From Death's Door to Dining Room
In the bustling heart of Pike Place Market stands Kells Irish Restaurant, a lively establishment that serves traditional Irish fare with a side of supernatural activity. But this isn't just any restaurant—it occupies the historic building that once housed Butterworth & Sons mortuary, one of Seattle's most prominent funeral homes from 1903 to 1922. The transition from funeral parlor to pub has created one of the most authentically haunted dining experiences in America, where the spirits of those who once lay in state continue to mingle with the living. The building's dark history as a place of final farewells has left an indelible imprint on its very walls, creating an atmosphere where the veil between life and death remains remarkably thin. At Kells, diners don't just enjoy hearty Irish meals—they share their space with the restless souls who passed through these doors during their final earthly journey.
The Butterworth Legacy of Death
The building now known as Kells Irish Restaurant began its dark chapter in 1903 when it became home to Butterworth & Sons, one of Seattle's most prestigious funeral establishments. Founded by Edgar Ray Butterworth, the mortuary quickly became the final stop for many of Seattle's most prominent citizens, as well as countless ordinary residents who met their end in the rough-and-tumble frontier city. The mortuary's location near Pike Place Market made it easily accessible to families throughout the city, and its reputation for dignified service attracted clients from all walks of life. During its nearly two decades of operation, Butterworth & Sons handled thousands of bodies, including victims of industrial accidents, ship disasters, the 1918 influenza pandemic, and the violence that occasionally erupted in early Seattle's saloons and waterfront districts. The building's basement served as the embalming room, while the main floor housed ornate viewing rooms where families gathered to bid farewell to their loved ones. The mortuary's records tell a story of a city growing rapidly but dangerously, with deaths from tuberculosis, accidents in the logging camps, drownings in Puget Sound, and the various hazards of frontier life. After the mortuary closed in 1922, the building served various commercial purposes, but many believe the spiritual imprint of its funeral home days never truly faded. When Kells Irish Restaurant opened in the space, staff and patrons immediately noticed that something from the building's mortuary past had lingered in the shadows.
The Eternal Patrons
Kells' most notorious spirit is 'The Lady in Waiting,' believed to be the ghost of a woman who died in the 1918 flu pandemic and whose body was prepared at Butterworth & Sons. She appears as an elegant figure in period dress, often seen sitting alone at corner tables during quiet afternoon hours, her translucent form occasionally visible to startled diners and staff. Witnesses report that she seems to be perpetually waiting for someone who never arrives, her sad eyes scanning the restaurant as if searching for a familiar face. Her presence is accompanied by the scent of lilies and a sudden drop in temperature that causes diners to reach for their coats. The restaurant's bar area is haunted by 'Charlie the Mortician,' thought to be one of Butterworth's former employees who spent so many years with the dead that he couldn't bear to leave them behind. His spirit appears as a tall, thin man in a dark suit who moves silently between tables, checking on patrons with the same careful attention he once gave to the deceased. Staff report that Charlie seems particularly protective of the restaurant, ensuring that chairs are properly arranged and that everything is in its place, as if maintaining the dignity he once brought to funeral services. In the basement area, now used for storage and private events, employees encounter the collective spirits of those who were embalmed there, their presence felt as cold drafts and the sound of whispered conversations that echo through the lower levels. The kitchen experiences frequent visits from 'The Hungry Ghost,' believed to be a former mortuary client who died before his final meal, his spirit drawn to the warmth and aromas of the Irish kitchen where he seeks the earthly comfort of food and fellowship he was denied in life.
Dining with the Dead
Kells Irish Restaurant experiences its most intense paranormal activity during the dinner hours, when the restaurant is full of life and laughter—a stark contrast to its former existence as a place of mourning. Diners report their meals being mysteriously rearranged while they're momentarily distracted, with plates and glasses moving to different positions as if invisible hands are setting the table for additional guests. The restaurant's ambient temperature fluctuates dramatically in certain areas, creating distinct cold spots that correspond to where viewing rooms once stood, and patrons often request to change tables when they encounter these supernatural chill zones. Servers experience the most direct contact with the building's spirits, reporting gentle touches on their shoulders, whispered names, and the sensation of unseen presences following them as they move between tables. The restaurant's sound system occasionally picks up phantom conversations in languages and dialects that reflect Seattle's diverse immigrant population from the early 1900s, as if the spirits are sharing stories from their earthly lives. Electronic devices malfunction throughout the restaurant, with cameras capturing unexplained orbs and shadows, cell phones receiving calls from disconnected numbers, and the restaurant's modern payment systems occasionally displaying transaction amounts in currencies that haven't been used in decades. During traditional Irish music performances, additional instruments can be heard playing along—phantom fiddles and ghostly voices harmonizing with the live musicians, as if the spirits are joining in the celebration of life they can no longer fully experience. The restaurant's mirrors reflect more than the living patrons, with staff and guests reporting glimpses of figures in period clothing who appear in the glass but not in the actual dining room.
A Meal Among the Spirits
Dining at Kells Irish Restaurant offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience paranormal activity while enjoying authentic Irish cuisine in the heart of Pike Place Market. The restaurant's staff is well-versed in the building's haunted history and often share stories with interested patrons, creating an atmosphere where the supernatural is acknowledged and respected rather than feared. Visitors seeking the most active ghost encounters should request seating in the restaurant's quieter corners, particularly during late lunch or early dinner hours when the spirits seem most comfortable making their presence known. The restaurant's basement area, used for private events and wine storage, can sometimes be viewed by arrangement and offers the most intense connection to the building's mortuary past. Photography enthusiasts find Kells an excellent location for capturing potential paranormal evidence, though the restaurant requests that guests be respectful of other diners while investigating the supernatural activity. The establishment's location within Pike Place Market makes it an ideal stop during ghost tours of Seattle's historic district, and many paranormal investigation groups include Kells in their explorations of the city's most haunted locations. Traditional Irish music sessions, held regularly at the restaurant, seem to attract increased spiritual activity, suggesting that the ghosts appreciate the lively atmosphere that contrasts so dramatically with their former association with death and mourning. Visitors should approach their dining experience with both curiosity and respect, understanding that they are sharing their meal with souls who have maintained their connection to this building long after their earthly bodies departed through its doors as clients of Butterworth & Sons mortuary.
Where the living dine alongside the restless dead
The bar where Charlie the Mortician still tends to patrons
The basement where Seattle's dead were prepared for eternity
