The Drunken Telling of New Orleans Tales

New Orleans turns a history walk into bar talk, and this tour leans into that idea. You follow a guide through the French Quarter while buying drinks at your own pace, hearing about the Louisiana Purchase, Marie Laveau, ghosts, vampires, and the neighborhood’s darker tales. Cody and Emily have both led this experience, though your guide can vary.

I like the easy mix of landmarks and local lore, especially the stop at Jackson Square and the stories tied to real streets and buildings. I also like that you can use a real EMF meter during the walk, rather than simply listening to spooky claims. The main drawback is uneven guide quality: some guides are funny and full of useful detail, while others may sound flat or be harder to understand.

Key points to know before you book

• French Quarter route: Walk from 941 Bourbon Street through the Vieux Carré, ending near restaurants and nightlife.
• Drinks are optional: You may buy cocktails to go along the route, but drinks are not included and the guide does not enter the bars with you.
• History with a spooky edge: Hear about the 1803 Louisiana Purchase, St. Louis Cathedral, Marie Laveau, voodoo ceremonies, ghosts, and reported vampire sightings.
• About two hours on foot: The tour can last from one to two hours, depending partly on bar wait times.
• Paranormal gear is available: Request the EMF meter at check-in and return it before leaving.
• Plan carefully: The group leaves on time from the courtyard gate beside Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, not from inside the bar.

A drinking tour with a real history route

The clever part of this experience is its format. You are not sitting in a bar listening to a lecture, and you are not rushing from one landmark to another with a guidebook in hand. You walk through the French Quarter, pause for stories, and can pick up a drink whenever you want.

New Orleans permits drinks to go in the French Quarter, so the setup fits the neighborhood. The tour passes a large number of bars, and you are free to refill your cup along the way. That said, the guide does not go inside the bars. You will need to make your purchase quickly and rejoin the group.

At $35 per person, the price is fair if you want a guided introduction to the French Quarter with entertainment built in. You are paying for the guide, the route, the storytelling, and the use of paranormal equipment if requested. Alcohol costs extra, as do gratuities.

The value depends heavily on your guide. Cody has been described as full of city facts and good at keeping the drinking element interesting. Emily has been praised for a friendly manner and clear knowledge of the area. Other feedback points to a less animated delivery and, in one case, a strong accent that made the stories harder to follow. I would book this for the concept, but I would keep expectations flexible about the performance.

Meeting at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop

Your starting point is 941 Bourbon Street, at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. This detail matters. You do not meet inside the bar, and you should not ask its bartenders about the tour because the bar and tour operator are separate businesses.

Arrive a few minutes early. The tour leaves at its scheduled time, and a late arrival may mean you have missed the group. The operator says guides cannot remain at the meeting point answering calls after departure, since they are then leading the walk.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop is a fitting place to begin. The building is one of the French Quarter’s best-known old structures, and the tour uses its setting to establish the mood. The first stop is brief, about five minutes, so do not expect an extended visit inside the bar. The focus is on the opening stories and getting the group moving.

This is a sidewalk meeting point in a busy part of Bourbon Street. Make sure you have the exact address and courtyard gate in your phone before you arrive. Do not rely on simply finding the bar. That small bit of preparation can prevent a frustrating start.

Walking the Vieux Carré, one story at a time

The main portion of the tour follows streets in the French Quarter, also called the Vieux Carré. The route is built around places connected to New Orleans history and folklore, not around long museum visits or private interiors.

One important stop is the exact location associated with the signing of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. That event changed the future of the United States, and placing it in the middle of the French Quarter gives the story a useful sense of place. You are not just hearing a date. You are standing where a major political transfer is said to have been completed.

The walk continues to Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral. The cathedral is one of the neighborhood’s most recognizable landmarks, while the square gives you a chance to connect religious, civic, and cultural stories in one compact area. This is one of the tour’s best features for first-time visitors because you get landmark orientation along with the guide’s narration.

The pace is described as moderate. You will be on old streets and walkways that can be uneven or worn, so comfortable shoes are a must. The group is expected to stay together, and the guide cannot regularly stop the entire walk while individuals wander off for photos.

That rule may feel strict if you like to explore at your own speed. It also helps explain how the tour can cover several sites in roughly two hours. Take your photos from the route, then return your attention to the guide before the group moves on.

Marie Laveau and the real roots of voodoo

The voodoo section gives the tour more substance than a simple ghost walk. You hear how voodoo came to New Orleans, learn about Marie Laveau, and visit property said to have been given to her as payment for magical work. The route also includes places linked to voodoo ceremonies.

Marie Laveau is one of the city’s best-known figures, but her story is often reduced to costumes, fortune telling, and spooky advertising. A good guide can give you a more useful frame by connecting her to New Orleans’ religious traditions and local culture. This is where the guide’s storytelling skill matters most.

You should also expect a blend of fact, tradition, and legend. The tour is designed for entertainment, and not every supernatural claim can be proved. If you enjoy folklore presented with a wink, this should fit well. If you want a strictly academic account of religion or local history, you may prefer a museum or a more formal walking tour.

The best approach is to listen for the layers. A street can have a documented past, a story passed through generations, and a modern reputation as a spooky place. The tour brings those strands together, but you should not treat every ghost or vampire tale as a verified event.

Ghosts, vampires, and the predictable haunting

The supernatural portion covers several reported vampire locations, the city’s most haunted house, and the place where you can find what the tour calls New Orleans’ most predictable ghost. The guide also discusses regular police documentation of vampire sightings.

That material is meant to entertain, not to promise a supernatural encounter. The operator clearly states that no ghost, vampire, spirit, or other nonhuman presence is guaranteed. You may hear a strong story and see an interesting old building, but you should not book this expecting an apparition on cue.

This honesty is useful. New Orleans has no shortage of tours that sell a frightening atmosphere, and some visitors want exactly that. Here, the supernatural claims come with a reminder that the tour is an interpretation of local legends. You can enjoy the fun without having to accept every tale as fact.

The tone can vary. Some guides use comedy and personal stories to keep the group engaged. Others may minimize the creepiness or deliver the material in a more matter-of-fact way. If you want a serious haunted-house experience, this may feel too light. If you prefer spooky stories without nonstop theatrics, the balance may suit you.

Buying drinks without losing the tour

The French Quarter has more than 200 bars, and this walk passes many of them. You can stop to buy a drink to go, then continue through the neighborhood with your cup in hand. The drink stops are offered as a courtesy, not as included tastings.

This arrangement gives you control over the evening. You can skip alcohol completely, buy one drink, or refill several times. It also means the total cost can vary widely. A $35 tour can become a much more expensive outing if you keep ordering cocktails.

The guide does not enter the bars, so you should not expect guided tastings or a bartender-led lesson. Busy bars may slow the group, and the stated duration can stretch toward two hours because of wait times. If you are trying to fit this between fixed dinner reservations, allow extra breathing room.

Take care with strong New Orleans drinks. One person specifically warned about the Hand Grenade, a cocktail known for its strength. Since you need to walk on uneven streets and keep up with the group, pacing yourself is more important than trying every drink on the route.

The tour operator can refuse service to someone who becomes extremely intoxicated. If alcohol is your main goal, book a bar crawl designed around longer stops. If you want history first and drinks as an optional extra, this format works better.

The EMF meter and the hands-on element

A real EMF meter, short for electromagnetic field meter, is available for use during the walk. You must request the equipment at check-in and provide your name, phone number, address, and booking reference number. The equipment is marked and tracked, and you must return it before leaving.

A $250 charge applies to lost, damaged, or missing equipment. Handle it carefully and do not let the novelty distract you from the group. The meter adds a hands-on element, but it does not prove that a ghost is nearby. Changes in an electromagnetic reading can have ordinary causes.

Still, the device can make the tour more engaging for people who enjoy testing paranormal claims. It gives you something to do besides listen, especially during a pause outside a building linked to a haunting. If you are interested, ask for it before the tour begins because availability and checkout happen at check-in.

Photos are encouraged, but audio and video recording devices are not allowed during the tour. Respect private homes along the route, avoid doorbells, and do not trespass. The French Quarter is a lived-in neighborhood, not a film set.

Guide style makes the biggest difference

This tour asks a lot of its storyteller. The guide has to move the group, explain history, handle the drinking rhythm, tell jokes, and shift between serious facts and supernatural lore. When that works, the experience can feel both social and informative.

Cody has been singled out for keeping the history interesting while still making the drinking part fun. Emily has been described as friendly, sweet, and easy to listen to. Another guide was praised as upbeat and very funny, with personal stories that added color to the city’s past.

The less successful version is slower and flatter. One account described a guide who was not animated enough, while another found the tour less exciting after about an hour and a half. A strong accent may also make the narration difficult for some English speakers.

That variation is worth considering before you book. The tour does not offer a museum-style presentation with a fixed audio track. Your experience rests on the individual guide’s energy and clarity. The basic route remains useful, but the storytelling can determine whether the evening feels memorable or merely adequate.

Timing, weather, and practical limits

The advertised duration is about two hours, but the actual walk can last from one to two hours. Bar waits, traffic, and local conditions may affect the schedule. Tour times can also be delayed or changed, with updates sent by text or email, so provide a working mobile number when booking.

This is a rain-or-shine activity unless the operator cancels it. New Orleans can be very hot or quite cold, and poor weather may make the walk less comfortable. Wear shoes that can handle uneven pavement and bring clothing suited to the forecast.

The tour does not include hotel pickup or drop-off. You need to reach the French Quarter on your own, and the end point is in the heart of the quarter near restaurants, bars, and nightlife. That makes it easy to continue your evening, but you are responsible for getting back to your lodging.

Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. Children under 18 need a parent or guardian unless a guide authorizes otherwise. Some bars do not allow children inside, though to-go windows are available along the route.

The group can be large, with a stated maximum of up to 999 people, though the actual number on a given departure can vary. Minimum numbers also apply, so a departure may be canceled if too few people book. If that happens, an alternative date or a full refund is offered.

Cancellation terms are strict. Tickets are generally nonrefundable and cannot be changed for personal reasons. If the operator cancels because of poor weather or insufficient numbers, you are offered another date or a refund. Check your messages before leaving for the meeting point.

Who should book this French Quarter walk?

I would recommend it to you if you want a social introduction to New Orleans that blends landmarks, local legends, and optional drinking. It works especially well for adults who like their history served with humor rather than in a formal lecture.

It also suits visitors who want to see the French Quarter at a moderate pace while learning where the major stories took place. The Louisiana Purchase site, Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, Marie Laveau locations, and haunted buildings give the walk a clear sense of place.

I would be more cautious if you want a tightly researched history tour, a guaranteed ghost encounter, or a polished performance every time. The folklore is part of the fun, but the guide’s energy can vary. You should also skip it if you dislike walking with a group or do not want to manage your own drink purchases.

Should you book The Drunken Telling of New Orleans Tales?

Book it if the idea of walking Bourbon Street with a drink, hearing about Marie Laveau and local hauntings, and checking an EMF meter sounds like a good night in New Orleans. At $35, it offers a reasonable introduction to the French Quarter, provided you understand that alcohol costs extra and the supernatural stories are entertainment, not promises.

Arrive early at the courtyard gate beside Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, keep your schedule open for up to two hours, and pace yourself with strong cocktails. If you want the best chance of enjoying it, focus on the city stories and atmosphere rather than expecting a flawless ghost-hunting production.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at 941 Bourbon Street in New Orleans, at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. The tour does not meet inside the bar or at a street corner.

Where does the tour end?

The walk ends in the heart of the French Quarter, close to restaurants, bars, and nightlife.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately one to two hours. Bar wait times and local conditions can affect the length.

Are drinks included in the $35 price?

No. Alcoholic drinks are available to purchase along the route, but each person pays for their own drinks.

Can I drink while walking on the tour?

Yes. You may buy drinks to go and refill your cup along the route. The guide does not enter the bars with the group.

Is paranormal equipment available?

Yes. A real EMF meter is available to use during the tour if you request it at check-in. You must provide the required booking and contact information, and return the equipment before leaving.

What happens if the tour is canceled?

If the operator cancels because of poor weather or because the minimum number of people is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund. Personal cancellations and amendments are generally nonrefundable.