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New Orleans Cocktail Tour

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Trip Highlights

Enjoy iconic New Orleans cocktails at the historic bars that made them famous
Small group of 9 — intimate, relaxed, and genuinely social
Get the real history of the American cocktail, told right where it started
Walk the Quarter the way locals do with no tourist traps or scripted performances
Leave with new friends, full glasses, and stories worth repeating

Description

New Orleans didn't invent drinking…but it did invent doing it better! The Sazerac, the Ramos Gin Fizz, and the Grasshopper weren't accidents. They were born in the bars, parlors, and back rooms of the French Quarter by people who believed a great drink deserved a great story. This is a small-group walking tour through the heart of one of the world's great drinking cities. You'll visit some of the oldest and most storied bars in the country, taste cocktails that defined American drinking culture, and hear the real history behind what's in your glass. Not the rehearsed version, the actual one. Your guide keeps the group small, just nine guests maximum, so you're never shouting over a crowd, never rushed, and never part of a pack. Drinks aren't included in the tour price, and that's by design: whether you want to share a round with friends, order your own, or simply soak it all in, the choice is entirely yours. By the time the evening ends, you won't just know what you drank. You'll know why it matters.

Tour info

Duration
2 hours 30 minutes
Group Size
Up to 9 people
Price starts at
$39
Languages
English
Pickup Point
We’ll meet at: the Bourbon O bar inside the Bourbon Orleans Hotel at 730 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA 70116
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Dropoff location
The tour will conclude near Jackson Square, in the heart of the French Quarter.
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Why take this tour?

New Orleans has more bars per block than almost anywhere in the United States, and most visitors never find the good ones. They end up on Bourbon Street with a plastic cup, wondering what all the fuss is about.

This tour is for the traveler who wants to sit at a bar that's been pouring since before their grandparents were born, actually understand what they're holding, and somehow end up laughing with people they didn't know when the night started. (We can't promise that last part, but it tends to happen when the group is small, the guide feels like a local friend, and the night stops feeling like a tour!)

With a maximum of nine guests, every stop feels personal. Your guide isn't reciting a script; they're sharing a city they know and love, one drink at a time. Whether you're a cocktail enthusiast or just someone who appreciates a good story, you'll leave the French Quarter with a deeper connection to one of America's most extraordinary cities.

Please note: This tour is for guests 21+ only, does not include drinks or food and will proceed rain or shine. Wear comfortable shoes and get ready to raise your glass to New Orleans!

Included

  • Guided Tour
  • Licensed Local Guide

Excluded

  • Guide Gratuity
  • All Cocktails & Drinks

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ll meet at: the Bourbon O bar inside the Bourbon Orleans Hotel at 730 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA 70116.
We recommend arriving 5-10 minutes before your start time. Late arrivals can't always be accommodated once the tour is underway.
Our groups max out at nine guests. That means more conversation, more attention from your guide, and a much more personal experience than you'd get on a larger tour.
Not even close. This is a history tour where the American cocktail is the lens. You'll leave knowing why New Orleans matters to the story of the drink — not just where the bars are. Guests who arrive visibly intoxicated will be asked to leave with no refund.
This tour is 21 and up. Guests must be of legal drinking age to enter the bars on the route, so children and strollers cannot be accommodated.
Drinks are not included, and that's intentional. You choose what you order and what you spend at each stop — no package pricing, no pressure. Non-drinkers are absolutely welcome and your guide will make sure you're taken care of at every stop.
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.
The tour moves at a steady pace and stopping for food isn't possible. We strongly recommend eating a solid meal beforehand — and your guide will have great recommendations for afterward.
No problem! Private tours are available for larger groups. Just select “Private Tour” at check out or give us a call or email.
Yes, with a little advance planning. Give us a call before your tour and we'll add a note to your booking so your guide can make the appropriate adjustments on the ground.
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.

Things to know

Tour Duration

The tour lasts approximately 2.5 hours.

Age Requirement

Participants must be 21 years or older.

Cancellation Policy

We offer two types of tickets: non-refundable and refundable. Refundable tickets allow you to cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the tour starts. All Private tours have a 72-hour cancellation policy, while Custom and Corporate tours follow the refund policies outlined in the contract.

Weather Considerations

Tours run rain or shine, so please dress accordingly.

Public Tour Size

Limited to just 9 people for an intimate and personalized experience.

Private Tour Pricing

Enjoy an exclusive and personalized experience with a private tour, starting at just $299.

Accessibility

Wheelchair-friendly with advanced notice!

Recent Reviews

591 Verified reviews
Lia S.
Google Reviews

Lia S.

January 19, 2026

Every time I come to New Orleans I do a tour with New Orleans Secrets!!! This time I brought my company for a team outing and we did the cocktail tour with Barrett; the voodoo tour with Evian, and the absolutely delicious food tour on Magazine Street with Ty. I also recommend the…

Karen Chedotal
Google Reviews

Karen Chedotal

November 7, 2025

We loved the Cocktail History Tour!! All of the places we visited introduced us to new and different places that were not expected. We loved everything by about this tour, connecting the history of New Orleans, the origin of the drinks and food, and the special lagniappe at the e…

Tracy
Google Reviews

Tracy

November 1, 2025

My wife and I had the most wonderful experience with Ty. He took us to some fantastic bars, introduced us to some amazing cocktails, and shared terrific stories about the history of the drinks and of New Orleans. I recommend this tour to any and everyone! I believe we have found …

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