The Most Haunted Restaurants in Virginia

Posted: 12.09.2024 | Updated: 12.09.2024

A state as old as Virginia oozes American history, with cities like Colonial Williamsburg, Richmond, and Alexandria at the forefront of the nation’s loud and violent birth. The grounds upon which these cities have been established were soaked in blood and absorbed years of amassed negative energy. From that, lurking shadows have manifested — ethereal apparitions desperate to share their story or spread their misery. Where better to do so than establishments where the living gather to dine and gab?

Restaurants don’t take up a lot of space on a list of the most haunted places in Virginia, but there’s plenty enough throughout the state to warrant a roadmap of where activity tends to spike. Take the Potomac city of Alexandria, for example, home to one of Virginia’s most notorious restaurants known for its bounty of spectral inhabitants. Others in Richmond and Colonial Williamsburg are a testament to the historical phantoms nesting throughout the city’s once-embattled grounds.

Spending some time in Alexandria? Then venture into the unknown with Alexandria Ghosts and hear tales of the city’s most iconic haunted eatery with an Old Town Alexandria ghost tour. 

What is the Most Haunted Restaurant in Virginia?

Do you go for the candlelight dinner or the opportunity to meet a formerly living relic of the past? That’s the question on the table for Gadsby’s Tavern, Virginia’s most haunted restaurant. Diners may feel many energies within the tavern, but it’s the fabled ghostly woman known only as The Female Stranger” who’s said to call Gadsby’s home.

Gadsby’s Tavern Restaurant

Sure, Gadbsy’s Tavern serves up a menu of refined dishes to align with its rich furnishings and 18th-century allure. However, it may not be the delightful plates that attract everyone through the doors of this classic Alexandria establishment. Whispers of room 8 circulate throughout the inviting space, its history surprisingly disconnected from the Civil War roots of so many of the city’s other apparitions and lost souls. 

Local legend has it that on one random day in 1816, a man and his wife shrouded in a black veil arrived looking for a room. In many versions, they traveled from the Caribbean, though that factoid does not help identify who either traveler was. It doesn’t help, either, that the husband swore everyone they interacted with to secrecy — an oath that clearly everyone took seriously. Sadly, the woman was terminally ill, and despite calling in doctors to help, the woman died weeks after their arrival. 

At the husband’s request, the wife was buried with a marker with a poem that simply named her “The Female Stranger.” He left shortly after, leaving a tab no one had the heart to pursue. Today, Room 8 is off-limits limits, with respect to the odd couple, and the lingering peaceful apparition of The Female Stranger is often spotted near the ballroom or through the windows looking into room 8.

Helen’s Restaurant

Long before patrons sat at tables to enjoy the finely crafted dishes at Helen’s Restaurant, they gathered around Fletchers, an early 20th-century jumping pharmacy that served up pop and good music. Though Helen Donati changed the building’s purpose some 20 years later when she converted the pharmacy into a restaurant, she was sure to keep its charm and energy. At least, that’s what the haunting swing music manifesting out of thin air has many believing. 

Helen’s may not have the Civil War roots of many of Virginia’s most haunted locations, but it’s haunted all the same. Helen passed along the eatery many years ago, but she clearly has a strong tie to it. Diners have spotted the former owner, and her presence is more welcoming than anything else. That wasn’t always the case, as she once protected the West Main Street restaurant, startling workers and the dining room with crashing coffee pots and smashing mugs. 

Helen has likely noticed the positive response to her establishment as it’s passed down from hand to hand over its nearly 90 years of service to the Richmond community. There hasn’t been an owner who hasn’t spoken of a possible spectral presence since her brother, John, took over after her passing.

King’s Arms Tavern

Just outside the main entrance sits a sign bearing the Coat of Arms of the Kingdom of England and the phrase “Dieu et mon droit,” or “God and my right.” Of course, it ties in with the restaurant’s theme, but there’s something ominous to it, especially since the eatery opened its doors in 1772, during the American Revolution. Today, King’s Arms Tavern serves as a reproduction of its 18th-century roots, even right down to its inhabitants.

A fire swept through the area sometime after its opening, possibly even touching the building where the King’s Arms Tavern sits. Since that blaze, the ethereal form of a woman named Irma has been spotted throughout, specifically by workers needing an extra hand. Many have applauded the aid provided by the young woman, who’s been known to help as much as an intelligent haunt can. Some report that Irma even extinguishes candles as if to prevent another fire.

Typical for such old buildings in the United States, King’s Arms Tavern is also known for spectral footsteps that echo throughout. They tend to originate from the building’s upper stories, though there’s no known history of a murder or suicide that may have spurred the eerie noise.     

Cork Street Tavern 

An attractor of local paranormal investigative teams, this Winchester, VA, eatery boasts an unwelcome presence that has left employees uneasy. Built in 1932, Cork Street Tavern is a local legend that may have a history that dates back almost another 100 years. The restaurant’s building is said to have been built in the 1820s, though its age has not been proven relevant to the ghostly figures that threaten a peaceful meal.

Who it is that haunts Cork Street Tavern is a matter of debate. Some say it’s a Civil War soldier. Others have claimed that a little girl still calls the tavern home. One thing is clear: there’s something mischievous that has it out for the female clientele that dine within the restaurant. Legend has it there’s a specific spot in Cork Street Tavern where only female customers constantly stumble.

It’s a peculiar haunt, with some sources even stating that an Emily or John are the apparitions in the restaurant. Who they could be remains one of the area’s biggest mysteries. 

Abingdon Tavern

Known as simply “The Tavern,” this classic American establishment is far older than its restaurant roots. Though the tavern was opened in 1994, serving up fine dining with a historical aesthetic since, the building is more than 240 years old. Over that time, a lot has been rumored to stain its history. Among the murdered card players and other unfortunate ends, there was The Tavern Tart. 

Before she was a spectral legend, The Tavern Tart was a prostitute working in the building where The Tavern currently resides. On one ill-fated evening, her john proved to be a nefarious character, killing her before sunrise. Her untimely passing may have left a significant imprint on the restaurant. For men, she’s a delight, and her spirit is playful for those she especially likes. 

If she’s not following around the men she likes, The Tavern Tart looks on at the men who stop and grab a bite as if to remain cautious of the danger they may pose. She also gazes out from the window, envious of the world that gets to keep on living. 

Dine at a Classic Virginian Haunt

While people are used to “dinner and a show,” the patrons of these Virginian restaurants have to get used to “dinner and a ghost.” There’s a lot of history throughout the state, and these most haunted restaurants in Virginia aren’t without their spectral legend or wandering soul, simply trying to relive their part of it.

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to hear more of these fascinating legends, especially those that have found a home in Alexandria. Book your Alexandria ghost tour today, and keep your eye on our blog for even more local haunted treasures. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to hear more classic Virginian ghost stories.  

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