New Orleans Drunk History Tour

New Orleans Drunk History Tour mixes French Quarter history with ghost stories, voodoo lore, and bar stops, all on foot. You begin at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar and remain inside the Quarter, moving through about 10 locations while a local guide supplies the stories and a portable EMF meter supplies the questionable science.

I like the low price, the casual pace, and the way the tour lets you buy drinks instead of charging for a fixed package. I also like the guides’ story-first approach, especially Cody, also identified as Coty in some tour details, who is repeatedly praised for his humor and local knowledge. The main concern is reliability: several bookings were affected by late cancellations or a guide who did not appear, so I would keep your plans flexible.

Key points at a glance

• Start at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar: Meet on the sidewalk by the courtyard gate at 941 Bourbon Street, not inside the bar.
• Stay in the French Quarter: The route includes historic sites such as Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral, plus several lesser-known story stops.
• Bring money for drinks: Alcohol is not included, but you can buy drinks at bars or to-go windows along the route.
• Expect ghost stories, not ghost guarantees: An EMF meter is available, but paranormal activity is never promised.
• Allow up to two hours: The walking itself is moderate, though bar waits can stretch the schedule.
• Best for a social evening: It suits adults, history fans, paranormal enthusiasts, and groups starting a night out.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop begins the evening

The meeting point is at 941 Bourbon Street, beside the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. You meet outside, on the sidewalk near the gate. The tour does not meet inside the bar, and the operator is not affiliated with the bar itself, so arrive a few minutes early and look for the guide and check-in list.

Lafitte’s is an apt starting point. It is one of the oldest buildings in the French Quarter, and its candlelit atmosphere fits a tour devoted to old legends and dark tales. The tour begins with a short stop here, then moves into the surrounding streets.

Do not confuse the short opening stop with the entire experience. The route remains in the French Quarter for its full duration, with roughly 10 locations and several bar stops. The exact route can change without notice, but the basic format is a moving talk through the Quarter rather than a single haunted-house presentation.

That distinction matters. You are not entering a series of private buildings or staged attractions. The tour takes place on public streets, and much of its appeal comes from seeing ordinary homes, bars, courtyards, churches, and squares through a more unsettling lens.

Ghosts, vampires, and voodoo in the French Quarter

The subject matter covers the dark side of New Orleans: ghosts, vampires, voodoo ceremonies, tragic events, and supernatural claims tied to old buildings. You also hear about local customs and the people connected with the Quarter.

The strongest guides make this material entertaining without turning every story into a theatrical stunt. Cody, frequently named in the tour feedback, is praised for telling stories in a direct, relaxed way. One useful quality is his ability to handle questions and keep a group moving at a comfortable pace, even when people have already had a few drinks.

You should expect a blend of fact, local legend, and paranormal tradition. The operator states clearly that the tour is for entertainment and does not promise an encounter with a ghost, vampire, spirit, demon, or any other supernatural being. That honesty is helpful. If you want a serious investigation with proof, this is not it. If you enjoy hearing old tales while walking through the places associated with them, it fits better.

The voodoo material also deserves the right expectation. You hear about ceremonies and beliefs connected with New Orleans, but this is not a visit to a working ceremony or a private religious site. The tour stays on public property and does not enter private locations.

Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral add a sense of place

Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral are among the most recognizable places in the French Quarter, and they help anchor the stories in real geography. You are not simply hearing a list of legends with no idea where they happened. The streets and landmarks give the tales a physical setting.

The route also reaches less famous corners and buildings. One guide described the tour as covering the school on Royal Street and many additional stops after it. That gives you a broader walk than the basic summary suggests, though the exact number of stops depends on the route, pace, crowd conditions, and time spent at bars.

The Quarter’s old streets are part of the experience, but they can also be a nuisance. Pavement and walkways may be uneven, and the operator warns that the route includes old or damaged surfaces. Wear practical shoes. The guide cannot stop the whole group every time someone wants to wander off for a photograph, so take pictures while staying with the group.

You also need to respect the neighborhood. People live along the route, and the tour specifically asks participants not to ring doorbells, trespass, block sidewalks, or wander onto private property. That is sensible advice in a residential district used heavily at night.

The bar stops are flexible, not an open bar

The name can create the wrong expectation. This is not a ticket that includes drinks, and the guide does not hand each person a cocktail at every stop. You pay for your own drinks, choosing what you want at bars or to-go windows along the route.

That arrangement has two advantages. You are not paying for drinks you do not want, and you can control your pace. It also keeps the base price near $21, which is low for a guided evening walk in the French Quarter.

The drawback is that the final cost depends on you. A few drinks can quickly cost more than the tour ticket, especially if you choose strong cocktails or specialty drinks. Some people praised the bar stops and the recommendations for places to continue afterward. Others wanted more drinking built into the tour and felt the value would be better if drinks were included.

I would treat the bar stops as part of the social setting, not the main product. The history and storytelling are the core. If you mainly want a bar crawl, a dedicated nightlife tour may suit you better. If you want a history walk with chances to buy a drink, this format gives you more control.

The bars can also affect the timing. A busy location may cause a wait, and the operator says the tour can last longer when bars are crowded. The advertised duration is about one to two hours, but you should not schedule a tight dinner reservation immediately afterward.

The EMF meter adds a playful experiment

The tour offers a real EMF meter, described as a ghost or paranormal detector. You can request the equipment at check-in, but you must provide your name, phone number, address, and booking reference number. You are responsible for returning it before leaving.

An EMF meter measures electromagnetic fields. On a ghost tour, it is used as a tool for looking for unusual readings. It does not prove that a spirit is present, and the operator makes no promise that anything paranormal will happen.

That limitation does not make it useless as entertainment. The device gives the group something to do during the stories and encourages you to pay attention to the surroundings. Just handle it carefully. The operator states that lost or damaged equipment can result in a $250 charge.

Photos are allowed and encouraged. Audio and video recording devices are not allowed during the tour, so plan to take still pictures only. If you are hoping to record every story for later, this is not the right setting.

A moderate walk with a group dynamic

The walking pace is described as moderate, and most people can participate. The group stays together throughout the route. The guide needs to keep moving through crowded streets, so you should be comfortable walking for up to two hours and keeping an eye on the person leading the group.

One person described a group of more than 30 people and praised the guide for managing it through traffic, pedestrians, and distractions. That tells you something useful about the format: the experience may feel more like a public group walk than a small private conversation.

A large group can create energy, especially when the stories are funny or the bar stops get people talking. It can also make it harder to hear if you drift to the back. Stay near the guide, particularly at busy intersections and crowded bars.

Children are not automatically excluded, but anyone under 18 must attend with a parent or guardian unless a guide authorizes otherwise. Some bars do not allow children inside, though to-go windows are available for people who do not enter. In practical terms, this is much more comfortable for adults.

Service animals are allowed, and the tour is near public transportation. No private transport is provided, since the route stays within the French Quarter.

Why the $21 price can be good value

At $21 per person, the tour is inexpensive for a guided walk lasting up to two hours. You get a local guide, group admission to the walking experience, storytelling at multiple sites, and access to paranormal equipment if you request it.

The value depends on what you want from the evening. You are paying for the guide’s delivery, the route, and the entertainment. You are not paying for a museum admission, a private building tour, drinks, or a guaranteed supernatural event.

I think the price works best for a first evening in New Orleans, when you want a loose introduction to the French Quarter before deciding where to spend the rest of the night. Several guides also offer suggestions for bars or restaurants after the walk. One guide even walked a group toward a restaurant after the tour, though you should not assume that will happen every time.

The experience can feel less worthwhile if you expect a polished theatrical production or a detailed academic lecture. Some participants wanted more stops, more drinking, or more information. Others found the stories, pace, and guide enough for a fun introduction. Your expectations will make a big difference.

Timing, weather, and a serious booking caution

The experience is offered in English and is generally booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of about 55 days. That suggests you should reserve early if the tour fits a fixed itinerary, especially during a busy New Orleans visit.

Arrive early. The tour departs at the scheduled time, and late arrivals may not receive a refund. If you expect to be late, contact the operator before departure. Once the guide leaves, the guide may not be able to answer the phone while leading the group.

Weather needs attention. The booking information says you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start for a full refund, and it says that a cancellation caused by poor weather can lead to another date or a full refund. The operator’s longer terms also describe tours as rain-or-shine events and say refunds are not issued for weather in some situations. Because those statements do not fully match, I would confirm the current weather and cancellation policy before booking.

There have also been reported cases of late cancellations, reservation problems, and a guide failing to appear. Those accounts are serious enough that I would not schedule this as the only activity on the final evening of a short trip. Save the confirmation, keep your phone available for text updates, and have a backup plan.

The operator may cancel if the minimum number of participants is not reached. If that happens, the stated options are another date, another experience, or a full refund. The cut-off for reservations is one hour before departure, so last-minute changes are possible.

Who should book this French Quarter walk?

I would recommend it to you if you like:

• Ghost stories with a real New Orleans setting
• Informal local storytelling rather than costumes and elaborate props
• A moderate walking route with optional drinks
• Small experiments such as using an EMF meter
• A reasonably priced start to a night in the French Quarter
• Group outings, including bachelor or bachelorette celebrations

I would be more cautious if you want a quiet, small-group tour, guaranteed access to historic interiors, included cocktails, or a carefully controlled schedule. The route is public, the group may be large, and the bars can slow things down.

The tour also works well for people who do not want to spend the whole evening packed inside crowded bars. You can listen outside, buy a to-go drink, and keep moving. That gives you a little more breathing room than a standard bar crawl.

Should you book the New Orleans Drunk History Tour?

Book it if you want an affordable, relaxed walk through the French Quarter with ghost lore, voodoo stories, local history, and optional drinks. The best part is the guide’s delivery. Cody, or Coty as the name appears in some tour information, receives especially strong praise for his humor, patience, and ability to make useless knowledge entertaining.

Go in expecting a history and storytelling walk, not an included-drinks party or a serious paranormal investigation. Keep your plans flexible because of the cancellation and no-show concerns, and confirm the current weather policy before paying.

For the right audience, this is a fun way to get oriented in the Quarter and start an evening out. At $21, it is a fair gamble, provided you understand exactly what is and is not included.

FAQ

Where does the New Orleans Drunk History Tour begin?

It begins at 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, near the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. You meet on the sidewalk, not inside the bar.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends in the heart of the French Quarter.

How long does the experience last?

The walk lasts approximately one to two hours. The timing can vary because crowded bars may create delays.

Are drinks included in the ticket price?

No. Drinks are not included. You can buy drinks at neighborhood bars or to-go windows along the route.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Does the tour enter private buildings?

No. The tour takes place on public property and does not enter private locations.

Will I definitely see a ghost?

No. Paranormal activity is not guaranteed, and the operator does not promise that you will see a ghost or another supernatural being.

Can I use paranormal equipment?

Yes. An EMF meter is available, but you must request it at check-in, provide the required personal and booking information, and return it before leaving.

Can children join the tour?

Children under 18 must attend with a parent or guardian unless a guide authorizes otherwise. Some bars may not allow children inside, though to-go options are available.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start for a full refund under the stated cancellation policy. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded. If the operator cancels because of weather or insufficient numbers, the stated options include another date, another experience, or a full refund, but the operator’s detailed terms contain different language about weather, so confirm before booking.