Crime and cocktails meet under French Quarter lanterns. This tour blends dark New Orleans history with true-crime storytelling and a hands-on paranormal twist, including use of a real EMF meter during the walk.

I especially like the way the stories feel guided, not just recited—two strong names came up in the experience feedback, including Cody and Coty, both praised for keeping the pace lively and the details clear.

One drawback to consider: the mix can tilt toward murder tales and general life history, so if you’re expecting heavy, nonstop voodoo, or if you want lots of stops and building access, you may feel the route is more limited than you imagined for a 2-hour format.

Key things that make this tour worth your night

• EMF meter gets pulled out as part of the paranormal entertainment
• Lafittes Blacksmith Shop courtyard gate is the meeting spot, not inside the bar
• Jackson Square and major landmarks set the stage for the crime-and-myth stories
• LaLaurie Mansion is included as a famously haunted stop
• Zach and Addie (2006) is one of the modern, infamous French Quarter cases covered
• No recording rules keep the experience more analog and focused

Price and what you actually get for $23

At $23 for a roughly 2-hour walking tour, you’re paying mainly for three things: a licensed guide, professional storytelling, and a route that hits big-name French Quarter locations tied to true crime and paranormal lore. What you’re not paying for is alcohol—drinks are not included, even though the vibe is clearly meant to feel like a late-night “booze-and-history” event.

So the value question is simple: if you want a structured, story-first walk with a bit of spook-tech (that EMF meter), $23 can feel fair. If you’re looking for a full bar-hopping crawl where alcohol is part of the ticket price, you’ll want to plan on buying your own drink(s) at stops.

Starting at Lafitte’s: the meeting point details that matter

This tour starts on Bourbon Street at 941 Bourbon Street, on the sidewalk in front of Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. Key detail: you do not meet inside the bar. Meet at the gate of the courtyard attached to the bar.

That one instruction matters because New Orleans tours can get chaotic at the start, and you don’t want to spend your first five minutes pacing the wrong entrance. If you’re early, hang back on the sidewalk at the courtyard gate and wait for your guide.

Also, the operator isn’t affiliated with the bar staff, so don’t count on bartenders to know anything about the tour. It’s all about finding the guide at that gate.

A two-hour combo of true crime, voodoo lore, and paranormal tech

The pitch is exactly what it sounds like: an adult, dark-history tour built for true crime fans, with voodoo and folklore woven into the storytelling. You’ll hear about New Orleans as it grew—pirates, convicted felons, and the darker underside of life in the French Quarter.

There’s also a structured paranormal element. The tour uses a real EMF meter (ghost/paranormal detector) to add entertainment during the walk. That’s not the same thing as proof of anything, but it can be fun—especially if you like the ritual of stopping, checking the device, and listening to the guide’s framing of what might be happening.

One more note that affects the mood: video recording and audio recording aren’t allowed. If your idea of travel content is filming every second, this isn’t designed for that. It’s designed for a more shared, live storytelling environment.

The French Quarter stops: what you’ll see and why the guide uses them

This tour doesn’t just point at plaques. It uses landmark locations as story anchors, jumping from the city’s founding-era themes into modern cases and then back into myth.

Jackson Square: St. Louis Cathedral, Cabildo, Presbytere

You’ll cover the Jackson Square area, including St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, and the Presbytere. In this kind of tour, these stops matter because they’re central, recognizable points where your guide can explain how New Orleans identity formed around religion, politics, and public life—then contrast that with the secretive, darker narratives the tour focuses on.

Even if you’ve visited Jackson Square before, it’s useful to hear it framed as a backdrop for crime stories and folklore rather than just scenic photos.

St. Anthony’s Garden and the Ursuline Convent area

The itinerary also includes St. Anthony’s Garden and the Ursuline Convent. These stops help keep the tour from feeling like one long murder story. They shift the atmosphere—less “street corner confession” and more “place where history lingers.”

You might not get inside any specific building from this tour format, but simply being in these spots while a guide connects local superstition and real-world tragedies can change how the neighborhood reads.

LaLaurie Mansion: the haunted-house hit

One stop you should clock in your head early is the LaLaurie Mansion, described as the most haunted house in New Orleans. This is the kind of location that turns a history walk into something spookier—because it’s hard not to feel the drama when a story revolves around one infamous address.

What to watch for: if you’re expecting a tour that goes inside, or multiple dramatic “scene reenactments,” the format may feel more exterior-focused. Some experience feedback specifically mentioned feeling like there weren’t as many locations as hoped.

Still, as a centerpiece stop, LaLaurie Mansion is a logical choice for a true-crime-and-paranormal theme.

Sultan’s Palace: the mass-murder story that remains unsolved

The tour also includes the Sultan’s Palace, described as a gorgeous mansion tied to the largest mass murder in New Orleans, with the crime still unsolved. Even without stepping inside, that kind of setting works well for a guide to explain how legends form around cases that never got clean closure.

If unsolved crimes and lingering questions are what pull you in, this stop is likely to land.

The 2006 Zach and Addie French Quarter case

Another major true-crime portion focuses on a tragic 2006 murder suicide in the French Quarter, including the story of Zach and Addie. The tour frames it as one of the most infamous murders in New Orleans’ history and highlights the heartbreak side of the case.

This is where you should decide if you’re comfortable with heavier subject matter. The tour does warn you in its own way—this is tragedy-led storytelling, and it expects you’ll want an adult beverage to keep listening.

Where Hollywood and film locations fit into a crime-and-myth walk

You’ll also pass by spots connected to Hollywood stars and movies filmed in the French Quarter. The point of this layer isn’t to become a film tour. It’s to show how New Orleans stories keep getting retold—on screen and in real life.

If you like seeing how the city becomes a setting, that part can add a fun, pop-culture angle between the darker stops.

Voodoo folklore and superstitions: what to expect from the theme mix

The tour specifically says it will cover Cajun superstitions and Louisiana folklore, including myths and legends tied to voodoo, ghosts, and vampires.

That said, one caution is practical: the theme mix may not match what you personally imagine. Some people looking for more direct voodoo storytelling felt the tour didn’t mention voodoo enough. If voodoo is your top priority, I’d treat this as a mixed-theme walk rather than a voodoo-only deep cut.

The best move is to contact the operator with your expectations ahead of time, because the tour creator explicitly invites questions and concerns.

Guides, pacing, and what the experience feels like on the ground

The tour experience lives or dies by delivery, and the feedback shows a clear split. Many positive comments highlight guides like Cody and Coty for being friendly, informative, and dynamic. People also mentioned that the tour felt like an interesting mix of bars, landmarks, and spooky sites.

But there are also negatives that are worth taking seriously:

• At least one booking had a guide no-show with no communication.
• Another person felt the tour didn’t take them to enough places, and that key elements (like the haunted-house focus) were limited to hearing a story from outside.

What I’d take from that: this is a small, story-centered walking show. It should feel fun and guided when it runs smoothly—but don’t book it as your only plan for the night if you’d be upset by a shortened route or a heavy focus on one or two big stories.

Also, the operator reserves the right to refuse service to participants who are extremely intoxicated in a way that is disrespectful or disruptive. So if you’re drinking, keep it social, not chaotic.

Practical tips: how to set yourself up for a good time

New Orleans walking isn’t about distance. It’s about uneven streets, curbs, and long blocks of concentration under street lighting.

A few practical moves will help:

• Wear comfortable shoes for old, uneven sidewalks.
• Plan for a device-free moment during the storytelling parts since recording isn’t allowed.
• If you want a cocktail vibe, plan to buy your drink(s) yourself since drinks aren’t included.

There’s also a detail unique to the paranormal angle: the tour uses paranormal equipment, and there’s a $250 fee for lost or damaged paranormal equipment, with equipment meant to be returned to staff. That means you should handle whatever gear you’re given carefully and listen for instructions.

Finally, the tour takes place outdoors, so weather can affect scheduling. If conditions get bad, the operator can reschedule, but the activity is listed as non-refundable.

Who this tour fits best

This tour is a strong match if you:

• Like true crime stories with real-world New Orleans settings
• Want a French Quarter walk that isn’t only architecture and folklore in general terms
• Enjoy the “try it and see” fun of a paranormal gadget moment

It may not be your best fit if you:

• Want nonstop voodoo content with lots of related stops
• Expect a long list of locations or lots of doorways opened along the route
• Need a tour that never includes darker material (this one is built around sketchy history and tragedy)

Final verdict: should you book this one?

If your ideal New Orleans night looks like true crime + eerie legend + a guided walk (with an EMF meter moment for extra atmosphere), this is a solid pick for the price. The best versions of it sound lively, with guides like Cody and Coty getting called out for clarity and energy.

Just go in with the right expectations: it’s 2 hours, it’s not a guaranteed inside-access tour, and it’s not a drink-included party. If you’re especially sensitive to the “dark history” angle, or if voodoo is your one must-have theme, message the operator first and confirm the balance you’re looking for.

FAQ

How long is the New Orleans Cocktails, History, Voodoo & Paranormal Tour?

The tour lasts 2 hours.

What is the price per person?

The price is $23 per person.

Are drinks included in the tour price?

No. Drinks are not included.

Where do I meet the tour guide?

Meet on the sidewalk at the courtyard gate attached to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, 941 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA 70116. Tours do not meet inside the bar.

Does the tour use paranormal equipment?

Yes. A real EMF meter (ghost/paranormal detector) is used during the tour.

Is the tour recorded or can I record it?

No. Video recording and audio recording are not allowed.

Is the tour in English?

Yes. The live tour guide and the tour language are English.