Haunted Pub Crawl Near Me in Chinatown: Li Po's Rumored Tunnels

Type haunted pub crawl near me on a foggy night in Chinatown and the bar that looks the part is Li Po Cocktail Lounge at 916 Grant Avenue. Its doorway is a fake rock grotto, its basement is the subject of tunnel rumors, and the room has been pouring since February 10, 1937, according to the city's Legacy Business Registry. Apple Maps lists Li Po open every day from 2 pm to 1 am, which makes it an easy late stop on a crawl through the neighborhood.

Start with that doorway. Atlas Obscura describes a cave-like entrance where a pair of red-lacquered double doors sits inside a frame of rocks. The neon lantern above it is famous in its own right: the Legacy Business Registry says it appeared in Orson Welles' 1947 film, and Atlas Obscura reports that a city grant paid to restore it in 2018. Stand across Grant for a photo before you go in.

Inside, look up and then look behind the bar. Time Out describes a giant, tattered Chinese lantern hanging inside, and the registry and Scoundrel's Field Guide both mention a large golden Buddha statue behind the bar. The lighting is red and dim. It is the kind of space that seems built for stories, and Li Po has collected plenty over nearly 90 years.

The haunted reputation comes from what people say happened downstairs. Scoundrel's Field Guide, writing in May 2026, says rumors swirl about Li Po's time as an opium den and an underground gay bar. CrawlSF wrote in February 2026 that the basement is rumored to connect to the Chinatown underground, the network of passages that storytellers have long claimed ran beneath these blocks. Nobody has documented the tunnels, which only makes them better crawl conversation.

The drink to order is the Chinese Mai Tai, which the Legacy Business Registry calls a trademarked drink developed at Li Po. The twist is the spirit: the Ultimate Mai Tai blog reported in 2023 that the bar uses Ng Ka Py, a sorghum-based Chinese liqueur bottled at 48 percent alcohol, which gives the tall glass a herbal, medicinal edge that rum alone never has. One is strong enough to pace a whole stop.

Order it with some humility. Ultimate Mai Tai described the bar as packed on a Saturday mid-afternoon, so weekend visits can mean standing room only, so arrive early on weekends if you want a seat. Punch noted years ago that the concrete basement hosted dance DJs on Saturday nights, and the crowd still runs from neighborhood regulars to cocktail pilgrims who came for one drink.

Li Po's celebrity moment came from television. Atlas Obscura notes that Anthony Bourdain featured the lounge in the San Francisco episode of The Layover, and the Monster A GoGo blog mentions a picture of Bourdain from his 2012 visit. Bourdain fans still come to sit where he sat, which adds one more ghost of a different kind to a bar that already has a few.

The question of the oldest bar in Chinatown is part of the fun. The Legacy Business Registry calls Li Po the oldest bar in Chinatown, while Eater reported in 2017 that it was the second bar to open in Chinatown after Prohibition. The SF Standard noted in 2023 that Red's Place also claims a 1937 founding. Ask a regular which bar came first and you will hear a strong opinion either way.

For the next stop, cross Grant Avenue to Buddha Lounge at 901 Grant. The Legacy Business Registry says it opened on October 17, 1951, and notes that Anthony Bourdain named it a San Francisco favorite. CrawlSF wrote in 2026 that it is cash only, at least on their last visit, so carry bills. Between the two lounges you get the classic Chinatown bar pairing on a single block of Grant.

If the crawl starts before dark, begin with a detour to Ross Alley. The Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory at 56 Ross Alley opens from 9 am to 6:30 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 7 pm on weekends, according to its own site, and the narrow alley between Washington and Jackson is one of the atmospheric lanes ghost walks love. Then walk back to Grant as the lanterns switch on.

Timing on a crawl here is simple. Arrive soon after the 2 pm opening for a quiet booth and a clear view of the Buddha, or after dinner when Grant Avenue lights up. With Apple Maps showing a 1 am close, Li Po also works as the final stop after dinner elsewhere in Chinatown or North Beach.

A few practical notes. Payment reports conflict: Apple Maps lists cards and Apple Pay, while older guides call Li Po cash only, so bring both. Space inside is limited, so leave bulky costume props at home.

Li Po rewards crawlers who like their history half-proven. The registry documents the 1937 opening and the film lantern; the opium den and the tunnels stay in the realm of rumor. That mix of record and legend is the reason to come, and it is why Li Po works as the anchor of a Chinatown night rather than a quick photo stop.

This stop suits small groups, cocktail fans curious about baijiu-style spirits, Bourdain fans and anyone who wants a bar that looks haunted without trying. Walk Ross Alley at dusk, order the Chinese Mai Tai under the golden Buddha, ask about the basement, then cross Grant to Buddha Lounge with cash in your pocket.