The thrills and chills that a Halloween haunted house delivers can only get you so far. Look instead to these four reportedly haunted Manhattan bars where you can pair your alcoholic spirits with those of the otherworldly ilk. All of the establishments are set in historical buildings and give a whole new meaning to the term “neighborhood haunts.” Cheers (and fears)!
01. Ear Inn
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This historic SoHo watering hole, one of the oldest drinking establishments in Manhattan, is a designated NYC landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings.
Ear Inn has had various roles over the years, including a sailor’s bar, speakeasy during Prohibition, and a brothel. Ghosts have been reported on the premises, including a prominent specter named Mickey—a sailor eternally waiting for his ship while playfully interacting with patrons.
326 Spring St., between Greenwich & Washington Streets; earinn.com
02. White Horse Tavern
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Dating back to 1880, the White Horse Tavern boasts a long history of patrons, including longshoremen and notable writers like Kerouac and Dylan Thomas. This legacy made it a place for ghostly returns, with Thomas reportedly lingering around his favorite table after his untimely death here in 1952.
567 Hudson St., at W. 11th St.; www.whitehorsetavern1880.com
03. The Campbell Apartment
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This stylish cocktail bar at Grand Central Terminal was once the office and salon of tycoon John W. Campbell. The ambiance is so captivating that Mr. Campbell may choose to linger, as many staff and patrons have reported ghostly encounters, from moving doors to sightings of well-dressed apparitions.
15 Vanderbilt Ave., between 42nd & 43rd St.; www.hospitalityholdings.com
04. Landmark Tavern
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This historic dock workers’ saloon dates back to 1868, making it one of the oldest continually operating bars in NYC. In addition to its role as a Prohibition-era speakeasy, it’s home to lingering spirits, including a Confederate soldier and a young Irish immigrant girl who died there.
626 11th Ave., at W. 46th St.; www.thelandmarktavern.org
