Portland: Underground Shanghai Tunnel Tour with Beer Tasting

Portland’s Shanghai Tunnel Tour takes you below Old Town Pizza and into a cramped, unsettling piece of the city’s past. You’ll hear how sailors were reportedly moved through underground passages toward ships on the Willamette River, then learn about Nina, the tunnel’s resident ghost.

I like the mix of local history and ghost stories, since the tour is not just a parade of spooky claims. I also like the practical finish: a special craft-beer tasting and one full pint at historic Old Town Pizza. The main catch is the physical setting. Narrow stairs, low pipes, doorways, and uneven dirt floors make this a poor choice for anyone with mobility limits.

Key points to know before you book

• The tour enters Portland’s Shanghai Tunnels beneath Old Town Pizza, once connected with the city’s rough waterfront past.
• Guides such as Natasha and Doug are a major part of the experience, using stories, suspense, and local facts to keep the group involved.
• You will crouch and step around obstacles, with narrow passages, pipes, stairs, and uneven dirt underfoot.
• The ghost angle is balanced with Portland history, making this a better fit for curious history fans than for visitors seeking only paranormal thrills.
• A beer tasting and one full pint are included, served at Old Town Pizza after the underground portion.
• Arrive 10 minutes early, because late arrivals may find the group already underground and receive no refund.

What the Portland Shanghai Tunnel Tour is really about

This is a short walking tour with a strong atmosphere. For 90 minutes, you move between Old Town Pizza and the underground passages beneath Portland’s Chinatown area, listening to stories about sailors, waterfront crime, hidden movement, and the ghost called Nina.

The name Shanghai Tunnels refers to the network of underground spaces once associated with Portland’s waterfront. The central story is that unsuspecting men, particularly sailors, could be taken through these passages and sent toward ships docked on the river. The tour presents this dark side of Portland through a mixture of history, local lore, and paranormal storytelling.

I would not book this expecting a long expedition through a vast underground city. Much of the tunnel network is closed off, and the accessible portion is limited. You do get to move through selected spaces, crouch beneath pipes, see old features such as a cell, and take in the strange feel of the building.

That limited access is worth knowing in advance. If you picture yourself walking for an hour through a maze of open tunnels, you may find the underground section shorter than expected. If you treat the tour as a guided look at a surviving fragment of Portland’s past, followed by a beer experience, the format makes more sense.

Meeting at Old Town Pizza

You begin inside Old Town Pizza & Brewing. Enter the restaurant and say you are there for the tunnel tour. If the tour starts before business hours, knock on the door.

This meeting point is more than a place to gather. Old Town Pizza occupies the lobby of the former Merchant Hotel, a building tied closely to the stories told during the tour. You are already standing in the setting before the guide leads you downstairs.

I suggest arriving at least 10 minutes early. This matters here because the group may head underground right at the scheduled start. The instructions are strict: late arrivals can miss the tour without a refund. You also need to bring identification and sign a waiver.

The available language is English, and the experience has a live guide rather than an audio system. That helps in a tight space, where the guide can pause, repeat a point, or gather everyone before moving through the next section.

Going below Portland’s Old Town

The first part of the tour is a guided walk through the underground passages. Your guide explains how the tunnels were used, or were believed to have been used, to move sailors toward river vessels without their full knowledge.

The setting does much of the work. You are not looking at a polished museum display with wide paths and bright signs. You are moving through an old building with narrow stairs and low areas where you must duck. Uneven dirt floors and obstacles between the ceiling and floor give the tour a physical edge.

You should wear comfortable shoes with good footing. High heels are specifically a poor choice. The route involves walking up and down stairs and maneuvering around pipes, so your attention needs to stay on where you step as well as on the guide’s story.

The cramped conditions can be uncomfortable for some people, but they also make the history easier to picture. A story about secret movement through a dark passage feels different when you have to lower your head and squeeze around a tight corner yourself.

Still, keep your expectations in check. You will not have free run of the entire tunnel system. Some areas are closed, and one past participant noted that the accessible route includes only part of the network. The experience is about selected underground spaces and the stories attached to them, not a full-scale exploration.

History first, ghosts second

The tour includes Portland’s darker history and the resident ghost Nina. Your guide builds suspense and explains the paranormal side of the site, but the best part is the balance between ghost stories and real local context.

That balance matters if you are traveling with someone who is not interested in ghosts. One person can enjoy the stories about Nina while the other focuses on Portland’s past, the Merchant Hotel, and the city’s connection to the river and sailors.

The paranormal material is presented as part of the character of the place. You are free to decide what you believe. The tour does not require you to accept every ghost story to enjoy the setting or the historical background.

Guide quality appears to shape the experience. Natasha is praised for clear narration, fun facts, audience interaction, and a good question-and-answer session during the beer portion. Doug is described as an excellent storyteller who made the history engaging. Kaitlyn also received praise for a fun and interesting tour.

That gives you a useful booking tip: the guide is not just there to point out doors and pipes. A strong storyteller turns a small accessible section into a fuller picture of Portland. The tour works best when you listen for the connections between the physical rooms, the city’s waterfront past, and the ghost lore.

What you will see underground

The information provided does not promise a fixed list of rooms, so the exact route can vary. You can expect selected parts of the old passages, narrow doors, low pipes, and uneven dirt flooring.

A former cell is one feature mentioned in the tour experience. You may also see a creepy image that helps set the mood. These details are modest, but they give the stories a physical anchor.

Do not expect large chambers or dramatic underground architecture. This is a rough, restricted space. Its appeal comes from the age, tight passages, and stories rather than from grand engineering.

For me, that is part of the value. The tour gives you a look at an awkward, uncomfortable remnant of Portland rather than another polished downtown attraction. You are asked to pay attention to what the setting suggests, not simply to collect a list of sights.

The beer tasting and full pint

After the underground portion, you return to Old Town Pizza for a special tasting of award-winning Portland beer. One full pint is included, giving the tour a relaxed finish rather than sending you straight back onto the street after the ghost stories.

The beer is a genuine part of the package, not just a token drink. You get both a tasting and a full pint, which helps explain the $44 price. You are paying for the guided experience, the setting, and the drink component together.

The restaurant also gives you the option to stay for food. Pizza is not included in the tour price, but the location makes it easy to order a meal before or after the underground walk. One person particularly liked combining the tour with pizza, and another recommended asking bartender Ann about a spicy margarita. That drink is not part of the package, but it may be useful if you want to extend the evening.

The beer stop changes the mood in a good way. The underground section is tense and cramped. Sitting down with a drink gives you time to ask questions, compare impressions, and let the stories settle.

One practical point needs clarification. The main tour description places the beer tasting at Old Town Pizza after the tunnel visit, while one account refers to tasting beer underground. The safe expectation is that you will finish at Old Town Pizza, with the tasting and full pint connected to the end of the experience.

Is $44 a fair price?

At $44 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend 90 minutes in Portland. The value depends on how much you want the combination of a guided history tour, ghost stories, and included beer.

If you only want to see underground passages, the price may feel high because the accessible tunnel section is limited. You are not exploring every passage, and some of the network is closed.

I think the price makes more sense if you would otherwise pay for a drink and a casual Old Town stop after a walking tour. You receive the live guide, the tunnel visit, a special tasting, and one full pint. The historic setting and the unusual subject give it more character than a standard bar visit.

The strongest value comes from the storytelling. Natasha, Doug, and other guides have been praised for clear narration, humor, suspense, and audience involvement. A weak guide could make the limited route feel thin. A good guide can make the same rooms feel like part of a larger Portland story.

You also have some booking flexibility. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Same-day cancellations or changes are not allowed, so do not treat your booking as a loose placeholder.

Who should take this tour?

I would recommend it to adults and older teenagers who enjoy local history with a spooky edge. It suits a Portland itinerary that already includes Old Town, since you can pair the tour with pizza and a drink without adding another part of town to your evening.

It is also a good choice for couples or friends with different interests. The person who likes ghosts gets Nina and the paranormal stories. The person who prefers facts gets Portland history, the Merchant Hotel, the waterfront connection, and the unusual use of the tunnels.

The tour is less suitable for anyone uncomfortable with tight spaces, dim underground settings, or crouching. It is also not suitable for people with mobility impairments. Children under 13 are not permitted.

Teenagers aged 13 to 20 may attend only the noon, 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. departures. Later tours are for people aged 21 and older. Some departures are 21-plus only, so check the time carefully before booking.

Timing your visit in Portland

The tour usually runs in the afternoon and evening and lasts about 1.5 hours. An afternoon departure can leave you with time to explore more of Old Town afterward. An evening tour pairs naturally with pizza and a drink, though the later age rules become important.

I would avoid scheduling anything immediately afterward. You need to arrive early, and the tour itself may run close to its stated 90 minutes. The beer tasting and full pint are meant to be enjoyed, not swallowed quickly while watching the clock.

If you are planning a full day of sightseeing, this is an easy activity to place between major attractions. It does not require a bus or a long transfer once you reach the meeting point. The main planning issue is the departure time and age restriction, not transportation.

Practical comfort and safety notes

Bring a passport or other identification, and be ready to sign the required waiver. Wear flat, comfortable shoes that can handle stairs and uneven dirt.

The route includes narrow stairs and doorways. You will need to duck under some obstacles and watch for pipes at different heights. Anyone who has trouble with stairs, balance, crouching, or confined spaces should skip this tour.

Do not arrive late. The group may already be underground, and no refund is offered for missing the start. This is one of those activities where being early is far cheaper than being casual.

The tour does not allow infants, babies, or children under 13. Since some departures are limited to people aged 21 and older, read the age rules before choosing a time.

My recommendation

I would book this tour if you want an offbeat Portland activity that combines history, ghost lore, and local beer. It is especially good for visitors who enjoy a strong guide and do not mind that the tunnel access is partial rather than extensive.

I would pass if your priority is a long underground expedition, step-free access, or a purely factual history lesson. The passageways are cramped, the route is physically demanding, and the ghost stories are part of the appeal.

For most suitable visitors, the best way to think about it is as a compact Old Town experience: go underground, hear the city’s darker stories, then return to Old Town Pizza for a tasting and pint. At $44, the package is fair when you value the guide and the unusual setting as much as the tunnels themselves.

FAQ

How long does the Shanghai Tunnel Tour last?

The tour lasts about 1.5 hours.

What is included in the $44 price?

The price includes the guided tour, a special beer tasting, and one full pint of beer.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet inside Old Town Pizza & Brewing. If it is before business hours, knock on the door and announce that you are there for the tour.

Can children attend the tour?

Children under 13 are not permitted. People aged 13 to 20 may attend only the noon, 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. departures. Some later tours are for people aged 21 and older only.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The tour includes stairs, narrow doorways, low pipes, obstacles to duck under, and uneven dirt floors.

What happens if I arrive late or need to cancel the same day?

You should arrive 10 minutes early because the group may already be underground. Late arrivals receive no refund. Same-day cancellations or changes are not allowed, but you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.