New Orleans has a way of making the dark parts feel personal. This 2-hour Drunk History style tour blends true crime, voodoo and paranormal tales, and a real EMF meter walk-through while you’re keeping a cocktail close. I like that it’s built for people who want story, not lectures, and that the route threads major French Quarter landmarks into the murders, legends, and folklore. One drawback to think about: the experience can lean more life-and-crime story than voodoo-heavy, depending on your guide and timing.

You’ll meet on Bourbon Street right outside Lafittes Blacksmith Shop Bar, then walk past iconic sites like Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral, with stops tied to murders and mysteries that shaped the neighborhood. The big theme is past and present criminal New Orleans, with pirates, felons, and the kinds of stories people still whisper about. At $23 for 2 hours, it’s a pretty strong value if you like spooky storytelling, but you should plan for drinks to be on you since they are not included.

Key Points to Know Before You Go

• Real EMF meter paranormal moments during the walk
• French Quarter true crime route tied to well-known sites and stories
• Voodoo and Cajun folklore themes (though the weight varies by guide)
• Professional storytelling and guides with over a decade of hosting experience
• $23 is for the tour, not the drinks

Entering the Story: What This Tour Feels Like

This is not a museum tour with quiet pacing. It’s a walking show where you’re meant to keep moving, listen closely, and let the city’s darker chapters connect the dots. The format mixes three flavors that work well together in New Orleans: old crime stories, local legends, and a paranormal angle with a real EMF meter. If you like True Crime podcasts and ghost-themed history, this setup is basically made for your kind of evening.

I especially like how the tour is built around the French Quarter as a living stage. You’re not just hearing names. You’re hearing why those names matter, and then you’re walking the blocks that helped make the stories stick. That local framing matters because New Orleans isn’t laid out like a clean timeline. It’s a layered city, and this tour leans into that messiness.

The other reason the format works: it’s interactive in the sense that you’re actively participating through attention. You’ll be using the EMF meter during the paranormal segment, which gives the spooky parts a hands-on feel instead of pure talk.

Price and Value: Is $23 a Good Deal?

At $23 per person for a 2-hour guided walk, you’re mostly paying for two things: the guide’s storytelling time and the route design that links crime, landmarks, and folklore into one night. That’s the part you can’t easily recreate on your own without doing a lot of homework.

You do need to understand what’s not included. Drinks are not included, even though the tour is clearly designed for the French Quarter cocktail rhythm. So your final night cost depends on how much you buy on Bourbon Street and nearby bars. If you like to keep things casual and just have one drink, this can stay a good-value plan. If you plan on multiple cocktails, your budget should reflect that.

Also note the tour is non-refundable, so only book if your timing is solid. You’ll still get the value in the storytelling if you show up ready to listen, because this experience is built on narrative payoff at each stop.

Meeting Point on Bourbon Street: Find the Gate, Not the Bar

Your meeting point is very specific, and it matters because New Orleans can be busy.

Meet on the sidewalk in front of Lafittes Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA 70116. The tour does not meet inside the bar. Instead, you’ll meet your guide on the sidewalk at the gate of the courtyard attached to the bar.

One practical note: the operator says they are not affiliated with Lafittes Blacksmith Shop Bar, and bartenders aren’t part of the tour. So don’t expect them to direct you inside or answer tour questions. Bring your confirmation and arrive a few minutes early so you can check in before the tour departs.

Your Route: From Jackson Square to Haunted House Stops

The route centers on the French Quarter’s past and present, with stops that range from famous landmark clusters to locations tied to murders and hauntings.

Jackson Square and the Cathedral Complex

You’ll pass Jackson Square and the area around The St. Louis Cathedral, The Cabildo, and The Presbytere. This is one of those places where you can look at the architecture and feel how New Orleans became New Orleans. For this tour, those big landmark stops aren’t just pretty scenery. They’re reference points the guide uses to connect the neighborhood’s older power structure and daily life to the darker stories that followed.

If you want your ghost and crime tales to feel grounded, this kind of start helps. It gets you oriented fast and gives the tour a geographic spine.

Stroll through St. Anthony’s Garden and the Ursuline Convent Area

The tour includes St Anthony’s Garden and the area connected with the Ursuline Convent. Even if you’re not a garden person, these stops add contrast. Crime stories hit harder when the environment feels real and lived-in, not just themed.

This is also where you may pick up on the tour’s folklore angle, including Cajun superstition and Louisiana myths tied to voodoo, ghosts, and vampires.

The LaLaurie Mansion: One of the Main Horror Anchors

The big “wait, what” stop is The LaLaurie Mansion, described as the most haunted house in New Orleans. The tour frames it as a place tied to tragedy, and it uses that location as a turning point in the night’s storytelling.

One caution based on how tours like this can vary: you might not go inside. Based on the information provided, the tour route includes locations and storytelling connected to them, and some stops may be outside rather than interior access. If you’re hoping for deep on-site look-ins, keep your expectations flexible.

Sultans Palace and an Unsolved Mass-Crime Story

You’ll also visit The Sultans Palace, described as the place where the largest mass murder took place in New Orleans, and the story is said to remain unsolved. That sets up a different tone from the older haunted-house myth angle. It’s more about case history and the emotional weight of crimes that stayed unresolved.

If you’re a True Crime fan, this section is likely the part you care about most because it’s tied to an unsolved element, not only legend.

The Zach and Addie Murder-Suicide Story

Another named highlight is the tragic 2006 murder suicide in the French Quarter involving Zach and Addie. The tour calls it one of the most infamous murders in New Orleans’ history and frames it as a heartbreak story.

This is also where the “order of operations” in the tour matters. You’re building up from folklore and famous landmarks into specific crimes, so the middle feels like it’s turning from spooky to serious.

Hollywood Footprints and Movie Filming Stops

As you walk, the guide will also point out where Hollywood stars have called home in the French Quarter and where unforgettable movies were filmed. The details aren’t specified here, but the purpose is clear: it helps you see how the French Quarter’s image got exported through film and fame.

This is a nice balance if you like your crime history, but you also want a reason to look up from the guide’s story and notice the buildings.

The Paranormal Moment: Using the EMF Meter

This tour includes a real EMF Meter (ghost/paranormal detector) during the experience. That means the paranormal part isn’t only a spooky explanation. There’s a device involved, and your group will have a chance to witness what the guide is interpreting in real time.

A practical way to think about it: treat it as part of the show. You’re still on uneven old streets, and you’re still listening to story. The EMF meter is there to heighten the moment and give the paranormal segment a physical cue.

One more practical note: the tour mentions paranormal equipment. There’s a $250 fee charged for lost or damaged paranormal equipment, and the equipment must be returned to staff. That’s a hint that the device is handled with care, so you should keep your hands off anything that isn’t clearly yours to manage.

Voodoo and Folklore: What You’ll Get and What Might Vary

The tour advertises Cajun superstitions and Louisiana folklore, with myths and legends connected to voodoo, ghosts, and vampires. That’s the theme. The exact depth of voodoo content can vary.

One consideration before you book: if your top priority is a heavy voodoo deep dive, be aware the tour’s true-crime weight may take center stage. The structure is built around murders, criminals, and hauntings, and folklore tends to support those stories rather than replace them.

That said, for many people, this blend is the real win because New Orleans folklore often acts like a neighborhood language. Even when you’re hearing about crime, you’re also hearing how local culture explains fear.

Drinks, Rules, and Staying On the Right Side of Spooky

The tour is clearly designed for a night of walking with alcohol energy in the air. But again: drinks are not included, so you’ll pay as you go. If you want to keep a cocktail in hand, plan how you’ll manage it during the walk.

Also pay attention to the rules on recordings. Video recording and audio recording are not allowed. So take notes on your phone without recording, or just rely on memory and the guide’s spoken storytelling.

The operator also reserves the right to refuse service to anyone extremely intoxicated in a way that is disrespectful or disruptive. That’s standard for a tour company using a walking format with serious subject matter. My advice: keep it fun, but stay in control. It helps the whole group, and it helps you catch the stories.

Finally, the streets are old and uneven. The tour warns that they’re not responsible for injuries due to old, uneven streets. Comfortable shoes are not optional here.

Who This Tour Fits Best

This is a strong match if you’re the kind of person who likes:

• True Crime stories with a strong sense of place
• Paranormal-themed history that uses an EMF meter
• French Quarter landmarks used as story anchors
• Nightlife energy mixed with dark storytelling

It’s less ideal if you want a slow, quiet, sit-down lecture. This tour is made for moving, listening, and reacting to what’s around you. It also might not satisfy people who want to go deep into voodoo as the main event rather than as part of a wider crime-and-legend story.

Things to Watch For: When a Tour Might Miss Your Expectations

The tour’s format can create a mismatch if you’re expecting lots of interior access or many separate stops that feel like major “checklist” entries. The experience focuses on storytelling tied to locations, and some stops may be outside with one key story at that spot.

There’s also a practical risk factor with any walking tour in the French Quarter: timing and show-up issues can happen. One past booking reported a guide never showed up and no communication. That’s not the whole pattern, but it’s enough that I’d treat your first hour like an active task. Arrive early, check in, and keep your confirmation handy.

Should You Book This New Orleans Cocktails, History, Voodoo & Paranormal Tour?

If you’re coming to New Orleans for the French Quarter after dark and you want a guided mix of true crime, voodoo-and-folklore talk, major landmarks, and an EMF meter moment, this is a fun, fairly priced choice. At $23 for 2 hours, you’re paying for a guided story arc, not for museum entry or drinks, so your money stretches best if you’re already planning to spend time on Bourbon Street.

I’d especially book if you love a guide who can keep the pace moving and make history feel like a living story. Past bookings have called out guides such as Cody for being friendly and informative, and for making the tour dynamic.

Skip or rethink it if voodoo is your only motivation, or if you strongly prefer tours that go inside multiple buildings. This one is about the walk, the stories, and the locations as story stages.

FAQ

Are drinks included in the tour price?

No. The tour price includes the licensed guide and professional storytelling, but drinks are not included.

Where do we meet for the tour?

Meet on the sidewalk in front of Lafittes Blacksmith Shop Bar at 941 Bourbon Street. Do not meet inside the bar. Meet at the gate of the courtyard attached to the bar.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about 2 hours.

Do they use an EMF meter on the tour?

Yes. A real EMF meter is used during the tour as a ghost/paranormal detector.

Can I record video or audio during the tour?

No. Video recording and audio recording are not allowed.

What happens if the tour is canceled due to a low number of participants?

If the tour is canceled after confirmation because there are not enough participants, you will be issued a full refund.