Ghost Tour and Haunted Pub Crawl Party with Free Shot

New Orleans does spooky storytelling best when the setting is real, the drink is cold, and the past feels close enough to touch. This two-hour French Quarter walk brings you to places tied to ghosts, tragedy, pirates, voodoo, and three centuries of grim local tales, with a free shot to get the evening moving.

I like the bar stops and the way the tour mixes a party mood with serious local history. I also like the guides’ personal style. Pandi, Clarissa, and Wendy have earned especially warm praise for their humor, photographs, city knowledge, and easy way with a group.

The main thing to watch is the word pub crawl. The number of bar stops can vary, and some evenings may feel more like a ghost walk with a drink than a full night of bar hopping. If you want nonstop drinking or a parade of paranormal sightings, this may feel light.

Key points before you book

• You start with a free shot: Meet at BMC Balcony Music Club on Frenchmen Street, where you can also use drink specials.
• Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop is the standout bar stop: This old French Quarter watering hole adds atmosphere and a genuine sense of place.
• The LaLaurie Mansion is a major story stop: You hear about one of New Orleans’ most notorious houses, also known for its connection to American Horror Story.
• The walk is social, not solemn: Expect beads, drinks, jokes, ghost photographs, and a group capped at 28 people.
• The guides shape the night: Pandi and Clarissa receive the strongest praise, while Wendy is noted for her local perspective and humor.
• The itinerary can change: At least one scheduled stop may be skipped, so treat the route as a general plan rather than a guarantee.

What kind of night is this?

This is a walking tour with a party edge. You are not signing up for a quiet lecture on architecture, nor are you joining a bar crawl built around drinking at every corner. The appeal sits between the two.

You walk through the French Quarter while your guide frames familiar streets and buildings with stories of murder, spirits, voodoo, illness, scandal, and the city’s long relationship with death. You also go into bars, receive one shot, and get drink discounts along the way.

That blend works well in New Orleans. The French Quarter can feel theatrical at night, but the strongest moments come when the guide connects a real building to a specific tale. A good storyteller can make an ordinary doorway or balcony worth your attention.

The group may include couples, friends, birthday parties, and families with older children. The maximum size is 28, which is large enough for a social mood but small enough for a guide to keep the group together. Your enjoyment will depend heavily on the guide assigned that night. Pandi and Clarissa are especially strong choices based on the praise attached to their storytelling, energy, photographs, and personal attention.

Starting at BMC Balcony Music Club

The tour begins at 507 Frenchmen Street, at BMC Balcony Music Club. You meet the host inside or around the bar, settle in with the group, and get the evening’s first drink opportunity.

The free shot is included in the price. You also receive drink specials, so this opening stop gives you a practical reason to arrive ready to socialize rather than treating the meeting point as a quick street corner greeting. Complimentary Mardi Gras beads add a small but fitting New Orleans touch.

The opening lasts about 15 minutes. That is enough time to meet the guide, get the first story, and order a drink if you want one. It is not enough time for a long sit-down session, so arrive prepared to move on.

This first stop also sets the tone. The stories begin with the darker side of New Orleans, but the mood is casual. You might be laughing with the group one moment and hearing about a grim event the next. That contrast is part of the appeal.

Keep in mind that the free shot is one shot, not a free drink at every bar. Some people arrive expecting a larger drinking package and end up disappointed. I would book this for the stories first and count the alcohol as a bonus.

The LaLaurie Mansion and its dark reputation

The walk then brings you to the LaLaurie Mansion, a French Quarter landmark with one of the city’s most disturbing reputations. The stop lasts about 30 minutes and centers on the mansion’s past, its alleged hauntings, and the stories that have made it a fixture of New Orleans ghost lore.

You view the exterior and hear the tale from the street. This is not a mansion tour, and the admission is listed as free because the experience takes place outside. That matters if you are hoping to enter the building or inspect its rooms. You will not be getting that kind of access.

The house also gained wider attention through American Horror Story. The television connection may attract fans, but the tour’s value comes from placing the story within New Orleans rather than treating the building as a television prop.

This is one of the stops you will likely care about most if the mansion is already on your must-see list. One caution: the route is not fixed in stone. An evening in March reportedly skipped both the LaLaurie Mansion and the Andrew Jackson Hotel, which caused real disappointment. The guide was praised, but the missing stops mattered. If those two locations are your main reason for booking, confirm the current route before paying.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, where the drink matters

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar is the tour’s most natural meeting of setting, story, and drink. The bar is tied to pirate lore and ghost tales, and the building’s old-world appearance gives the stop a stronger atmosphere than a standard modern pub.

You spend about 30 minutes here. That is long enough to order a drink, listen to the guide, and take in the room without turning the tour into a long bar stay. The point is not simply to drink in an old place. It is to hear why the place matters while you are standing inside it.

This is also where expectations need managing. The description promises visits to haunted bars and drink discounts, but the exact number of bars can vary. One dissatisfied customer described only one especially worthwhile bar and a short drinking period, while other accounts describe good drinks and enough time at the stops.

So, think of Lafitte’s as the signature pub stop, not proof that the whole evening will be a four-bar crawl. If you enjoy a drink with atmosphere and a story, you are getting useful value here. If you want a serious pub tour with several rounds, $19 may still be inexpensive, but the format may not satisfy you.

Andrew Jackson Hotel and the French Quarter after dark

The route is also designed to include the Andrew Jackson Hotel, a French Quarter Inns property associated with ghost stories and reports of apparitions. The stop lasts about 30 minutes and takes you through nearby backstreets where your guide can point out places connected to paranormal legends.

Bring your camera. The guide may show ghost photographs or suggest places where unusual images have appeared. Clarissa in particular has been praised for sharing evidence photographs, theories, and personal stories. Do not treat the camera tip as a promise that you will capture a ghost. It is simply a playful part of the tour.

The walk through the backstreets gives the evening some breathing room. You are not locked inside bars the whole time, and you get a better sense of how close the French Quarter’s nightlife sits to its old homes, courtyards, hotels, and narrow streets.

Again, the stop may not appear on every departure. The reported missed visit is important because this hotel, along with the LaLaurie Mansion, was one of the places some people most wanted to see. The guide may be excellent and still be working with a changed route, timing issue, or evening plan.

The guides make or break the storytelling

The strongest praise goes to the guides, not to the alcohol. Pandi is described as warm, funny, easy to find, and full of fascinating stories. She has also helped groups with practical matters, such as where to stand so pedestrians can pass, and has offered suggestions for continuing the night.

Clarissa receives repeated praise for energy, humor, photographs, city information, and care with her group. She has also been described as staying on after the official tour to suggest music stops. That sort of local help can be valuable if you are new to New Orleans and want the night to continue.

Wendy is noted for an insider view and a humorous take on the area’s darker past. Quay received a mixed response from one person, but the same account still called him cool and found parts of his storytelling enjoyable. Another evening included a voodoo blessing ceremony with Kalindah Lavaux, which changed the balance between planned stories and a special local presentation.

Guide assignments are not guaranteed, so you cannot assume you will get Pandi or Clarissa. Still, the repeated strength of those names tells you what to value: a good guide turns familiar stops into an evening with personality.

What you actually get for $19

At $19 per person, this is a low-cost way to fill two hours in the French Quarter. Your price includes the guide, one alcoholic shot, drink discounts, haunted locations, and the walk itself. There is no separate admission charge for the listed stops.

That is solid value if you would otherwise spend the evening wandering and buying drinks on your own. One shot alone does not justify the price, but it helps offset the cost. The greater value comes from the guide’s route, stories, and suggestions for what to do afterward.

The price also keeps the risk low. If you discover that ghost stories are not your thing, you have not committed to an expensive nighttime attraction. On the other hand, the low price explains why the experience should not be judged like a private tour. You share the night with a group, and the exact amount of time inside each bar may be limited.

I would call the value strongest for first-time visitors who want a lively introduction to the French Quarter. People who already know the area and want fresh, detailed history may find some stops familiar, though the guide’s personal stories can still make the route worthwhile.

Walking, timing, and practical comfort

The walk lasts about two hours and is described as easy by one person who took the tour. You should still expect to spend most of the time on your feet and moving between stops. Wear shoes you can walk in comfortably, especially if you plan to continue into the French Quarter afterward.

The meeting point is 507 Frenchmen Street. The tour ends at MRB Bar & Kitchen, 515 St Philip Street, so you do not finish where you started. That is useful if you want to keep the night going near the French Quarter, but it means you should note the end point before arranging a ride.

The activity is offered in English. Mobile tickets are accepted, service animals are allowed, and public transportation is nearby. Most people can take part, though anyone who needs a slower pace should consider the walking and the group format.

The group maximum is 28. That is not an intimate private outing, but it avoids the feel of a huge street march. Stay close to the guide, especially around crowded sidewalks, and listen for changes in the route.

The tour requires good weather and a minimum number of participants. If poor weather cancels it, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Inside that window, refunds are not available.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would choose this tour for:

• Friends looking for a social first night in New Orleans
• Couples who like spooky stories with a drink
• Birthday groups and girls’ weekends
• Visitors who want a low-cost introduction to the French Quarter
• People who enjoy local legends more than formal museum-style history
• Anyone who wants recommendations for music and bars after the tour

I would be more cautious if you want a serious paranormal investigation, guaranteed access to every listed stop, or a long stay at several bars. The ghost stories are the main event, and some accounts describe the evening as more history and tragedy than actual ghost sightings.

You should also think about how you handle alcohol. The tour includes one shot and drink discounts, but it is not a reason to drink heavily. The streets, group movement, and storytelling all work better when you can keep up and pay attention.

Should you book the Ghost Tour and Haunted Pub Crawl?

Book it if you want a modestly priced French Quarter walk with ghost stories, one free shot, and a friendly party mood. The best version of this evening comes from a strong guide, especially someone with the warmth and energy associated with Pandi or Clarissa. Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop adds a memorable setting, and the LaLaurie Mansion gives the tour a clear dramatic center.

Skip it if your priority is a guaranteed, extensive pub crawl or a strict route covering every advertised location. The itinerary can shift, and the drinking may be lighter than the name suggests.

For $19, I think the sensible approach is to see this as a ghost walk that happens to include bars, not a bar crawl decorated with ghost stories. Book it early if your dates are fixed, arrive ready to walk, and treat the free shot as a welcome rather than the main attraction.

FAQ

How much does the tour cost?

The tour costs $19 per person.

How long does the experience last?

It lasts approximately two hours.

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins at BMC Balcony Music Club, 507 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116.

Where does the tour end?

It ends at MRB Bar & Kitchen, 515 St Philip Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70116.

Is a drink included?

One alcoholic shot is included. Drink discounts are also provided.

Does the tour visit Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar?

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar is included as a planned stop, with about 30 minutes scheduled there.

Does the tour visit the LaLaurie Mansion?

The LaLaurie Mansion is a planned stop, with about 30 minutes scheduled for the visit. The route can change, so the stop is not guaranteed on every departure.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The tour is offered in English.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 28 people.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.