Top Haunted Bars In Philadelphia

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There's no better time than the Halloween season to venture into some of the most haunted places in the Philly area. Get out and enjoy spirits for a chance to encounter the other kind of spirits right here at a bar near you!

City Tavern in the Old City section of Philadelphia was established in 1773. After a fire in 1834, the tavern was finally torn down in 1854, but it was reproduced on national historic park land for the 1976 bicentennial celebration. With all of the historic happenings in Philadelphia (including the first and second Continental Congress), if the walls could talk, visitors might gain behind-the-scenes historical background from the delegates that frequented the tavern. In fact, the City Tavern reproduction is said to be so true to the original that even the spirits of the former spot are said to haunt the tavern to this day, including a bride preparing for her wedding who was killed when a candle's flame ignited the curtains in the room--look for her ghost in City Tavern's window. Another spirit, a waiter killed in a duel, is said to move table settings and rattle silverware.

The Logan Inn was originally established as a tavern in 1722 by John Wells, the founder of New Hope, and it's the oldest continuously run inn in Bucks County as well as one of the five oldest in Pennsylvania. There are 16 guest rooms and a tavern that's open late, and if you partake of too much alcohol, you may want to stay in one of the rooms...if you aren't too spooked by the ghosts said to appear there, that is. For example, room 6 is Emily's room. She moves your luggage around and plays with the heater settings. You'll know she's there when you get a whiff of her fragrant lavender scent. Outside, you may even run into the little girl in the parking lot who accidentally fell into the canal and drowned. She returns from time to time looking for her parents. There are also tales of a soldier marching with his drum.

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The Broad Axe Tavern is the second-oldest tavern in the Unites States, established in 1681. Resident haunt Rachel was the daughter of one of the owners. She ran into the bathroom of the tavern to hide from some drunken men and was never seen again. Rachel's spirit gets active when construction is happening at the tavern. She is said to push people down stairs and knock people over with a tray. There have also been reports of her in the third floor window by people passing by the tavern.

Located in the Northern Liberties section of Philly, the Standard Tap opened its doors in 1999. Touting local draft-only brews from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, the tavern has been recognized by Philadelphia magazine, National Geographic and Philadelphia Weekly and sits in a building that has been a pub for about two centuries, so you can drink while waiting for the spirits to arrive. There are stories of an older female spirit with white hair appearing at the top of the stairs after closing; a former tenant who allegedly died in the pub, known as Mr. Smeigelski, knocking over shelves, turning water on and emptying paper towel holders; and one angry spirit who is said to have thrown a utensil rack across the room at a new hire.

McGillin's is known as the oldest continuously operating tavern in Philly. Serving since 1860, McGillin's is located in Midtown Village and is considered one of the "50 Best Irish Pubs in America." Ma McGillin, who was 90 when she died, is said to haunt the Old Ale House. Ma has been known to follow a manager on the first floor, and her image was spotted and photographed dressed in white and reflecting in the mirror over the fireplace by a South Jersey Paranormal group.

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Joanne Apice is a full-time benefits manager with 20 years of experience in Human Resources. She earned the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist designation from Wharton School and the International Foundation. A lifelong learner, PA Accident and Health, Life and Fixed Annuities Licensed, she navigates the employee benefit maze daily in Philadelphia. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.