New Orleans Drunk History Tour

The best part of the New Orleans Drunk History Tour is its mix of old city tales and casual bar hopping. You walk through the French Quarter, pause at places such as Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop and Jackson Square, and hear about ghosts, voodoo, vampires, and the darker side of New Orleans. You can also carry a to-go drink and test an EMF meter along the way.

I like the low $21 price, which makes this an easy add-on to a New Orleans trip. I also like the guide-led storytelling. Cody, sometimes listed as Coty, has earned praise for his humor, local facts, and ability to keep a group moving through crowded streets. The main drawback is that drinks cost extra, and the tour can feel short if you want a full bar crawl or a broad city tour.

Key points to know before you book

• Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop is the meeting point: Meet outside, at the gate of the courtyard attached to 941 Bourbon Street. The tour does not meet inside the bar.
• The tour remains in the French Quarter: You will cover about 10 locations, with the exact route subject to change.
• Drinks are not included: You may buy drinks at neighborhood bars and to-go windows along the way.
• Ghost equipment is available: Ask at check-in to borrow an EMF meter, and return it before leaving.
• Expect one to two hours of walking: The pace is moderate, but bar waits can make the outing longer.
• The experience is story-first: It is more about New Orleans lore and local history than drinking games or included cocktails.

A $21 introduction to New Orleans after dark

At $21 per person, this tour is priced more like a short walking tour than a full evening of entertainment. That matters in New Orleans, where a guided French Quarter experience can quickly become expensive once you add drinks, food, and tips.

Your ticket covers the guide and the walk. You pay for your own drinks, which gives you control over the cost. You can choose a simple beer or soft drink, or spend more on cocktails and local specialties. If you are traveling with a group, this setup is often easier than paying one flat price that includes drinks you may not want.

I see the tour as a way to get your bearings before a night out. It takes you through the French Quarter while giving you enough time to stop, listen, and decide which bars or streets you want to revisit later. It is not designed to replace a serious architectural tour, cemetery visit, or food tour.

The title may suggest a long drinking session. In practice, the history and ghost stories come first. The drinking is social and optional, with stops along the route rather than a set number of included beverages.

Starting at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop

The tour begins at 941 Bourbon Street, on the sidewalk by the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. You do not check in inside the bar, and the tour company is not affiliated with the bar at that address, so arrive at the outside meeting point a few minutes early.

Lafitte’s is a fitting place to begin. It is presented as one of the oldest bars in the United States, and its old-world setting gives the opening stories the right mood. You are already in one of the French Quarter’s oldest areas before the guide says a word.

This is also the moment to ask for paranormal equipment. The tour uses a real EMF meter, a device intended to detect changes in electromagnetic fields. The operator allows participants to use the equipment, but you must provide your name, phone number, address, and booking reference number at check-in.

Handle the meter carefully. A $250 fee applies to lost, damaged, or missing equipment, and you must return it to a staff member before leaving. That is a serious condition for a small walking tour, so I would treat the device as borrowed gear, not a party prop.

Walking through the French Quarter’s darker stories

The route stays inside the French Quarter for the entire tour. You may pass or stop near major sights such as St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square, along with older streets, bars, courtyards, and buildings tied to local legends.

The guide’s job is to connect the visible quarter with the less visible stories behind it. Expect tales of ghostly activity, vampires, voodoo ceremonies, murders, haunted homes, and other supernatural claims. The content is meant to entertain, but the tour also draws on public research and local accounts.

I like this format because the French Quarter can feel confusing on your first evening. A guide gives the streets a story line. Instead of simply wandering past old buildings, you learn why certain corners have a reputation and how New Orleans folklore blends with the city’s real past.

Still, you should know what kind of history you are getting. This is not a careful academic lecture, and supernatural tales are not presented as proven fact. The company is unusually direct about that point: no ghost sighting is promised, and no refund is offered because the spirits fail to appear.

That honest warning is useful. Bring curiosity, not certainty. The fun is in hearing the claims, looking at the setting, and deciding for yourself how much you believe.

How the bar stops work

Drinks are purchased separately at bars and to-go windows along the route. The number and order of stops can change, and busy bars may slow the group. Past descriptions place the group at several bars, while some people have found the drinking lighter than the name suggests.

This flexibility can work well. You may carry a drink as you walk through the quarter, then put it down while the guide speaks. To-go options also help people who do not want to enter every crowded bar, and the operator notes that some locations may not allow children inside.

The tradeoff is that you do not know the exact drink plan in advance. You are not paying for a tasting menu, and you should not expect the guide to provide a drink at every stop. The best way to budget is to think of the $21 as the guiding fee, then add only what you personally want to drink.

Because alcohol is part of the outing, the guide can refuse service to anyone who becomes extremely intoxicated. If intoxication causes the tour to end for you, there is no refund. Eat beforehand, pace yourself, and remember that you still need to walk on uneven streets.

Using the EMF meter without expecting a ghost

The paranormal equipment adds a hands-on element that a standard history walk does not have. You can hold the EMF meter near locations connected to ghost stories and watch for changes as the guide explains the legend.

An EMF reading does not prove that a ghost is nearby. Electrical wiring, phones, appliances, and other ordinary sources can affect the device. The tour does not promise a supernatural encounter, and the company makes clear that the experience is for entertainment.

That limitation does not make the equipment pointless. It gives your group something to do between stories and can spark a good conversation. If you are interested in paranormal tools but prefer a tour that admits its limits, this approach may suit you.

Photos are encouraged, but audio and video recording devices are not allowed during the tour. You also need to stay with the group. The guide cannot stop for long photo detours, ring doorbells, or allow people to wander onto private property.

What the pace and group size feel like

The walk lasts about one to two hours. The pace is described as moderate, and the final length depends partly on how long the group waits at bars. Heavy rain or a crowded venue can change the rhythm.

A past group had more than 30 people, and a strong guide had to keep everyone together through traffic, pedestrians, and distractions. That tells you something useful about the experience: it can be social and lively, but it may not feel intimate.

The guide may need to repeat stories for people standing at the back. If you want the clearest view and sound, stay near the front without crowding the guide. Wear shoes suited to old, uneven streets and walkways. New Orleans weather can be very hot or quite cold, and the tour runs in rain unless the operator cancels it.

Children under 18 need a parent or guardian unless a guide authorizes otherwise. Since some bars do not admit children, families should ask before booking. Service animals are allowed, and the tour is near public transportation.

The guides make the biggest difference

A walking tour lives or dies by its guide. The strongest name connected with this experience is Cody, also spelled Coty in some tour comments. He is described as funny, easygoing, patient, and well informed about New Orleans.

That combination matters. A guide who can answer questions and adjust to a group makes the stops feel connected rather than like a string of random ghost stories. Cody has also been praised for keeping a comfortable pace and offering suggestions for places to eat or continue the night after the tour.

The style is casual. You should not expect costumes, theatrical props, or elaborate performances. Instead, the appeal is a local person telling stories on the street, with a little humor and plenty of odd facts.

That can be a strength or a weakness. If you want polished stage effects, another haunted tour may suit you better. If you prefer a guide who talks directly to the group and lets the buildings provide the atmosphere, this tour has the right tone.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would choose this experience for a first or second evening in New Orleans, especially if you want a relaxed introduction to the French Quarter before exploring on your own. It suits couples, friend groups, bachelorette parties, and history fans who enjoy a drink along with their stories.

It also works for people who find crowded bars tiring. The walk gives you a reason to move through the quarter, and to-go windows let you participate without entering every bar.

You may want something else if you need a rigorous account of New Orleans history, a quiet small-group setting, or drinks included in the ticket. The tour also may disappoint anyone booking mainly to see a ghost. No supernatural sighting is guaranteed, and the operator says plainly that it cannot create one.

Meeting details, weather, and cancellation rules

Arrive several minutes before the scheduled departure. The group leaves on time, and late arrivals may not receive a refund. If you expect to run late, contact the operator before departure, since the guide cannot answer the phone while leading the group.

The tour requires a minimum number of participants and may be canceled close to departure if that number is not met. You may then be offered another date, another experience, or a refund. Delays and route changes are also possible, so keep your mobile number accurate and watch for text or email updates.

The booking policy allows a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside 24 hours are not refunded. Weather cancellations may lead to a new date or a full refund, but the standard walk is designed to operate in rain, so dress for the forecast.

Tips are not included. If your guide keeps a large group organized, answers questions, and gives you a fun evening, plan to tip separately.

Is the New Orleans Drunk History Tour worth booking?

I would book it if you want an inexpensive, social walk through the French Quarter with ghost stories, local lore, and the option to buy drinks as you go. The $21 price is fair for the guide and the setting, especially when you treat it as a history walk with bar stops rather than an all-inclusive drinking tour.

I would skip it if included drinks, guaranteed paranormal activity, or strict scheduling are important to you. The operator has firm rules about late arrival, intoxication, equipment, weather, and refunds. Book at least 24 hours ahead if you need flexibility, arrive early at Lafitte’s, and keep your expectations focused on storytelling rather than spirits.

FAQ

Where does the New Orleans Drunk History Tour start?

It starts at 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, on the sidewalk at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. The tour does not meet inside the bar.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends in the heart of the French Quarter.

How long does the tour last?

The walk lasts approximately one to two hours. The timing can vary because waits at busy bars may extend the tour.

Are drinks included in the ticket price?

No. Drinks are not included. You may purchase drinks at bars and to-go windows along the route.

Does the tour leave the French Quarter?

No. The tour remains inside the French Quarter for its full duration.

Is paranormal equipment provided?

An EMF meter, described as a ghost or paranormal detector, is available to use during the tour. You must request it at check-in, provide the required booking details, and return it before leaving.

Are children allowed?

Children under 18 must have a parent or guardian unless a tour guide authorizes otherwise. Some bars do not allow children inside, though to-go options may be available.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the tour are not refunded. If the operator cancels because of poor weather or an insufficient number of participants, you may be offered another date or a refund.