REVIEW · NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans Bourbon Street Bar Crawl w/ Shots & Souvenir Cup
Book on Viator →Operated by Crawl New Orleans · Bookable on Viator
Bourbon Street, with guardrails. This 2-hour New Orleans bar crawl sets you up fast with welcome shots, a branded Crawl Cup, and a local guide who keeps the group moving. It’s one of those simple plans that turns your first hours in town into actual fun, not just wandering and guessing.
I especially like the two-slot choice: a calmer late-afternoon vibe or a bigger night-time party. I also like that the tour ends near the action, so you’re not trapped with a long walk back. One caution: while shots and discounts are part of the package, you may run into bars where the deal is tied to buying a drink, so keep some extra cash handy.
In This Review
- Key Highlights You’ll Care About
- Why This Bourbon Street Crawl Works in Two Hours
- Coyote Ugly Start: Crawl Cup, First Shot, and Easy Getting There
- French Quarter Walk: Stories, Games, and the Street-Cup Tip
- Bourbon Street Stops: How Day vs Night Changes the Vibe
- Drink Pricing and Value: The $35 Math on Bourbon Street
- Pacing, Crowd Energy, and Staying Included
- Where You End Up: Keep the Party, Then Keep Walking
- Who Should Book This Crawl (and Who Might Skip It)
- Should You Book This New Orleans Bourbon Street Bar Crawl?
- FAQ
- How long is the New Orleans Bourbon Street bar crawl?
- How many stops will I make during the crawl?
- Where do I meet, and where does the crawl end?
- What is the Crawl Cup used for?
- Are there different options for late afternoon versus night?
- Do I get welcome shots and games during the tour?
- What should I wear for a bar crawl that includes walking?
Key Highlights You’ll Care About
- Choose day or night energy: daytime leans live band; evenings lean DJ and nightclub-style stops.
- Crawl Cup at the start: your branded cup is used for drink discounts at some bars.
- First stop includes a welcome shot: you’re not waiting around to get the party rolling.
- Four bar stops on foot: guided movement through the French Quarter toward Bourbon Street.
- Games with included alcohol: structured fun so solo travelers don’t feel awkward.
- Local stories, not just signage: you’ll get quick context about the French Quarter’s look and layout.
Why This Bourbon Street Crawl Works in Two Hours
New Orleans rewards the people who move with a plan. This bar crawl is built for that. In roughly two hours, you’ll hit multiple stops along Bourbon Street and the nearby French Quarter without having to figure out where to go next or how to “start” the night.
The value isn’t only the drinking. The value is time. Bourbon Street can feel like sensory overload. A guide routes you through a set of places that match the time slot you choose, plus you get a branded cup that can help with drink pricing at some stops.
One more thing I like: the group size cap. With a maximum of 25 people, you’re not stuck in a massive mob where you can’t hear the guide or get included in the games.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in New Orleans.
Coyote Ugly Start: Crawl Cup, First Shot, and Easy Getting There
Your tour kicks off at Coyote Ugly Saloon, 225 N Peters St. It’s a smart starting point because you can reach it easily by rideshare or taxi, and it’s close to public transit. If you’re using the streetcar, the Riverfront route to Bienville Station gets you within about a two-minute walk.
At check-in, you’ll receive your Crawl Cup and your welcome shot. Then you meet your guide and the rest of the crawl group. This matters because it eliminates the awkward part of bar crawls: standing around wondering who’s in charge and when to move.
There’s also a practical angle here. Since you’re starting near the edge of the French Quarter and close to the Mississippi River, you’re positioned right where the city’s geography starts to make sense. You’re not far from iconic landmarks later, and you can easily keep exploring after the crawl ends.
If you’ve done other “meet at a bar” tours, you’ll appreciate that this one clearly signals the plan right away: cup, shot, then walking.
French Quarter Walk: Stories, Games, and the Street-Cup Tip
Before you hit Bourbon Street, you’ll spend a bit of time in the French Quarter area. After checking in, you’ll play drinking games with included alcohol. The point isn’t just to drink. The point is to give your group something shared so the whole experience feels like a party with structure.
Then you walk. The route shifts from the Coyote Ugly check-in area toward Bourbon Street, and you’ll hear a story about the architecture of New Orleans and why the city looks the way it does today. It’s not a long lecture, but it’s the kind of context that makes the Quarter feel less like a theme park and more like a real, lived-in neighborhood.
Here’s a key practical tip from the tour format: fill your Crawl Cup before leaving. New Orleans has a street-drinking culture for visitors during these kinds of moments, and the guide specifically reminds you that you can drink in the street. That’s helpful because it means you’re not constantly asking, What am I allowed to do with this cup?
Also, wear shoes you can walk in. Bourbon Street is not a sit-and-sip kind of lane. Even if you’re only on foot for about an hour-plus total, the stretches between venues can add up.
Bourbon Street Stops: How Day vs Night Changes the Vibe
Once you reach Bourbon Street, the crawl turns into what people actually came for: music spilling from doorways, bar signs you can’t stop noticing, and a lot of energy.
The tour’s venue selection changes based on your time slot:
- Late afternoon/day tours: you may find live band energy and more of a “start the night early” crowd.
- Evening/night tours: you’re more likely to get a DJ and a nightclub-style atmosphere at some stops.
In general, the selected places can include live music, shots, drink specials, karaoke, balconies, and even more club-like environments on evening crawls. The exact mix can vary, but the logic stays the same: the guide picks venues that match the timing and the mood.
One thing I think you should expect: Bourbon Street venues often operate with their own rules for how promotions work. Some places treat the free shot as part of a bundle. Some treat it like a standard “welcome” moment. Either way, your best move is simple: keep an eye on what you’re ordering and what you’re told the deal includes.
A couple of important real-world notes from experiences people describe:
- Some folks report that shots were tied to purchasing a drink at certain stops.
- One group described a billing issue at a stop where they were charged for more drinks than expected, and the venue manager handled it after it came up.
So my advice is to stay chill, but also stay alert. If you’re offered a conditional deal, confirm it clearly before ordering.
Drink Pricing and Value: The $35 Math on Bourbon Street
On paper, $35 sounds like a steal. In practice, you’re still on Bourbon Street, where prices can climb fast. The tour helps you manage that in two main ways: it includes structured drinking moments, and it uses your Crawl Cup to trigger discounts in some bars.
What’s included in the experience:
- A 2-hour bar crawl
- 4 stops across French Quarter and Bourbon Street bars/pubs/clubs/music venues
- Crawl Cup (branded and used for discounts)
- Drinking games with included alcohol
- Shots at multiple points (including a welcome shot)
- Drink specials
- A professional guide
This is why the value works best if you treat it like a guided night opener, not a guarantee of unlimited cheap drinks. You’ll likely spend more than $35 if you want to keep drinking after the crawl, and you may spend a bit during the crawl if a free shot is paired with buying something else.
If you want an easy strategy: budget for yourself like this—plan to follow the included shot moments, then set a spending limit for any extra drinks you choose. You’ll stay in control and still get the full party experience.
Pacing, Crowd Energy, and Staying Included
Walking tours on party streets can go two ways: either everyone stays together and has fun, or it turns into a shuffle where people get left behind. This crawl is designed to avoid the worst version by using a guide-led flow and keeping the overall size manageable (up to 25).
You’ll also notice the tour structure is built around group interaction. Games happen at the start in the French Quarter, and the guide role tends to be social: getting people involved, keeping momentum, and helping you move from one venue to the next.
From the experiences people share, guides like Jason and Josh come up often as hosts who keep the vibe fun and inclusive. Others mention guides like Autumn and Ben Wah as well. That matters because the guide is doing more than directions; they’re managing the group mood.
One more practical thing: hydrate and eat before you go. People recommend it for a reason. Even if the tour is only about two hours, Bourbon Street is loud, hot in warmer months, and heavy on the drinks. Your future self will thank you.
Where You End Up: Keep the Party, Then Keep Walking
The crawl ends at a venue on Bourbon Street near Orleans St, close to major landmarks like St Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square. The tour lists an end point at Bourbon Street Honky Tonk, 727 Bourbon St, and the practical takeaway is that you’ll finish near the central French Quarter sights.
That’s useful because it keeps your options open. After the crawl, you can:
- continue exploring nearby streets at a slower pace
- grab food and regroup
- head toward Jackson Square if you want a change of scenery from pure party energy
It’s a better ending location than many bar crawls that drop you somewhere far from everything.
Who Should Book This Crawl (and Who Might Skip It)
This crawl is a strong fit if you want:
- a low-planning New Orleans start
- a group-friendly first night activity
- a mix of drinking moments plus quick local stories
- a party that still has structure, especially if you’re traveling solo
It’s also good for birthdays and group celebrations, since the guided pacing and game elements help people connect quickly.
You might want to think twice if:
- you only want guaranteed free shots at every stop with no conditions
- you get frustrated by the realities of Bourbon Street pricing and venue-by-venue rules
- you’re not comfortable walking and standing in loud bars for short bursts
If you do book anyway, go in with a simple mindset: follow the included plan, but stay ready for extra purchases if a deal is conditional.
Should You Book This New Orleans Bourbon Street Bar Crawl?
If your goal is to get a fun, guided introduction to Bourbon Street without spending your whole evening figuring things out, I’d book it. The Crawl Cup, the welcome shot, the drinking games, and the guide-led route are designed for a smooth start, especially on a first trip.
My one “do this” recommendation is to go in with a small buffer plan. Bring extra cash for any drinks you choose to buy, and pay attention when a free shot is described as part of a deal. That way, you get the best of the party and none of the stress.
In short: this is a solid $35 primer for your Bourbon Street night—just treat it as a guided kickoff, not an unlimited-drink fantasy.
FAQ
How long is the New Orleans Bourbon Street bar crawl?
It runs for about 2 hours.
How many stops will I make during the crawl?
You’ll visit 4 different bars/venues across the French Quarter and Bourbon Street.
Where do I meet, and where does the crawl end?
You meet at Coyote Ugly Saloon at 225 N Peters St. You end at a Bourbon Street venue near Orleans St, near St Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square (the listed end point is Bourbon Street Honky Tonk, 727 Bourbon St).
What is the Crawl Cup used for?
You receive a branded Crawl Cup at the start, and it can unlock drinks discounts in some bars during your crawl trip.
Are there different options for late afternoon versus night?
Yes. You can choose a more relaxed late-afternoon slot or a livelier night-time slot, and the entertainment style changes (daytime leans live band; evening leans DJ and nightclub vibe).
Do I get welcome shots and games during the tour?
Yes. You get a welcome shot at the start, and there are also shots at multiple venues. You’ll also play drinking games with included alcohol.
What should I wear for a bar crawl that includes walking?
You’ll be walking between venues, so wear comfortable shoes. People specifically recommend tennis shoes, and it’s smart to hydrate and eat before you start.
