise: One outing included tarantulas, so the experience may include more than ghost stories and cocktails.
• Downtown start and finish: Begin at Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours and Oddities Parlor and finish behind the Menger Hotel near Morton’s The Steakhouse.

Why this San Antonio pub crawl works

I see this experience as part haunted tour, part bar hop, and part city introduction. You are not simply sitting in one dark room listening to ghost tales. You move through several downtown and Southtown settings, each with its own mood and backstory.

The format suits you if you want an evening with a clear plan. You meet at Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours and Oddities Parlor at 204 Alamo Plaza, Suite J. From there, the group travels by air-conditioned vehicle to three venues, spending roughly 30 minutes at each one.

That timing matters. Thirty minutes is enough to absorb the atmosphere, hear a story, and decide on a drink without turning any single stop into a full dinner. It also means the evening keeps moving. You should expect a brisk social outing rather than long, relaxed time at each bar.

The group size can reach 33 people. That is not an intimate private tour, but it is still much more organized than trying to build your own haunted bar route. A guide can keep the group together, handle changes, and add context you would miss on your own.

Menger Bar begins the night with Texas history

The first stop is Menger Bar, described as the oldest and most historical bar in Texas. That claim gives the opening stop real weight. You begin with a place that connects drinking culture, San Antonio history, and ghost lore in one setting.

I like the choice of Menger Bar as the first venue because it gives the tour an immediate sense of place. This is not a generic bar chosen only for its drinks. The building’s age and reputation create the sort of backdrop that makes a supernatural story feel tied to the city rather than pasted onto it.

You have about 30 minutes here, with admission included. Alcohol is not included, so you will need to buy your own drink if you want one. That arrangement gives you control over spending, but it also means the final cost depends partly on what you order at each stop.

The short visit has a practical advantage. You can sample the setting without committing to a whole evening there. If you prefer cocktails, beer, or no alcohol at all, the tour remains workable because the beverage purchase is separate from the guided experience.

Southtown House of Spirits adds a Victorian séance mood

The second stop changes the tone. Southtown House of Spirits occupies a second-floor space at 727 South Alamo Street in San Antonio’s historic Southtown district. It opened on Halloween 2024 and uses a Victorian-era séance theme.

The interior details do much of the work. Vintage wooden furniture, pink bulbs, and electric candles create a dim, intimate setting. I would expect this stop to feel more theatrical than Menger Bar, with the room itself designed to support the supernatural theme.

This venue is a good match for anyone who likes atmosphere as much as history. The room sounds built for conversation, storytelling, and photographs, though the low lighting may not suit you if you prefer a bright, open bar.

Again, the planned time is about 30 minutes. That is enough for a quick drink and a guided story, but not enough for a full meal. You should eat before the tour or plan another stop afterward, since the supplied details describe drinks and bar visits rather than dinner service.

The Southtown location also gives the route a useful change of scenery. You are not confined to the Alamo area all night. The bus connects the central meeting point with a different San Antonio district, making the evening feel more like a city tour than a single-venue event.

Hotel Havana closes with ghosts, cocktails, and old-world style

Hotel Havana is the most layered stop of the three. Built in 1914 on the River Walk, the boutique hotel is known for old-world furnishings and an eerie mood. Stories tell of ghostly guests lingering in its vintage-furnished halls.

The hotel’s basement bar was once a speakeasy and now serves craft cocktails in a dark, intimate setting. That detail gives the final stop a strong sense of character. You get a venue with a past tied to both nightlife and secrecy, which fits the pub crawl’s blend of real history and ghost lore.

Hotel Havana also includes Ocho, a candlelit restaurant shaped by Cuban and Texan influences. The setting sounds appealing for a meal or a later return visit, though the pub crawl itself allows only about 30 minutes at the stop. You should not treat this as enough time for a complete restaurant experience.

Bar locations can change, so you should confirm the final route close to your date. That is the main practical concern with this stop. Hotel Havana is the named venue, but the tour operator notes that bar locations are subject to change.

The finish is also useful. The bus drops you behind the Menger Hotel, outside Morton’s The Steakhouse at 300 East Crockett Street. You do not return to the original meeting point, so keep that in mind when planning a ride, dinner, or another downtown activity.

The guides make or break the ghost stories

A ghost pub crawl needs more than old buildings. The guide has to keep the tone lively, explain the local setting, and handle a group that may be more interested in cocktails than lectures.

Lexi, also known as Lady Lex, has been praised for strong characterization and storytelling. That suggests a guide who treats the evening as a performance, not just a series of facts. Robert has also helped with the tour, providing a second guide who can keep an eye on the group and help the night run smoothly.

One especially useful sign is the way Lexi handled a problem at a hotel bar. A rude manager created a difficult moment, but she stayed calm and kept the evening moving. That matters because bar-based tours depend on outside businesses, and plans can change even when the tour company has permission to visit.

A personal conversation with Lexi also made a strong impression during one outing. That points to a guide who can step out of character and connect with people directly. You should still remember that guide style can vary by date, but the experience appears to place real value on personality.

The tone is not strictly spooky. One outing included tarantulas, which came as a surprise and delighted one member of the group. If you dislike insects or unexpected oddities, ask before booking if the presence of unusual creatures would bother you. The tour’s connection with an oddities parlor gives you a fair warning that the night may include more than ghost tales.

What your ticket covers, and what it does not

Your ticket includes a local guide, admission to the planned stops, and transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle. That makes the experience easier to manage than a self-guided bar route, especially in San Antonio’s heat or during a wet evening.

Alcoholic drinks are not included. You should budget for purchases at the bars, and you should not assume that a cocktail, beer, or tasting is part of the admission price. The supplied details do not give a ticket price, so I cannot judge the exact dollar value.

The value depends on how you use the included parts. If you would otherwise pay for transportation between three venues, guided entertainment, and entry to each stop, the package may make sense. If you plan to drink very little and already know San Antonio’s downtown bars, you may find the cost harder to justify.

There is also value in the structure. The bus keeps the group moving, the guide supplies the stories, and the three stops offer different moods. You are paying for an organized evening, not simply for access to bars.

Timing, meeting point, and practical planning

Plan for about 2 to 3 hours. The three stops account for about 90 minutes in total, with the remaining time used for transportation, loading, and storytelling between venues.

You begin at Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours and Oddities Parlor, 204 Alamo Plaza, Suite J, San Antonio, Texas 78205. The experience ends behind the Menger Hotel near Morton’s The Steakhouse, not at the starting point.

That ending point is close to downtown sights and public transportation. You should still arrange your onward plans around the drop-off location, especially if you have a dinner reservation or need to return to a hotel outside the central area.

The activity is offered in English. Most people can participate, and the tour is near public transportation. The provided details do not give specific information about wheelchair access, walking distance, age limits, or restroom arrangements, so ask the operator directly if any of those points matter to you.

Mobile tickets make the start simple. Keep the confirmation available on your phone, arrive at the stated meeting point, and allow time to find the oddities parlor within the Alamo Plaza area.

Weather, cancellations, and changing plans

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. The tour also requires a minimum number of bookings, so a cancellation for that reason comes with the same choice of another date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. A cancellation within 24 hours is not refunded, and changes made within that period are not accepted.

Those rules are fair but firm. I would avoid booking this on a night when your schedule is uncertain. Cutoff times use San Antonio local time, so check the clock carefully if you are booking from another time zone.

Who should book this ghostly night out?

I would recommend the tour to couples, friends, and solo visitors who want a social evening with a strong theme. It also suits anyone who finds ordinary historical sightseeing too quiet after dark.

You will get the most from it if you enjoy character-led guides, atmospheric rooms, and a little theatrical nonsense. The tarantula surprise shows that the experience may lean into oddities as well as spirits.

Families should consider the bar setting and evening timing before booking. The supplied details do not state an age policy, so contact Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours if children or younger adults are part of your group.

This is less suitable if you want a serious paranormal investigation, long time at one bar, or included drinks. You also need to accept that one venue may change and that the tour depends on weather and minimum attendance.

Should you book the Ghost Bus Pub Crawl?

Book it if you want an easy, guided night that connects San Antonio’s historic bars with ghost stories and theatrical fun. Menger Bar gives the route a strong opening, Southtown House of Spirits supplies the séance mood, and Hotel Havana finishes the evening with vintage style and a former speakeasy bar.

I especially like the guide-led format and the mix of venues. Lexi, or Lady Lex, and Robert have helped make the experience personal as well as entertaining. Just budget separately for drinks, confirm the bar locations, and remember that you finish near the Menger Hotel rather than at the starting point.

If those details suit you, this is a good way to see a stranger, darker side of central San Antonio without planning every stop yourself.

FAQ

How long does the Ghost Bus Pub Crawl last?

The experience lasts approximately 2 to 3 hours.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at Sisters Grimm Ghost Tours and Oddities Parlor, 204 Alamo Plaza, Suite J, San Antonio, Texas 78205.

Where does the tour end?

The bus drops people behind the Menger Hotel, outside Morton’s The Steakhouse at 300 East Crockett Street.

Which bars are included?

The planned stops are Menger Bar, Southtown House of Spirits, and Hotel Havana.

How long do you spend at each stop?

The planned time is about 30 minutes at each venue.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the ticket.

Is transportation included?

Yes. The experience includes transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Is a tour guide included?

Yes. A local tour guide is included.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.