Entry No. 15 — the Portland file — filed under: ghost lore
Shanghai Tunnels Underground Tour (Old Town Pizza & Brewing)
Order a slice in the old 1880 Merchant Hotel lobby, then descend into 14,000+ square feet of brick basement corridors that once linked to the Willamette River waterfront. Locals still leave a beer at the booth where a resident spirit named Nina is said to have carved her name into the elevator-shaft brick after being thrown down it.
The story
Before Old Town Chinatown became a dining hub, it was a rough port city with a dark subterranean reputation. In 1880, the Merchant Hotel went up along Davis Street, built over more than 14,000 square feet of brick basement corridors that stretched toward the Willamette River waterfront. These underground passages formed part of Portland's infamous network of tunnels, where legend holds that unsuspecting locals were kidnapped through trapdoors and smuggled out to ships waiting at the docks.
In 1974, Old Town Pizza & Brewing moved into the old hotel lobby, baking pies directly over the damp brick vaults. But the history down here isn't just structural—it's ghostly. According to local lore, a resident spirit named Nina was thrown down the hotel's elevator shaft, later carving her name directly into the subterranean brickwork. To this day, staff and regulars keep the peace by leaving a fresh pint of beer at her favored booth upstairs.
What it's like
You arrive at 226 NW Davis St, where the aroma of baking pizza dough mixes with the faint scent of old brickwork. After booking your tour slot in advance, you'll head down into the dark, cool corridors beneath Old Town Chinatown. The walkthrough covers roughly a block of underground passages and mixes local history with beer tastings along the way, before depositing you right back upstairs where you can grab a pint near Nina's booth.
The move: Book the $38 guided tour (beer tastings included) for two, then surface for a full pizza and pint upstairs where the tour ends.
- 📍 Old Town Chinatown
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 226 NW Davis St, Portland, OR 97209
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- 2NW5 — Keep the subterranean outing going by slipping one block away into The Hoxton's basement speakeasy after your tour.
- Roseland Theater — Pair your underground ghost lore with another Old Town venue weighed down by real dark local history just two blocks away.
- The Skeleton Key Odditorium — If dark passages and ghost stories set the mood, head into the Arts District to browse a museum loaded with vampire mannequins and strange curiosities.
Good to know
How much is the tour and what comes with it?
Guided tours are $38 per person and include beer tastings as you walk through the basement tunnels.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, reservations are required beforehand, so make sure to book before showing up at the restaurant.
What is the story behind the beer left at the booth?
It's left for Nina, a resident ghost who allegedly carved her name into the elevator-shaft brick after being thrown down it in the hotel's earlier days.
How extensive is the subterranean tour?
While the basement network originally spanned thousands of square feet, the guided walk covers about a block of underground corridors beneath the building.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Wikipedia
last checked: 2026-07-20