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Descend beneath Old Town Pizza into Portland’s controversial Shanghai Tunnels: a 90-minute guided walk through low brick passageways that blends dark local history with a craft-beer tasting. Expect tight stairs, uneven flooring, and adult-themed storytelling.
Descend beneath Old Town Pizza into Portland’s controversial Shanghai Tunnels: a 90-minute guided walk through low brick passageways that blends dark local history with a craft-beer tasting. Expect tight stairs, uneven flooring, and adult-themed storytelling.
You step down into a dim corridor beneath Old Town Pizza & Brewing and the air tightens—cool, clay-scented and a little damp. The guide's flashlight cuts narrow arcs across low brick arches while the group ducks under pipes and squeezes past uneven dirt floors. The city above hums, but down here the past feels close: a mix of rumor, recorded incidents and the creak of old timbers.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Old Town Pizza & Brewing · Portland, Oregon
You step down into a dim corridor beneath Old Town Pizza & Brewing and the air tightens—cool, clay-scented and a little damp. The guide's flashlight cuts narrow arcs across low brick arches while the group ducks under pipes and squeezes past uneven dirt floors. The city above hums, but down here the past feels close: a mix of rumor, recorded incidents and the creak of old timbers.
The Shanghai Tunnels are part history, part legend. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries this network of cellars, freight chutes and passageways linked the Willamette waterfront to the basements of Old Town; storytellers long claimed they were used to kidnap sailors and workers for ships—accounts that mix documented crime with folklore. The neighborhood itself is one of Portland’s earliest commercial districts, shaped by shipping, immigrant communities and the city's gritty river economy.
Culturally the tour combines local lore with craft-beer culture: it ends with a curated tasting plus one pint from Old Town's award-winning taps. Expect narrow stairs, low clearances and factual storytelling that includes references to human trafficking, violence and other adult topics—this is history framed for adults. Tours run about 90 minutes, groups are limited, and many sessions are 21+ (check the 2pm/3pm exceptions).
Practical tips: wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes; arrive 10 minutes early; bring a jacket—the tunnels stay cool year-round; and be prepared to stand and move through tight spots. If you have mobility limits, respiratory concerns, or are sensitive to disturbing historic details, consider an alternate Portland history offering aboveground.
Check in at Old Town Pizza & Brewing, 226 NW Davis St; arrive at least 10 minutes before departure.
Most tours are 21+; select 2pm & 3pm tours allow younger teens — no children under 12.
No — the venue has narrow stairs, low clearances, and uneven dirt floors that make it inaccessible for wheelchairs.
A 90-minute guided underground tour, a special beer tasting, and one pint of Old Town’s award-winning beer (age rules apply).
Old Town Pizza & Brewing operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
You step down into a dim corridor beneath Old Town Pizza & Brewing and the air tightens—cool, clay-scented and a little damp. The guide's flashlight cuts narrow arcs across low brick arches while the group ducks under pipes and squeezes past uneven dirt floors. The city above hums, but down here the past feels close: a mix of rumor, recorded incidents and the creak of old timbers.
You step down into a dim corridor beneath Old Town Pizza & Brewing and the air tightens—cool, clay-scented and a little damp. The guide's flashlight cuts narrow arcs across low brick arches while the group ducks under pipes and squeezes past uneven dirt floors. The city above hums, but down here the past feels close: a mix of rumor, recorded incidents and the creak of old timbers.
The Shanghai Tunnels are part history, part legend. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries this network of cellars, freight chutes and passageways linked the Willamette waterfront to the basements of Old Town; storytellers long claimed they were used to kidnap sailors and workers for ships—accounts that mix documented crime with folklore. The neighborhood itself is one of Portland’s earliest commercial districts, shaped by shipping, immigrant communities and the city's gritty river economy.
Culturally the tour combines local lore with craft-beer culture: it ends with a curated tasting plus one pint from Old Town's award-winning taps. Expect narrow stairs, low clearances and factual storytelling that includes references to human trafficking, violence and other adult topics—this is history framed for adults. Tours run about 90 minutes, groups are limited, and many sessions are 21+ (check the 2pm/3pm exceptions).
Practical tips: wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes; arrive 10 minutes early; bring a jacket—the tunnels stay cool year-round; and be prepared to stand and move through tight spots. If you have mobility limits, respiratory concerns, or are sensitive to disturbing historic details, consider an alternate Portland history offering aboveground.