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

New Orleans history gets especially entertaining when it comes with a bar stop, a ghost story, and a tale about pirates or ladies of the night. This French Quarter walking tour mixes general history with voodoo, vampires, and paranormal lore, so you get more than a standard sightseeing stroll.

I like the low $15 price, which leaves room in your budget for drinks, and I like the route from Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar to Jackson Square. Guides such as Coty, also spelled Cody in guest feedback, bring an easygoing style that works well for a first night in town. The drawback is that drinks are not included, timing can stretch when bars are crowded, and one booking received a serious complaint about the guide not appearing.

Key points at a glance

• Start at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar: Meet outside at 941 Bourbon Street, not inside the bar.
• Finish at Jackson Square: The route keeps you in the French Quarter and ends near one of New Orleans’s best-known public spaces.
• History with a darker twist: Expect pirates, convicted felons, voodoo, vampires, ghosts, and other unsettling tales.
• Bring money for drinks: Alcohol and snacks cost extra at stops along the route.
• Try the paranormal equipment: Equipment is available during the walk, but you pay $250 if you lose or damage it.
• Allow up to two hours: The advertised time is one to two hours, depending partly on bar waits.

A Boozy History Walk Through the French Quarter

This experience is best understood as a moving storytelling session rather than a bar crawl with a fixed drink package. You walk through the French Quarter while your guide connects the streets, buildings, and local legends to New Orleans’s less respectable past.

The subject matter is broad. You may hear about pirates, convicted felons, ladies of the night, voodoo practices, ghosts, vampires, and other supernatural tales. The tour also covers general New Orleans history, so it is not limited to spooky stories.

I like that mix. A pure ghost tour can feel thin if you do not care about the supernatural, while a standard history walk may leave you wanting more character. Here, the stories are designed to entertain first, with enough historical material to give the French Quarter some context.

The drinking is flexible. You can buy drinks or snacks at stops along the route, but nothing is included in the $15 ticket. That keeps the entry price low and lets you decide how much you want to spend. It also means you should not arrive expecting a tasting tour or prepaid cocktails.

Starting at 941 Bourbon Street

The meeting point is on the sidewalk by the gate to the courtyard attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, at 941 Bourbon Street. This detail matters because the tour does not meet inside the bar, and the company is not affiliated with the bar at that address.

Arrive a few minutes early. The guides leave at the scheduled departure time, and a late arrival may find the group already gone. The company says it takes time-stamped photos of the meeting location at the start, so you should not rely on a last-minute phone call to catch up.

This is one of those tours where a little planning saves trouble. Put the address into your phone before leaving your hotel, confirm the departure time, and keep your mobile phone available for texts. Schedule changes, delays, or cancellations are commonly sent by text or email.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar is a fitting place to begin. The tour uses the location as its starting point, then moves into the surrounding French Quarter. The first hour is listed around this stop, though the actual timing can change depending on the pace and the wait at bars.

What You Hear Along the Route

The storytelling is the main event. You are not simply walking from one drinking stop to another. The guide uses the streets of the French Quarter as a setting for stories about crime, scandal, religion, superstition, and survival.

The tour’s tone is deliberately informal. You might hear about the people who gave New Orleans its rough reputation, then shift into a story about voodoo or a reported haunting. The vampire material adds another layer of folklore, while the paranormal equipment gives the supernatural theme a physical prop.

I would choose this tour if you enjoy stories that sit somewhere between local history and dark entertainment. It should suit someone who wants a lively introduction to the French Quarter without committing to a long museum visit or a formal lecture.

The information is presented as public history and researched material, but the paranormal claims are not promises. The company is direct about that. You may use the equipment and perhaps take an unusual photo, but there is no guarantee of seeing a ghost, vampire, spirit, or any other supernatural being.

That honest warning is useful. If you need proof of paranormal activity, this is the wrong experience. If you enjoy the possibility, the stories, and the fun of testing equipment in an old neighborhood, it adds interest without pretending that a ghost is waiting on schedule.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar and the First Hour

The opening section begins near one of the French Quarter’s well-known bars. From there, your guide introduces the neighborhood and sets up the darker stories that will follow.

The stop is listed as having free admission, but that does not mean your drinks are free. Alcoholic drinks and snacks are purchased separately along the route. The low ticket cost is therefore best viewed as payment for the guide and walking tour, not for food or beverages.

A strong part of this opening is the chance to settle into the group while learning the basic rhythm of the tour. You walk, stop, listen, and then decide if you want to buy a drink. The pace is described as moderate, so you need to be comfortable walking over old and uneven streets and sidewalks.

The guide may also offer paranormal equipment here or shortly after the start. You check it out at the beginning and return it before leaving the group. Handle it carefully, since the stated charge for lost or damaged equipment is $250.

That fee is easy to overlook. I would treat the equipment like borrowed museum gear, not like a toy to carry loosely while holding a drink. Ask the guide how it works before setting off, and make sure you return it directly before the tour ends.

The French Quarter Section and Its Darker Stories

The French Quarter portion brings together the tour’s main themes. This is where the walk becomes a full lesson in the neighborhood’s notorious past, with tales of outlaws, sex workers, voodoo, ghosts, and vampires.

The route stays on public property and does not enter private buildings or homes. That keeps the walk focused on the streets and public areas rather than promising access to supposedly haunted interiors.

You should also respect the fact that the French Quarter is a residential neighborhood. Do not ring doorbells, trespass, or wander away from the group for photographs. The guides need to keep moving at a moderate pace, and they cannot stop the whole tour whenever someone wants a picture.

The final point is Jackson Square. Ending there gives you a useful place to continue your evening, though no additional activity is included after the tour. The walk is not a return trip to Bourbon Street, so plan your next stop from Jackson Square.

How the Bar Stops Work

The tour visits famous bars as well as smaller or less obvious places that you might not find on your own. That local guidance is one of the best reasons to choose this format over simply walking down Bourbon Street alone.

Still, the bar stops are not guaranteed to run like clockwork. If a bar is crowded, the group may wait, and that can stretch a tour advertised at one hour into something closer to two hours. The company specifically notes that the duration depends partly on wait times inside the bars.

You may also find that not every stop suits every group member. Some bars do not allow children inside, though the tour includes walk-up windows for people who do not want to enter. This gives families or non-drinkers some flexibility, but the overall experience remains adult in tone because of the alcohol and subject matter.

You can buy drinks along the way, but the guide does not provide them. Keep your purchases moderate. The operator can refuse service to anyone who becomes extremely intoxicated, and the tour can be canceled for that person without a refund.

That policy is sensible for a walking group. The streets are uneven, the route moves through public areas, and the guide has to watch the whole group. I would treat the drinking as a small part of the experience, not its main goal.

Guides, Group Feel, and the Mixed Record

This is a family-owned and operated company run by Dustin Fisher, a retired U.S. Army sergeant, and Ashli Fisher. The company has operated since 2014 and focuses on walking tours about history, voodoo, ghosts, vampires, legends, and the supernatural.

The guide can shape the entire evening. Coty received praise for being friendly, entertaining, and able to answer questions. That kind of guide is particularly valuable here because the tour relies more on storytelling than on monuments or formal exhibits.

The available feedback is mostly positive, with strong comments about the history, the drinks, the walking pace, and the guides’ ability to make the experience fun. One person had a very different experience, reporting that the guide did not show up and that no one answered the phone.

That complaint is important to keep in mind. It does not prove the tour will fail, but it does mean you should confirm your mobile number, watch for texts, and arrive early. The company says tours can also be canceled if the minimum number of participants is not reached, sometimes close to departure.

The maximum group size is listed as 999, which is not a useful picture of the normal group. It simply means the booking system does not promise a small group. Your experience may depend on how many people book that departure.

Is $15 a Good Deal?

At $15 per person, this is one of the cheaper guided ways to get an introduction to the French Quarter. You are paying for a licensed local guide, a walking route, and a blend of history and folklore. You are not paying for drinks, snacks, reserved bar entry, or guaranteed paranormal activity.

I think the value is good if you want a short orientation on your first evening. A guide can point out places and stories that you might otherwise pass without noticing. The low ticket price also leaves your spending choices in your hands.

The value is less clear if you want a polished, tightly timed tour or a structured cocktail program. Bar crowds can slow the walk, and your final cost depends on what you buy. A person who orders several drinks could spend far more than the ticket price.

You should also remember that gratuities are not included. A tip is recommended if your guide provides the friendly, entertaining service the tour promises, so factor that into your budget.

Practical Details Before You Go

The tour lasts roughly one to two hours. It is a moderate-paced walking activity, and the old streets and walkways can be uneven or damaged. Wear shoes that can handle a steady walk, and prepare for New Orleans weather. The company says conditions can be very hot or quite cold.

The tour runs rain or shine unless the operator cancels or reschedules. No refund is offered for weather-related cancellation requests, and the booking is normally non-refundable and unchangeable. If the company cancels because the minimum number is not met, you may be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The tour is near public transportation. Audio and video recording are not allowed, but photographs are encouraged.

Keep your phone charged and make sure the operator has a working mobile number. Text messages are used for updates, including delays and cancellations. If you have a problem, raise it during the tour rather than waiting until later.

Who Should Book This French Quarter Walk?

I would recommend it to adults who want a relaxed first-night introduction to New Orleans, especially if they enjoy local legends and do not mind a little theatrical darkness. It also suits couples or friends who want a walk with conversation, drinks, and stories rather than a quiet historical lecture.

It is a good fit for visitors who want to learn the layout of the French Quarter while discovering bars they might not locate alone. The $15 entry price makes it easy to add to an evening without making a large commitment.

I would think twice if you need guaranteed punctuality, included cocktails, step-free streets, or a confirmed paranormal encounter. Families should also check the bar situation, since not every stop accepts children.

Should You Book Cheers New Orleans?

Book this tour if you want a low-cost, entertaining walk that combines New Orleans history with voodoo, vampires, ghosts, and bar stops. The strongest reason to go is the guide-led storytelling, especially when a friendly guide such as Coty or Cody is leading the group.

Go in with clear expectations. You buy your own drinks, the tour may run longer when bars are crowded, the sidewalks can be rough, and the paranormal equipment is for fun rather than a promise of proof. Arrive early at the sidewalk meeting point, keep your phone available, and plan for weather.

For a first taste of the French Quarter’s darker side, the price is fair. Just do not book it expecting a cocktail package or a supernatural guarantee.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins 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 tour ends at Jackson Square in the French Quarter.

How long does the tour last?

The walk takes about one to two hours. The duration can change depending on wait times inside the bars.

Are drinks included in the ticket price?

No. Alcoholic drinks and snacks are not included. You can purchase them along the route.

Is paranormal activity guaranteed?

No. The operator does not guarantee that you will see or encounter ghosts, vampires, spirits, or any other supernatural activity.

Can I use paranormal equipment?

Yes. Paranormal equipment is available for use during the tour. It must be checked out at the beginning and returned to the guide before you leave.

What happens if I lose or damage the paranormal equipment?

A $250 fee is charged for lost or damaged equipment.

Can children join the tour?

Most people can participate, but some bars do not allow children inside. Walk-up windows are available at some stops for people who do not want to enter a bar.