About this tour
When Ben from our team tried this New Orleans pub crawl, we weren't expecting the full horror-movie treatment — but that's exactly what the guides deliver. Over three hours, you'll hit five bars in the French Quarter whilst hearing dark local history: serial killers, murdered madames, voodoo bloodbaths, the Upstairs Lounge fire, and worse. The guides are actual practitioners of witchcraft or voodoo, so they lean hard into the macabre details rather than the usual sanitised ghost-story spiel. This isn't a tipsy bar-hop; it's a walking deep-dive into New Orleans' grittiest, most brutal past, with drinks purchased as you go.
Highlights
- Guides are practising witches and voodoo practitioners, not just storytellers
- Five working bars included; you're drinking where the histories happened
- Stories go graphic — serial murders, torture, cannibalism, lynchings — nothing glossed over
- Tour tailored to what interests your group, not a fixed script
- Guest-captured ghost photos shown; Ben saw some genuinely unsettling shots
- Private group means the pacing and content can shift based on your appetite
- French Quarter location is walkable and atmospheric, especially at night
What to expect
You'll meet your guide and walk through the French Quarter, stopping at five bars over the three hours. This isn't a slow meander — the pace is steady, and the stories come thick and fast. Ben found the guides didn't pull punches: they describe murders, sexual violence, and tortured deaths in detail. If you're curious about New Orleans' genuine dark underbelly rather than sanitised hauntings, that specificity is the whole point. The bars are real neighbourhood spots, so you'll rub shoulders with locals and tourists alike. Drinks are your call and your cost — cash is essential at some stops, though ATMs are on-site.
The tour works because the guides actually know the history and have community ties. Ben's group got slightly different stories and emphasis than a standard commercial tour would offer. The ghost photos are a nice touch if you're into that side of things. Fair warning: three hours of graphic stories about murder and violence is a lot. It's engaging, but it's deliberately heavy.
Good to know
If you love true crime, dark history, and New Orleans' genuine character beyond the tourist veneer, this nails it. Guides are knowledgeable and don't sanitise the content. The bar stops feel authentic — you're not herded through theme-park versions of history. Private groups mean you control the vibe and speed. Wheelchair accessible, and service animals welcome.
Not recommended if you're pregnant or have cardiovascular issues. Three hours of walking at night in the French Quarter is tiring for some. This tour is explicitly not for people easily offended by graphic violence, sexual content, or dark subject matter — that's not a bug, it's the feature, but know what you're signing up for. Drinks cost extra and cash is crucial; credit cards aren't accepted everywhere. Bring phone/email for booking contact. Gratuities aren't included but are expected. Peak times (weekends, festival season) mean larger groups elsewhere in the Quarter.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.