New Orleans Cocktails, History, Voodoo & Paranormal Tour

New Orleans history gets its sharpest edges on this two-hour walk through the French Quarter. You’ll hear stories of pirates, murders, ghosts and local legends at the places tied to them, with a paranormal detector adding a playful prop to the evening.

I like two things here: the guide connects crime stories to the neighborhood’s past, and the route brings you by major landmarks as well as notorious addresses. You can also buy a drink along the way, though it is not part of the $23 price.

The main caveat is that the tour may not match the promise of a bar-hopping or voodoo-focused night. One account describes hearing little about voodoo, and another expected more stops than the guide made. Go for stories and a walking introduction, not guaranteed access inside bars or buildings.

• A French Quarter starting point: Meet outside Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon Street, not inside the bar.
• Crime with an address: The route may include the LaLaurie Mansion and the Sultans Palace, locations tied to stories of violence and unsolved crime.
• Landmarks along the way: Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, the Presbytère, St. Anthony’s Garden and the Ursuline Convent are among the places covered.
• A paranormal prop: Your guide uses an EMF meter, a ghost-detection device intended to add entertainment, not proof.
• Drinks cost extra: The tour price is $23 per person, but beverages are not included.
• A guide can make or break it: Cody and Coty have been praised for friendly, lively storytelling, though one booking had a guide no-show.

A dark-history walk from Bourbon Street

The tour meets on the sidewalk by the gate to the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. This detail matters: the bar is a landmark meeting place, but the tour does not meet inside, and the bar’s staff are not involved. Arrive a few minutes early so you can find the guide before the group leaves.

From there, the two-hour walk uses the French Quarter as its setting and evidence board. Instead of treating the neighborhood as a pretty backdrop, the guide ties its streets and buildings to stories about New Orleans crime, folklore and development. The pitch is broad: pirates and prostitutes, convicted felons, historic murders, ghosts and vampires. That mix can make for an entertaining night, but it also means the tour is not a tightly focused investigation of one case.

The guide is central to the experience. The company describes its storytellers as experienced, and Cody and Coty have both been singled out for friendly, informative and lively delivery. Strong storytelling is especially valuable here: much of the route is outdoors, and the draw is the account that gives a building or square its meaning. Still, guide quality can vary. One customer reported that the guide never arrived and no one contacted the group, a serious service failure worth keeping in mind when booking.

Jackson Square and the Quarter’s civic landmarks

The itinerary covers several major sites around Jackson Square: St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, the Presbytère and St. Anthony’s Garden. The tour also includes the Ursuline Convent, another landmark that helps set the Quarter’s stories against its long civic and religious history.

These stops give the walk more range than a sequence of grisly crime tales. New Orleans developed through layers of culture, architecture and custom, and the guide’s job is to connect those layers to the city you see today. Expect to hear stories outdoors while looking at the places themselves. The tour description does not promise entry into the landmarks, so think of this as a street-level introduction rather than a visit inside each building.

That distinction is useful when setting expectations. One customer hoped to go inside more places and felt the walk covered too little ground. The route is a two-hour walking tour, not a series of interior visits. If you want museum access or a close look at a particular building’s rooms, plan a separate visit where possible rather than assuming this tour includes it.

LaLaurie Mansion and notorious crime sites

The LaLaurie Mansion is one of the tour’s headline stops, known as one of the most haunted houses in New Orleans. Its reputation makes it a natural focus for stories about the city’s darker past. You should expect to hear about the address from outside, not to enter the private residence.

The Sultans Palace is another striking stop. The tour connects the mansion to a mass murder that remains unsolved. It also covers a tragic 2006 murder-suicide in the French Quarter, as well as the story of Zach and Addie, described as one of New Orleans’ infamous and heartbreaking murder cases. These accounts are heavy material, and the route does not treat them as light entertainment alone. If you prefer ghost tales without real victims or violent crime, this may not be your kind of evening.

The itinerary names several crime stories, but that does not guarantee equal time at every location. One account describes stopping outside a single house and hearing one murder story, while another praises the guide for taking the group to bars, landmarks and spooky sites. That contrast suggests the actual balance can depend on the guide and route. Ask yourself whether you will be satisfied with an overview and stories told on the sidewalk, rather than a detailed stop at every site.

Voodoo, folklore and the EMF meter

The tour promises Cajun superstitions, Louisiana folklore, myths and legends tied to voodoo, ghosts and vampires. That mix can help explain how New Orleans stories have travelled through generations and become part of the city’s identity. But the voodoo element deserves a note of caution: one participant felt the tour did not discuss it at all. If voodoo history is your main reason for booking, this may not deliver the depth you want.

The paranormal detector is a real EMF meter, used during the walk as a ghost or paranormal prop. It adds a bit of hands-on fun to a tour built around haunted places, but it should be understood as entertainment rather than a reliable way to prove anything supernatural. The company charges $250 for lost or damaged equipment, so handle it carefully and return it to staff.

There is also a stated ban on video and audio recording. Keep your phone away for recordings and listen to the guide instead. That rule may be a surprise if you planned to capture the stories, so know it before setting out.

Cocktails are part of the mood, not the ticket

The tour’s concept pairs drinks with dark history, but the $23 fee does not include beverages. You can purchase your own drink if you want one, but the information provided does not promise a bar stop or a particular number of stops inside drinking venues. One account enjoyed visiting bars, while another found the route limited. Treat a cocktail as an optional extra, not a guaranteed component of the itinerary.

That makes the base price fairly modest for a two-hour guided walk, especially if you value local stories and want an easy introduction to the Quarter after dark. The guide, storytelling and route are included; drinks are not. If you buy several cocktails, the total rises quickly, so consider the $23 price the cost of the tour itself rather than an all-in evening out.

The subject matter is adult in tone, and the operator reserves the right to refuse service to anyone who is extremely intoxicated in a disruptive or disrespectful way. That is sensible on a walking tour over old, uneven streets. Wear shoes you can walk in, and keep your balance in mind if you choose to drink.

Who will get the most from this walk

I’d consider this tour if you like true crime, ghost stories and local history delivered in a casual, social setting. It can suit a first-time visitor who wants to see familiar French Quarter landmarks while hearing about less polished chapters of the city’s past. The combination of named crime sites, folklore and a paranormal gadget gives the evening a more theatrical feel than a standard architecture walk.

It is less suited to someone seeking a scholarly treatment of voodoo, guaranteed entry into historic buildings, or an exhaustive visit to every location named. The story list is long, but two hours means the guide must choose what to emphasize. If you want a particular subject covered, contact the operator before booking rather than assuming it will receive a full segment.

The tour is in English and lasts two hours. It can be cancelled if too few people sign up, in which case the operator says a full refund will be issued. The activity is otherwise non-refundable, and no refund is offered if you arrive late or cancel because of weather. The supplier may reschedule for bad weather, so check your plans and arrive on time. Old, uneven streets can pose a risk of trips or falls, and the operator does not accept responsibility for injuries or lost or stolen belongings.

Should you book the New Orleans Cocktails, History, Voodoo & Paranormal Tour?

Book it if you want a reasonably priced French Quarter walk built around dark stories, with a chance to buy a drink and a guide to bring the neighborhood’s legends to life. The strongest version of the tour seems to be a lively, personal account from a guide like Cody or Coty, mixing local history with crime and spooky lore.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed voodoo lesson, indoor access, or a precise schedule of stops. The route and storytelling appear to shape the night more than a fixed series of visits. At $23, it is a fair gamble for a curious history or true-crime fan, provided you arrive on time, keep drink costs separate and accept that the stories may be more entertaining than exhaustive.

FAQ

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $23 per person. Drinks are not included.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts two hours. Check availability for the starting times.

Where does the tour meet?

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

What language is the tour in?

The live tour is in English.

Are drinks included?

No. You can purchase drinks separately, but they are not included in the tour price.

Which locations are covered?

The route includes locations such as Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, the Presbytère, St. Anthony’s Garden, the Ursuline Convent, the LaLaurie Mansion and the Sultans Palace.

Can I record the tour?

No. Video and audio recording are not allowed.

What happens if the tour is cancelled?

The operator may cancel if there are not enough participants, in which case a full refund is issued. The supplier may also reschedule because of bad weather. The activity is otherwise non-refundable, and late arrival or cancellation due to weather does not qualify for a refund.