New Orleans: Drunk History Walking Tour

New Orleans’ French Quarter has plenty of polished tours, but this one prefers the city’s stranger side: voodoo rituals, vampire lore, above-ground tombs, pirates, prostitutes, and convicted felons. You walk the Vieux Carre for two hours, mixing real places and dark stories with optional bar stops.

I like the way the tour combines serious local history with a loose, funny delivery, and I like that you can choose your own drinking pace. Guides such as Coty, Cody, Ashli, and Donna have been singled out for strong storytelling, quick answers, and plenty of personality. The main drawback is that drinks are not included, and a night of bar stops can quickly cost more than the $28 tour price.

Key points to know before you book

• The French Quarter is the classroom: See St. Louis Cathedral, the Louisiana Purchase site, historic buildings, and famous haunted addresses.
• Marie Laveau gets proper attention: Learn how voodoo came to New Orleans, hear about the city’s best-known voodoo queen, and visit places linked to her life and ceremonies.
• The bar stops are optional: You may stop for drinks, but every beverage comes out of your own pocket.
• Coty and Cody are the names to request: Past bookings frequently mention their humor, useful odd facts, and ability to answer questions.
• Expect stories, not a museum lecture: The tone is casual, funny, and sometimes spooky, with paranormal equipment used as part of the entertainment.
• Arrive at the exact meeting point: Meet outside Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon Street, not inside the bar.

A dark and funny introduction to the French Quarter

The Drunk History Walking Tour is built around a simple New Orleans truth: the city’s past is hard to separate from its legends. The French Quarter gives the guide a compact stage, with old buildings, narrow streets, bars, courtyards, churches, and cemeteries all close together.

You are not signing up for a quiet academic walk. The guide tells stories about the people and events tied to the Vieux Carre, then adds ghosts, vampires, voodoo, fires, romance, and crime. The result is part historical tour, part ghost walk, and part introduction to French Quarter nightlife.

That mix works best if you enjoy stories with a little theatrical flair. Some details are presented as legends or reports rather than settled fact, so I would treat the paranormal material as local folklore and entertainment. The value is in hearing how New Orleans tells stories about itself, not in expecting a scientific investigation.

The tour has earned a 4.2 rating from 165 recorded ratings, with especially strong praise for the guides’ energy and storytelling. Coty appears often in the feedback, while Cody, Ashli, and Donna are also named as engaging hosts. Guide assignments can change, so you should not assume a particular person will lead your departure unless the operator confirms it.

Starting on Bourbon Street at Lafitte’s

The meeting point is the sidewalk in front of Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, at 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116. Do not go inside looking for the guide. Meet at the gate of the courtyard attached to the bar, where the tour departs from the sidewalk.

This detail matters because the bar staff are not part of the tour company and do not handle check-in. Arrive a few minutes early, find the courtyard gate, and have your booking details ready.

Bourbon Street is a useful starting point for this kind of walk. You are already in the middle of the French Quarter’s famous nightlife, but the tour does not simply turn into a bar crawl. The guide uses the street as a doorway into older stories about the city, its buildings, and the people connected with them.

Wear comfortable shoes. Two hours on French Quarter streets is manageable for most people, but the tour is still a walking experience, not a seated talk. The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, though you should contact the provider directly if your group has specific mobility needs.

Above-ground tombs and the practical side of death

One of the most useful historical subjects is New Orleans burial practice. You learn about traditional burial rituals and why many graves are placed above ground in vaults rather than below it.

This is more than a spooky visual detail. It gives you a practical way to understand the city’s relationship with death, architecture, weather, and limited burial space. The above-ground tombs become part of the city’s streetscape, and the tour uses them to explain a custom that can seem mysterious if you only see the structures from the outside.

The subject also fits the tour’s tone. New Orleans burial customs can be discussed as history, but the same tombs have long fed ghost stories and popular myths. A good guide can move between those two levels without pretending that every legend is fact.

You may find this section especially useful if you plan to visit New Orleans cemeteries later. The walk gives you a starting point for noticing the form and purpose of the vaults instead of treating them as merely eerie scenery.

Voodoo, Marie Laveau, and places with a story

The voodoo portion looks at how the practice came to New Orleans and how it became part of the city’s public image. The guide introduces Marie Laveau, often called the voodoo queen, and takes you to property associated with her, including land said to have been given to her as payment for her magic.

You also visit locations connected with voodoo ceremonies. These stops help place the subject on actual streets and properties rather than leaving it as a vague collection of supernatural tales.

I appreciate that this part can add cultural context to the French Quarter walk, but you should listen with care. Voodoo has often been reduced to sensational images for tourists. The quality of this section depends heavily on the guide’s ability to explain local traditions without turning every belief into a cheap horror prop.

The strongest guides appear to use humor and personal storytelling rather than delivering a stiff script. Coty is described as mixing odd facts with solid information, while Ashli was praised for linking old New Orleans stories with everyday life. That style makes the material easier to remember, especially if you know little about the city before arriving.

Pirates, prostitutes, felons, and the city’s rough beginnings

The tour also asks you to look beyond the postcard version of New Orleans. Stories connect the city’s founding and early growth with pirates, prostitutes, and convicted felons.

That angle is useful because the French Quarter is often presented only through elegant balconies, jazz, food, and architecture. The city’s past was also shaped by people living outside polite society, and those figures make the early story more complicated.

You will hear about historical characters and scandalous episodes tied to specific buildings or streets. Some stories are funny. Others are grim. The guide’s job is to keep the walk moving between those moods without letting the dark material become needlessly graphic.

The tour is a good fit for someone who wants a broad introduction rather than a narrow architectural study. It gives you a sense of how crime, religion, commerce, nightlife, and rumor overlap in the French Quarter. If you want exact dates, long discussions of building design, or a formal historical lecture, this may feel too loose.

Ghosts, vampires, and the most haunted house

The paranormal section focuses on reports of ghosts and vampires still said to roam the streets. You visit what is presented as the most haunted house in the city and hear stories about the people and events associated with it.

There is also paranormal equipment used during some tours. This adds a hands-on element, but it should be treated as part of the show rather than proof that a ghost is present. The operator warns that lost or damaged paranormal equipment can bring a $250 charge, so handle anything provided by the guide with care.

The guide may point out places where ghosts and vampires are considered especially predictable. That wording tells you what kind of experience this is: a walk through local stories and recurring legends, not a guarantee of a supernatural encounter.

I like the balance when the guide explains the history of a building first and then shows how its reputation grew. A haunted address has more meaning when you know who lived there, what happened there, and why the story survived. The best moments are likely to come from that combination of place and narrative, not from waiting for a device to flash.

Video recording is not allowed. You can listen, take mental notes, and enjoy the guide’s presentation, but do not plan to film the walk.

Historic landmarks along the route

Although the tour leans dark, it is not limited to ghosts. You pass major French Quarter sights, including St. Louis Cathedral and the location where the Louisiana Purchase was signed.

These stops give the experience a firmer historical spine. St. Louis Cathedral helps connect the walk to the religious and civic center of the quarter, while the Louisiana Purchase location points to the larger political story behind New Orleans and the United States.

The tour passes many other historical sites and buildings, though the exact route may vary. One useful feature is that the guide can point out places you might otherwise walk past without knowing their connection to the city’s past.

Several people who have taken more than one New Orleans tour found this approach less commercial and more personal. That does not mean every story will be new to you, especially if you have already taken a French Quarter ghost walk. The advantage is the delivery and the blend of subjects, rather than a promise that no tale will overlap with another tour.

The bar stops and how to control the cost

The tour passes dozens of bars, and you may stop at one or two historic French Quarter drinking spots. The drinks are not included in the $28 price.

That arrangement gives you control. You can buy a drink when you want one, skip the bar, or have only a single beverage and keep your attention on the tour. Several past accounts describe the bar stop as a highlight, especially because the guide explains the history of the bar rather than treating it as a random restroom break.

Do not assume that Drunk History means you must become drunk. Drinking is optional, and the tour can still work if you are mainly interested in the history, ghosts, or voodoo. One practical warning is that buying a drink at every possible stop would be both expensive and physically unwise, especially in New Orleans heat.

The supplier can refuse service to anyone who is extremely intoxicated, with no refund in that case. Pace yourself, drink water when available, and remember that you still have to walk back through the French Quarter after the two-hour tour.

If you are traveling with a group, the format can be a good way to start a night out. You learn where some historic bars are, then decide later which places deserve more of your time.

Why the guide matters so much

This experience depends more on the guide than on any single sight. Coty is repeatedly described as funny, informed, and able to answer unexpected questions. Cody receives similar praise for personal storytelling, unusual facts, and a route that sometimes avoids following large tour groups.

Ashli is remembered for high energy, humor, and an easy way of connecting old stories to modern life. Donna is described as bringing a distinctive style and useful information about the French Quarter. These comments point to the main strength of the format: a personable guide can make familiar locations feel fresh.

Small groups can make a real difference. Some departures have had only two people when other bookings did not arrive, creating an informal private walk. A private group option is also available. Do not count on having a tiny group, but know that the experience can become more conversational when numbers are low.

The tour is offered in English with a live guide. If you like asking questions, that is a plus. The guides are not supposed to use their phones during the walk, which keeps their attention on the group and the streets around you.

Is $28 a fair price?

At $28 per person, the tour is reasonably priced for a two-hour guided walk in the French Quarter. You are paying for a live guide, local stories, a route through major sites, and the chance to add bar stops. Drinks, tips, and any extra purchases are separate.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise spend the evening wandering without context. A guide can show you why a building matters, explain the story behind a local legend, and point out places you might miss on your own.

The price is less compelling if you want a focused academic tour or if you dislike spooky folklore. You could see St. Louis Cathedral and walk Bourbon Street without booking anything. The tour earns its fee through interpretation, pacing, and access to a set of connected stories.

The booking terms include free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option. The supplied information also says no refunds will be issued for any reason, so check the cancellation terms carefully at checkout and confirm the policy if your plans may change.

Who should book this walk?

I would choose this tour for a first or second visit to New Orleans when I wanted a lively orientation to the French Quarter after dark. It suits history fans who enjoy colorful characters, paranormal enthusiasts who know the stories are part of local folklore, and social groups looking for a guided start to a night out.

It can also work for solo visitors. A guide-led walk gives you a set meeting point and company while you explore the quarter at night, though normal city awareness still matters.

I would skip it if you want a quiet, highly structured presentation, dislike bars, or expect every tale to be documented fact. Families should also consider the adult tone of some subjects, including prostitution, crime, death, and supernatural stories.

FAQ

Where does the New Orleans Drunk History Walking Tour meet?

It meets on the sidewalk at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, at 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116. Do not meet inside the bar.

How long does the tour last?

The walking tour lasts two hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

Are drinks included in the $28 price?

No. The tour includes the guide and walking tour, but drinks at the bar stops are paid for separately. Drinking is optional.

Which subjects does the tour cover?

The tour covers French Quarter history, burial rituals and above-ground vaults, voodoo, Marie Laveau, ghosts, vampires, pirates, prostitutes, convicted felons, historic bars, St. Louis Cathedral, and the Louisiana Purchase site.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Contact the provider directly if you need details about the route or specific access requirements.

Can I cancel my booking?

The booking information allows cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. It also includes a separate warning that no refunds will be issued for any reason, so confirm the terms shown for your booking before paying.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want New Orleans history delivered with jokes, ghost stories, voodoo lore, and the option of a historic bar stop. The best reason to choose it is the guide-led storytelling, especially if you can join Coty, Cody, Ashli, or Donna.

Skip it if you want a sober, formal history lecture or a tour built around architectural detail. For most people seeking a fun French Quarter introduction at a fair starting price, this is a practical choice. Wear good shoes, arrive at the Bourbon Street meeting point early, and keep your drink count low enough to remember the stories.