This NYC Restaurant Is Supposedly Haunted By Over 20 Ghosts

Anyone up for some citrusy poached halibut with a side of specter? One New York City restaurant is reportedly delivering more than dinner and a show with its meals, as diners are apt to get an otherworldly visit from at least 20 spirits said to be haunting the establishment. Perhaps the food is so good the ghosts do not want to leave, eternally lured by the desire for just one more bite — or possibly they are endlessly perturbed over spending more than $300 for one meal, not counting sales tax or gratuity. Either way, the afterworld energy is hoppin' at One if by Land, Two if by Sea, located in New York City's West Village.

The restaurant is located on a historic property at 17 Barrow St., inside what was once Aaron Burr's carriage house and barn. Though Burr was vice president of the United States — and New York's attorney general, and a member of the U.S. Senate before that — he is primarily remembered as the man who killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel, an act committed while Burr was serving as vice president. Burr and his daughter, Theodosia, are two of the phantoms said to now haunt the property. A former Ziegfeld Follies performer is also believed to be a resident ghost and is, unsurprisingly — considering her professional résumé — one of the more theatrical specters in terms of wreaking mischief. Employees reportedly light candles in her honor.

A truly refined restaurant through and through, One if by Land, Two if by Sea values guests' privacy — even if those guests have been dead for a couple of centuries. If a staff member experiences a ghostly occurrence, they are reportedly instructed to vacate the room so the spirit can have some personal space.

One if by Land, Two if by Sea specializes in upscale cuisine and is noted as one of NYC's most romantic dining spots — quite an achievement in a city with thousands of restaurants. Fancy culinary offerings are the standard; they've included seasonal selections like a 10-course black truffle tasting menu, with courses like Hudson Valley foie gras and beef Wellington at a luxury price of $375 per person. The restaurant is a popular site for special occasions, like weddings, and other private events, and it is frequently the setting of romantic marriage proposals. The restaurant's ghostly residents have not seemed to put a dent in these goings-on, or business in general, though they are certainly notorious for making their presence known. Some restaurants turn such hauntings into revenue-makers — you can pay to dine with a ghost at Muriel's in New Orleans — though One if by Land, Two if by Sea has not done so.

Whoever the spirits are, and whatever their reasons for hanging around, plenty of close encounters have occurred at One if by Land, Two if by Sea. The apparition of a woman wearing black has been repeatedly seen descending a staircase in the building. Workers and customers alike have reported mysterious flickering lights, machines coming to life without being touched, dishes flying through the air or breaking of their own accord, and pictures falling off the walls. The kitchen is said to be the most active area for ghostly activity, and workers have reportedly quit their jobs over some of the spooky happenings.

Before transitioning to the posh dining establishment that is One if by Land, Two if by Sea, 17 Barrow St. served various other purposes. It was once part of a fire station campus; it was a movie theater in the days of silent film; and it has housed other restaurants, as well as bars. An upper dining area in the current restaurant was also once an apartment inhabited by Steve McQueen, so it is conceivable the late actor might have reason to visit his former abode.

Mysterious tunnels nearby, including one seemingly built using the same stone and brick as the carriage house, lead toward the Hudson River and have been linked to smuggling activity, as well as usage by the Underground Railroad. At least one runaway slave is said to have been killed by law enforcement there — another potential motive for haunting — and it is believed the carriage house itself was used as a stop-off for enslaved people along the Underground Railroad's escape route.

Aaron Burr's spirit is believed to be one of the more malignant otherworldly presences haunting the site. Angry whispers have been recorded by supernatural investigators. The carriage house was one of multiple properties retributively Burr was forced to sell to creditors to settle massive debts in the aftermath of Alexander Hamilton's death, so that could certainly be one reason the late vice president might haunt the place. Theodosia is believed to be responsible for stealing earrings from women seated at the restaurant's bar.