Dinner
Dine in a Former Jail Cell
Enjoy a meal in the only Margaritas location with seating inside genuine 19th-century jail cells, in Concord's former police headquarters — a building with a resident-ghost reputation.
- Duration:
- 1.5 hr
Photo coming soon
Haunted Dining / Bar
Margaritas Mexican Restaurant (Old Concord Police Station & Jail)
A Concord, New Hampshire Mexican restaurant set in the city's former 1890s police headquarters and jail, where diners eat inside preserved cell blocks and staff blame a resident ghost named 'George' for moving objects and stealing drinks.
1 Bicentennial Square, Concord, NH 03301
Wheelchair Accessible
Research-Backed · 3sources
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$
Standard sit-down restaurant pricing; some seating is inside the original jail cells.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Downtown restaurant in a converted historic municipal building.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1890 · Former Concord, NH police headquarters and jail (1890-1975) · Preserved 19th-century jail cells now used as restaurant seating · Only Margaritas location with in-cell dining
The structure at 1 Bicentennial Square in downtown Concord was built to house the Concord Police Department, serving as the city's police headquarters and jail from 1890 until 1975. Individuals under arrest were locked in its cells during those decades, making the building a center of Concord's law-enforcement history for nearly a century.
After the police department relocated, the building was eventually adapted for commercial use and became home to a Margaritas Mexican Restaurant. Rather than demolishing the cell block, the restaurant preserved the original iron-barred jail cells, placing tables inside them and along the cell hallways. It is the only location in the Margaritas chain where customers can be seated inside actual jail cells with the bars open, a distinctive feature that has made the restaurant a downtown landmark.
The building's dual identity — historic municipal jail and modern restaurant — is the foundation of both its appeal and its ghost lore, drawing visitors interested in the structure's past as much as its menu.
Sources
- https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/haunted-margaritas
- https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/food/new-hampshire/jail-restaurant-nh
- https://949whom.com/dinner-with-ghosts-this-new-hampshire-margaritas-could-be-haunted/
Furniture and chairs moving on their ownPlace settings rearrangedUnattended drinks drainedFood thrown by unseen handsDisembodied voices after hours
Local legend holds that the former Concord jail is haunted by a spirit the staff have nicknamed 'George.' According to Atlas Obscura and regional outlets, George is described as a mischievous but harmless presence: servers and customers report seeing glasses and chairs move on their own, place settings rearranged, food thrown, and unattended beverages mysteriously drained. Staff also describe hearing disembodied voices throughout the restaurant after closing.
The building's century as a working police jail gives the lore a natural anchor, and the restaurant has leaned into its reputation. Paranormal investigators, including a regional paranormal research group, have visited in search of evidence. While the identity of 'George' is folkloric rather than tied to a documented individual, the haunting tradition is consistently reported across multiple independent sources and is reinforced by the genuinely preserved jail-cell environment in which guests dine.
Notable Entities
'George' (folkloric resident spirit, no documented identity)
Plan Your Visit
1 way to experienceSources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Margaritas Mexican Restaurant (Old Concord Police Station & Jail) family-friendly?
A family-friendly restaurant with a fun, non-frightening haunted angle and novel jail-cell seating. The ghost stories are playful rather than gruesome. Overall family fit: High.
How much does it cost to visit Margaritas Mexican Restaurant (Old Concord Police Station & Jail)?
Standard sit-down restaurant pricing; some seating is inside the original jail cells.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Margaritas Mexican Restaurant (Old Concord Police Station & Jail) wheelchair accessible?
Yes, Margaritas Mexican Restaurant (Old Concord Police Station & Jail) is wheelchair accessible. Terrain: Downtown restaurant in a converted historic municipal building..