Ghost stories pair well with Melbourne pints. The Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour turns the CBD into a spooky storybook, mixing three haunted pub stops with ghost legends in laneways and arcades. It’s built for an easy night out: a guided walk, a few dark corners, and plenty of “wait, really?” moments.

I also like how the tour pins the scares to specific places, like a former police station tied to an unsolved murder and a tragic-love alley moment. One catch: drinks aren’t included, so if you want the full spirits-and-ale vibe, you’ll pay for what you order on the night.

Key things to know before you go

• Three haunted pub stops with a real walking rhythm: you start, you hit the second halfway through, and you finish at the iconic final venue.
• A former police station murder story: one stop leans into the dark past of the city and the kind of mystery that never neatly resolves.
• Dark alley storytelling: you’ll walk into a moodier pocket of the city for a tragic love affair legend.
• CBD landmarks with spectral reputations: the route includes named stops around the Rialto Intercontinental and Olderfleet Building areas.
• A finale tied to Young & Jacksons and Chloe: the ending centers on an iconic painting and the ghostly legend around it.

Why Spirits and Ales works as a Melbourne night out

This is the kind of tour that feels made for Melbourne. Not because it’s full of jump-scares, but because it uses the city’s actual texture—historic buildings, cramped laneways, and old-school public places—to tell stories that stick.

You get a 90-minute guided ghost tour in English with a local guide. That timing matters. Long enough for real character-driven storytelling, short enough that you still feel free afterward to grab dinner nearby or keep wandering (at a calmer pace, hopefully).

The strongest value is that it’s not only “haunted, haunted, haunted.” It’s haunted and specific. You’re not just hearing generic folklore—you’re being pointed at named buildings and particular corners of the CBD, like you’re studying Melbourne’s past with a flashlight and a great storyteller.

Getting started outside Young & Jacksons (and what to do with your first 15 minutes)

The tour departs from outside Young & Jacksons Hotel, at the corner of Flinders Street and Swanston Street. That’s a smart start point: it’s central, easy to find, and it cues the whole experience right away—this tour is about places you can recognize even if you’ve only passed them once.

Once you begin, the pace is walking-focused rather than stopping every 30 seconds. You’ll want to watch your footing in laneways and keep your attention on the guide when the group shifts directions. The stories are timed to the route, so arriving early and getting settled helps.

If you’re the type who likes to take photos, you’ll have moments where you’ll want to frame buildings or alley entrances. Just remember: this is a guided story walk. Let the guide finish a line before you shoot, or you’ll miss the point of the scene.

The former police station: spirits and an unsolved murder vibe

One of the core stops is a former police station, now tied to a haunting connected to an unsolved murder from the past. This is where the tour’s tone turns from “spooky in theory” to “spooky because the place has a record.”

What I like about this kind of location-based haunting is that it makes the story feel grounded. Instead of treating ghosts like a costume, the tour leans on how institutions and rooms of authority can carry weight long after the original work ends. The former police station setting also fits the tour title: it’s a natural place to talk spirits and ales, because it matches the mood—mystery, secrets, and late-night truth.

Practical note: this is one of the spots where you’ll likely want to order a drink if you want the full experience. The tour says drinks aren’t included, so consider cash/card readiness at every pub stop.

Into the dark alley: the tragic love affair moment

You also venture into a dark alley, where the ghost of a tragic love affair is part of the legend. This is the tour’s “turn out the lights” section, the part designed to make you slow down and look at the city differently.

Alleys like these often feel like the city’s backstage—smaller, narrower, and easier for stories to feel personal. That’s the trick this tour plays. You’re not just listening. You’re standing in the kind of space that makes the story believable.

How scary is it? Based on the vibe of the tour, it’s more spooky fun than true terror. It’s built for adults who want atmosphere and good storytelling, not for people who need adrenaline.

Rialto Intercontinental and Olderfleet Building: spectral secrets with big-city confidence

Mid-route, you’ll learn secrets tied to the Rialto Intercontinental and the Olderfleet Building. These are the kinds of landmarks that can easily become “just another photo stop” on other tours. Here, they’re used as anchors for spectral figures and unsolved mystery themes.

I like this shift because it stops the tour from feeling one-note. You start with smaller, darker corners (like the police station and the alley), then you move toward grander CBD architecture. That contrast helps the ghost stories land. High ceilings and busy streets are exactly where you’d expect the past to feel present, even if modern life now dominates the view.

If you’re traveling with someone who gets bored by “pure ghost stories,” this part helps. It’s ghost lore wrapped around recognizable city landmarks, so it feels like a guided walk through Melbourne’s personality—not just a haunting checklist.

Melbourne’s oldest pub: the scandalous love affair legacy

One of the highlight stops includes Melbourne’s oldest pub, which carries a haunting tied to a scandalous love affair. This is the emotional core for many people, because it blends two things that pub stories do best: character and consequence.

Old pubs tend to feel different. Even when you’re just stepping inside for a drink, you can feel the weight of past conversations—weddings, arguments, deals, and gossip. When the tour then links that atmosphere to a love affair legend, it turns “old building” into “old drama.”

This is also where the tour’s title starts to make more sense in real life. You’re tasting spirits and ale in places that were meant for gathering. The story and the setting reinforce each other.

Member’s clubs, a haunted bookshop, and occult knowledge

The route also points you toward the mysteries of one of Melbourne’s most scandalous member’s clubs, where influential figures and secrets are said to be concealed. That’s followed by a haunted bookshop with a treasure trove of occult knowledge.

This section is great if you like spooky details that go beyond ghosts in the usual sense. It’s not only “a person died” energy. It’s “people hid things, people controlled stories, people changed the future in quiet rooms” energy.

And the bookshop stop adds a different flavor to the night. Instead of only talking about sightings or hauntings, you’re hearing about the kind of knowledge people chased—especially when curiosity and secrecy overlap.

Melbourne’s most decadent arcades and the Chloe finale

The tour includes the eerie charm of Melbourne’s most decadent arcades, with mention of a ghostly apparition. Arcades are perfect for this kind of storytelling: they’re covered, atmospheric, and naturally suited to echoes and overhead shadows. Even if you’ve never noticed them before, you’ll understand quickly why they’re part of Melbourne’s identity.

Then you finish at Young & Jacksons Hotel, where the iconic painting of Chloe is tied to secrets—and her ghostly presence is part of the legend. This ending works because it gives the night a “return to the start” feel. You’re back at a familiar landmark, but you now see it with a different lens.

If you’re wondering whether the tour ends too quickly: it doesn’t drag. The 90 minutes give you enough time to absorb the main stories without feeling like you’ve been led in circles for ages.

Price and value: is $27 a fair deal for a haunted walk?

At $27 per person for a 90-minute guided tour, the value mostly comes from three things:

• You’re paying for a live local guide who tells stories tied to named places.
• You’re getting three haunted pub stops, plus extra landmark storytelling along the way.
• You’re spending a chunk of your night in Melbourne’s CBD without needing tickets for museums or additional attractions.

The one financial twist is that drinks aren’t included. That doesn’t make the tour overpriced, but it does mean your final cost depends on how much you order. If you only want one drink, the tour feels straightforward. If you want to try multiple spirits or ales at each stop, plan for that up front.

Who should book this tour (and who might not love it)

This tour fits best if you:

• Want a fun, spooky Melbourne night with a great guide and clear storytelling.
• Like history-flavored walking tours, especially ones centered on pubs and laneways.
• Prefer a spooky atmosphere that feels entertaining rather than genuinely frightening.

It may not be your pick if:

• You’re hoping for a family activity. It’s 18+ only.
• You want drinks included in the price. They’re not.
• You hate walking in darker laneway-style areas. It’s not a huge ordeal, but it is part of the experience.

Should you book Spirits and Ales?

If you want an easy way to experience Melbourne’s haunted side without committing to a full evening program, I think this one makes sense. The format is tight at 90 minutes, the route uses memorable CBD locations, and the tour has a strong track record for guides who bring energy and clear storytelling. Guides are often praised for their enthusiasm and spooky-but-not-too-intense delivery—exactly the sweet spot for most people doing this kind of tour for the first time.

Book it if you’re traveling with friends or a partner and want a shared experience with laughs, chills, and a couple of genuinely interesting backstories tied to places you can actually locate on a map.

FAQ

How long is the Melbourne Spirits and Ales haunted pub walking tour?

The tour is 90 minutes long.

Where does the tour meet?

You meet outside Young & Jacksons Hotel, at the corner of Flinders Street and Swanston Street.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $27 per person.

Is this tour suitable for children?

No. It’s 18+ only.

Is the tour in English?

Yes, the tour is conducted in English with a live guide.

Are drinks included in the price?

No. Drinks are not included.

How many pubs do you visit during the tour?

The tour includes visits to 3 haunted pubs: you start at the first pub, visit the second halfway through, and end at the third.

What are the main cancellation or date-change rules?

The info provided notes free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and also says no refunds with date changes requiring at least 48 hours notice. Rescheduling is handled by calling Lantern Tours Monday–Friday 10–2:30pm, with a $10 fee per order.