Cheers New Orleans! Cocktails, History, Voodoo & Paranormal Tour

New Orleans history tastes better with a drink. This $15 walking tour mixes French Quarter stories with bar stops, voodoo lore, vampire tales, and a little paranormal sleuthing. I like the low price and the chance to visit both famous drinking spots and lesser-known bars with a local guide. The main drawback is that drinks cost extra, the tour can run longer when bars are crowded, and one poor experience involved a guide who never arrived.

I also like the strong storytelling focus. Guides praised in the feedback, including Coty and Cody, were friendly, entertaining, and willing to answer questions. Just remember that this is a moderate-paced walk on old, uneven streets, and paranormal activity is never promised.

Key points to know before you book

• Start at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar: Meet outside at 941 Bourbon Street, not inside the bar.
• History with a spooky edge: Expect stories about pirates, convicted criminals, ladies of the night, voodoo, ghosts, and vampires.
• Drinks are pay-as-you-go: Your $15 ticket covers the guide and walking tour, but not cocktails, snacks, or other drinks.
• Paranormal tools are available: You can check out equipment during the walk, but you must return it before leaving.
• Finish near Jackson Square: The route ends in the French Quarter at Jackson Square, useful for continuing your evening.
• Plan for changing timing: The walk lasts about one to two hours, depending partly on bar waits and group conditions.

Why this tour fits the French Quarter so well

New Orleans is a city where history and nightlife share the same sidewalk. A former residence may now be a bar. A narrow courtyard may carry stories of crime, romance, or spirits. This tour uses that setting well, pairing a walking history lesson with stops where you can buy a drink.

The result is less formal than a standard sightseeing tour. You are not standing in a museum listening to a long lecture. You are moving through the French Quarter, hearing stories tied to the streets around you, and deciding along the way if you want a cocktail, beer, snack, or nonalcoholic drink.

I think the format works best for your first night in New Orleans. It gives you a basic sense of the Quarter while pointing out bars and historic corners you might not find on your own. It also lets you ask questions as you go, which is useful in a neighborhood packed with legends and competing versions of the past.

The tone is intentionally lively. You will hear about pirates, felons, sex workers, voodoo, ghosts, vampires, and other unpleasant chapters from the city’s past. This is not a polished architectural tour, and it does not try to make every story respectable. The appeal is the blend of real local history and theatrical storytelling.

Beginning at 941 Bourbon Street

The meeting point is on the sidewalk at the gate of the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, at 941 Bourbon Street. You do not meet inside the bar, and the tour company is not affiliated with the bar itself.

That detail matters because Bourbon Street can be confusing, especially at night. Arrive a few minutes early, find the courtyard gate, and check in with the guide before departure. The guide leaves at the scheduled time, and late arrivals may not receive a refund.

Lafitte’s is a fitting place to begin. The bar is one of the French Quarter’s best-known historic drinking stops, so you start in a setting that already feels tied to old New Orleans. The tour then moves into the surrounding streets rather than keeping you in one building.

You should have your phone ready for schedule updates. Delays or changes may be sent by text or email, and text messages are the usual method. An accurate mobile number is important, since the guide cannot stay on the phone once the walk has started.

Lafitte’s and the first round of stories

The opening section covers general New Orleans history before turning toward darker material. The guide may discuss voodoo, ghosts, vampires, and stories connected with the city’s more notorious figures.

This is where the guide’s personality matters most. The strongest feedback praised Coty as friendly and informative, while another positive account identified Cody as an excellent guide who answered questions and helped make the evening a good start to a New Orleans visit. The spelling differs in the feedback, so check the confirmed guide details if a particular guide matters to you.

The first bar stop is not simply a chance to order a drink. It sets the pattern for the whole experience: listen, walk, stop, and decide what you want to buy. Drinks are not included, so you control your spending more than you would on an all-inclusive cocktail tour.

That makes the $15 price a good deal for the right kind of visitor. You are paying mainly for access to a guide, a route, and a set of stories. If you buy several drinks, your final cost can rise quickly, but you are not forced to pay for drinks you do not want.

The pace is moderate. You will need to keep moving with the group, rather than wandering away for photos. The guide cannot stop repeatedly for individual picture breaks, and the tour rules ask you to remain with the group throughout the walk.

French Quarter streets, bars, and darker history

The main walking portion covers the French Quarter and some of the oldest neighborhoods in the United States. The stories focus on the less respectable side of New Orleans: pirates, convicted felons, ladies of the night, voodoo practitioners, ghosts, and vampires.

I like this approach because it acknowledges that the French Quarter is more than pretty balconies and jazz clubs. The neighborhood’s appeal comes partly from its contradictions. It is historic and commercial, grand and shabby, crowded and residential. This tour leans into the city’s rougher stories instead of offering only postcard views.

You will visit famous bars, but the guide may also lead you to smaller or less obvious places. That is one of the stronger reasons to choose a local walking tour rather than simply following a Bourbon Street bar list. You get some direction on where to stop, while hearing why the surrounding streets have such a strong reputation.

Do not expect a fixed bar crawl with guaranteed entry into every location. The route and stops can change without notice, and some bars may be busy. Waiting inside can extend the tour well beyond an hour, which explains the stated one to two-hour duration.

The flexibility is useful, but it also creates uncertainty. If you have dinner plans, a show, or a timed reservation immediately afterward, leave a generous gap. The guide cannot control a crowded bar, and the tour may take longer than expected.

The paranormal equipment and what it adds

Paranormal equipment is available for people who enjoy ghost hunting. You check it out from the guide at the start and return it before leaving the group. A fee of $250 applies if equipment is lost or damaged, so treat it as borrowed gear, not a souvenir.

The equipment adds a hands-on element to the ghost stories. Instead of only listening, you have something to use while moving through the Quarter. That can make the experience more engaging for anyone who already enjoys paranormal investigations.

Still, keep your expectations sensible. The tour does not guarantee a ghost, vampire, spirit, demon, angel, or any other supernatural encounter. It is presented as entertainment, and the operator is clear that no paranormal activity can be created or promised.

That honesty is a plus. You can enjoy the suspense without being sold a certainty. If you require proof of the supernatural, this is not the right activity. If you enjoy local legends, strange stories, and the fun of wondering what a photograph might show, the equipment is a worthwhile bonus.

Photos are encouraged, but audio and video recording are not allowed. You also need to keep the equipment secure and return it directly to the guide before you leave.

Jackson Square gives the walk a useful ending

The tour ends at Jackson Square in New Orleans. This is a practical finish because you are still in the heart of the French Quarter, with more restaurants, bars, historic streets, and evening activity nearby.

You can treat the ending as a launch point for the rest of your night. If the tour has introduced you to a bar you liked, you can return later. If you prefer a quieter finish, Jackson Square gives you a clear location from which to orient yourself.

The route does not include private property. The walk stays on public streets and sidewalks, and you are asked to respect residents, avoid trespassing, and not ring doorbells along the way. That is important in the French Quarter, where homes and nightlife sit close together.

Old New Orleans streets can be uneven and worn. Wear shoes that you can walk in comfortably, and prepare for heat, cold, or rain. The tour operates rain or shine unless the company cancels or reschedules because of conditions or another serious issue.

What the $15 price really covers

At $15 per person, this is one of the more affordable ways to add structure to a French Quarter evening. Your ticket covers the local licensed guide and the walking tour. It does not include drinks, snacks, gratuities, or entry to a special attraction.

I see the value in the low base price. You can choose your own drink budget, and you are not paying for a package that assumes you want several cocktails. A modest drink purchase keeps the outing inexpensive, while a full evening of drinks will naturally cost more.

Tips are not included, and gratuities are recommended. Since the guide provides the history, route, and bar suggestions, a tip is a sensible part of your planned cost if the experience goes well.

The main value comes from the guide rather than from included extras. A lively guide can make the same streets feel full of character. A poor guide or a missed departure can ruin the evening, which makes punctuality and clear communication especially important.

One complaint described a guide who never appeared and a phone that went unanswered. That is a serious service concern, even though the other feedback was strongly positive. Contact the company before departure if you are delayed or confused, and keep an eye on your messages for changes.

Who should book this walking tour

I would choose this experience if you want a casual introduction to New Orleans, enjoy stories with a dark edge, and like the idea of ordering drinks along the route rather than sitting through a formal lecture.

It suits:

• Couples beginning an evening in the French Quarter
• Friends who want history mixed with nightlife
• People interested in voodoo, ghosts, vampires, and local legends
• First-time visitors who want bar suggestions from a local guide
• Anyone seeking an inexpensive walking activity

It may not suit you if you dislike group walking tours, cannot handle uneven streets, or need a strict finish time. It is also a poor match if you want drinks included or expect a guaranteed paranormal encounter.

The tour allows service animals and is near public transportation. Most people can participate, but the moderate walking pace and old sidewalks still require ordinary care.

Children may not be able to enter every bar. The route may include walk-up drink windows for people who do not want to go inside, but the overall subject matter is adult in tone and centers on alcohol, crime, and supernatural stories.

Booking rules worth taking seriously

This experience is nonrefundable, and cancellations or amendments normally receive no refund. The company can cancel if the minimum number of participants is not reached, in which case you may be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

The tour can also be delayed, rescheduled, or canceled because of weather or other serious conditions. If that happens, notices may arrive by text, email, the company website, or social media. You should keep a backup plan, especially if this is the only activity you have arranged for the evening.

All sales are final under the stated terms. That makes it wise to confirm your schedule before buying and to provide a working phone number. Do not assume bad weather automatically earns a refund, since the walk is generally held rain or shine.

Should you book Cheers New Orleans?

Book it if you want cheap, entertaining French Quarter history with optional drinks and spooky stories. The strongest part is the format: you walk through the neighborhood, hear about its rougher past, visit bars, and finish at Jackson Square. Positive feedback about Coty and Cody also points to the importance of an engaging guide, and that seems to be where this tour earns its praise.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed start, a tightly controlled schedule, or a polished paranormal investigation. The one report of a missing guide should not be ignored, and the strict cancellation terms leave little room for error.

For the best chance of a good evening, arrive early at the Bourbon Street meeting point, keep your phone available, wear comfortable shoes, budget separately for drinks, and view the ghost equipment as part of the fun rather than proof of anything supernatural. At $15, it is a reasonable way to get oriented in the French Quarter, especially on your first night.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

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

Where does the tour end?

The walk ends at Jackson Square in the French Quarter.

How long does the tour last?

It lasts approximately one to two hours. The timing can change because of waits inside busy bars.

Are drinks included in the ticket price?

No. Alcoholic drinks and snacks are not included. You can purchase drinks along the route at different locations.

Is paranormal activity guaranteed?

No. The tour offers paranormal equipment and ghost stories, but no supernatural encounter is promised.

What happens if the tour is canceled because too few people book?

You may be offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.