Quick Details
The New Orleans Cocktail Tour
Cocktail history IS New Orleans history!
Sometimes neat…sometimes on the rocks…but always very, very interesting!
This French Quarter walking tour explores the parallels between our resilient and vibrant city with the tasty, storied cocktails that (refreshingly!) reflect her.
Get an insider’s look at some of the best French Quarter bars, each with their own story to tell. Imbibe in notable New Orleans cocktails while your guide reveals the historical events that are reflected in each, thoughtfully-chosen ingredient.
Plus, in our tiny group, ask questions! Looking for award-winning bartenders? Love a good dive bar? You’ll get recommendations specifically based on your taste and preferred vibe, many of which only a local would know.
What This Is:
- An outdoor walking tour that visits multiple cocktail venues in the French Quarter
- A history and culture lesson about cocktails that are significant to New Orleans
- Recounting the history of the first American cocktail, invented right in the French Quarter
- Insight into notable people, events, architecture and more
- Interactive! It’s more like a friend is showing you their favorite spots
- The opportunity for personalized recommendations for the rest of your trip
What This Is Not:
- A drunken pub crawl
- A cattle-call of tourists – your tour will only have 9 people or less!
- Bourbon Street
- For guests under 21
- An all-inclusive ticket: Drinks are not included and are optional
The Most Interesting Happy Hour You’ll Ever Have!
Drinks are not included with the tour price, and no guest is obligated to buy drinks at any stop. We also encourage sharing! Please note that no food is available during the tour. This walking tour covers about one mile and will be held rain or shine, so wear comfortable shoes for walking on uneven sidewalks and bring proper gear for the weather. At least two people are needed to run this tour (may be booked separately).
Where Do We Meet?
We’ll meet at: the Bourbon O bar inside the Bourbon Orleans Hotel at 730 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA 70116.
FAQs:
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This tour visits bars, so everyone in the party must be 21 or older (the legal drinking age in Louisiana).
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Since they will not be allowed into the bars, we unfortunately cannot allow children of any age.
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No, drinks are not included. We have priced the tour without the inclusion of drinks so that our guests can decide for themselves if they want to share a drink, have their own drink, or not drink at all.
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The tour is scheduled for 2.5 hours (but sometimes due to factors such as walking speed of our guests or weather, the tour may be a little shorter or a little longer).
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Our tours run rain or shine; please bring an umbrella or poncho in order to stay dry during the tour. If the weather is severe enough that it poses a danger, we will call you to explain our decision and discuss alternatives (this is why it’s very important to list a good cell phone number when booking online!). If we cancel a tour because of severe weather, all guests will be given a full refund.
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This is definitely NOT a pub crawl! Instead, this is a great introductory New Orleans tour where the American cocktail is examined in the context of French Quarter history. Those showing up already inebriated will be asked to leave the tour with no refund given.
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Sure! We’ve priced the tour without the inclusion of drinks so that our guests can decide for themselves if they want to share a drink, have their own drink, or not drink at all.
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Depending on the route the guide takes, the walking could be from 0.8 to 1.2 miles. The route the guide decides upon will depend on such factors as weather, walking ability of the guests, drink preferences, number of guests, and whether or not certain bars are open on that day.
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Our groups max out at 9 people! We pride ourselves on small group sizes so you’ll never be a part of one of those massive 12+ person tour groups (some go up to 28!). Plus, our small-group tours give us access to more intimate places that larger groups cannot fit.
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The tour flows from place to place, so stopping for food will not be possible. We HIGHLY recommend that you have a decent meal before the tour, and we will give you great recommendations for afterward!
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Believe it or not, we don’t know yet! And that’s one of the hardest parts of leading this tour: there are so many great places that we love, yet we can only choose 3! But since our groups are so small, we like to wait until we actually meet you at the beginning of the tour before determining a route. That way we can pick what will best fit your group’s tastes and interests. We typically go to a mix of bars and restaurants in historic buildings and feature a range of drinks (from lighter to pre-prohibition) and often highlight two at each venue to cater to multiple palates.
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No problem! Private tours are available for larger groups. Just select “Private Tour” at check out or give us a call or email.