REVIEW · NEW ORLEANS
New Orleans: Guided Bourbon Street Bar Crawl with Shots
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by Crawl New Orleans · Bookable on GetYourGuide
Bourbon Street works better with a plan. This 2-hour crawl is built for meeting people, then breaking the ice with welcome shots at the start, before you hit multiple bars with your group. You’ll also get a souvenir crawl cup, which turns drink specials into something you can actually budget for.
My favorite part is the way it keeps your evenings moving—less guessing, more doing. You’ll still need to buy additional drinks beyond the welcome shots, and one downside showed up in a negative account: the guide route can feel a bit off for some tastes, including a reported stop that wasn’t typical for a standard Bourbon Street bar crawl.
In This Review
- Key Takeaways Before You Go
- Starting at Coyote Ugly and Building Your Group
- The 2-Hour Bourbon Street Walk-Through That Actually Works
- What the Crawl Cup Does for Your Wallet
- Live Music, Karaoke, and Party Games at Each Stop
- The Bars, the Street Views, and the Quick Photo Breaks
- When This Bar Crawl Is a Great Fit (and When It Isn’t)
- Should You Book This Bourbon Street Bar Crawl?
- FAQ
- How long is the Bourbon Street bar crawl?
- Where do I meet the guide?
- What is included in the $35 price?
- Are drinks included beyond the welcome shots?
- What should I bring?
- Is the tour for people under 21?
- Does the tour run in bad weather?
- What is the cancellation policy?
- Final Decision: Should You Take This One?
Key Takeaways Before You Go
- Start at Coyote Ugly’s big purple table so you find your group fast and don’t waste time in the crowd.
- Welcome shots are the icebreaker, so even shy folks have an easy entry.
- Your souvenir crawl cup can unlock drink specials during the tour, which is where the value comes from.
- Expect live music options, from DJs to live bands, plus karaoke as the night’s wild card.
- There are party games and local drink samples, so it’s not just walking and looking.
- The vibe is adult Bourbon Street, and one reported stop may feel surprising if you want a very mainstream bar lineup.
Starting at Coyote Ugly and Building Your Group
You’ll meet inside the Coyote Ugly Saloon on Bourbon Street, with the guide at the big purple table. That matters more than it sounds. Bourbon Street is noisy and crowded, and a clear meeting point helps you get rolling quickly instead of wandering for 20 minutes.
After you spot the guide, you’ll introduce yourself to the group and take that first welcome shot together. This is the tour’s smart move: it turns an intimidating party street into a shared activity. If you’re traveling solo, that first shot-as-an-icebreaker is the difference between standing around looking lost and actually joining the fun.
You’ll also receive a souvenir crawl cup. Think of it as your drink passport for the night. The goal isn’t just more cups for photos. It’s the mechanism that gets you special drink offers during the tour, which can be a real money-saver if you stick to the deals rather than ordering full-price everything.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in New Orleans.
The 2-Hour Bourbon Street Walk-Through That Actually Works
The whole experience runs about 2 hours, with a route that stays focused on Bourbon Street rather than spreading you across the entire French Quarter. You’re not on a bus. You’re walking, and you’ll feel the street energy up close.
Here’s how the timing plays out in real life:
- You start at Coyote Ugly Saloon, then do a short walk toward the French Quarter area.
- You then spend about 1.5 hours on Bourbon Street with your guide, moving between venues.
- There’s a quick spirits stop and then some sightseeing and a photo stop before you finish back down Bourbon Street.
What I like about this structure is the rhythm. Early on, you get your footing and your group gets comfortable with each other. Midway, the tour shifts into activities—music, drinking games, and quick samples—so you’re not stuck in a slow parade of standing in lines. Late in the tour, you still get a couple short breaks for photos and street views, then it ends before you feel like you’re stuck on the same street forever.
Because it’s rain or shine, wear shoes that can handle wet pavement and crowds. The tour runs on Bourbon Street time: tight sidewalks, slow-moving groups, and lots of people trying to get into the same venues you’re headed toward.
What the Crawl Cup Does for Your Wallet
The headline price is $35 per person, which includes a walking tour, a local guide, a souvenir cup, and the welcome shots. That’s the baseline.
The value question is what happens after that. The tour clearly notes that additional drinks are not included, so you’re paying for whatever you choose to buy at each stop. The key is that your crawl cup is your tool for better pricing. Instead of guessing what’s discounted, you have a structured way to take advantage of special drink deals while you’re on the crawl.
So here’s my practical advice: decide your drink budget before the first stop. If you treat the cup as the money-saving part of the experience, you’re much more likely to come out feeling like you got your $35 worth.
Also, keep expectations aligned with what’s included. The welcome shots are part of the plan, but not everything you try later will be free. One negative account complained about feeling charged for a shot they expected to be included, so it’s smart to listen closely when your guide explains each stop. If anything sounds unclear, ask right then—before you order.
Live Music, Karaoke, and Party Games at Each Stop
This tour isn’t just a walking list of bars. It’s built around participation, so your night includes more than drinks.
You can expect stops that offer different kinds of nightlife:
- Bars with live music, which can mean DJs or live bands depending on the venue and night
- A karaoke bar, where you get a chance to sing along with the crowd
- Drinking games that lean into the party atmosphere
- Special local drinks sampled during the tour
This mix is why the crawl can feel like a real New Orleans party instead of a checklist. When there’s karaoke or a game involved, you’re not just consuming alcohol—you’re joining a shared activity. That’s the part that makes meeting new people easier, because conversation starts around what’s happening right now, not around awkward small talk.
One more thing: your guide isn’t just herding people. The experience includes stories about the area, which is meant to make each stop feel like more than a random door on Bourbon Street. If you’re the kind of traveler who likes context, this is where you’ll feel the most payoff.
The Bars, the Street Views, and the Quick Photo Breaks
The plan includes sightseeing and a dedicated photo stop near the later portion of the crawl. That’s useful. Bourbon Street photos are easy to take—but they’re also easy to regret if you don’t capture the iconic angles while you still have a moment to slow down.
The tour also mentions venues that may offer balcony access, letting you look down on the street activity from above. Even if you don’t get a balcony view at every stop, it’s a nice reminder that Bourbon Street isn’t only about what’s at eye level. The street is built for atmosphere, and seeing it from a slightly higher spot can make the whole night feel more like a guided show than a random walk.
One caution: don’t expect perfect photos. Bourbon Street is crowded, the light is mixed, and everyone is trying to capture the same kind of shots. The photo stop is short, so have your phone ready and your group positioned quickly.
When This Bar Crawl Is a Great Fit (and When It Isn’t)
This is a fun fit for a specific kind of traveler: someone who wants organized nightlife, doesn’t mind walking, and enjoys group energy. It’s especially good if you’re traveling solo or with friends who want an easy way to meet other people without planning each bar yourself.
It’s not for everyone. Here are the main fit checks based on the information you get:
- Age rule: it’s not suitable for people under 21.
- Shoes matter: you’ll be walking around crowded Bourbon Street.
- Accessibility limits: non-folding wheelchairs are not allowed, and some venues may have limited wheelchair accessibility.
Then there’s the vibe question. One negative account mentioned a stop at a fetish shop bar, which was described as strange for their idea of a New Orleans bar tour. I can’t say that’s guaranteed on every run, but the lesson is clear: Bourbon Street nightlife can be surprising. If you want a strictly mainstream lineup, ask your guide ahead about the kind of venues you’ll visit, and set your boundaries early in the evening.
Finally, guide interaction can shape your whole experience. One person praised a guide named Jason for making the group have a blast, while another criticized a guide for not explaining the activity and for not signaling when the tour ended until asked. That tells me two things: your guide’s style matters, and your best defense is to pay attention when the guide explains the flow.
Should You Book This Bourbon Street Bar Crawl?
Book it if you want a structured Bourbon Street night with built-in social energy. The price makes sense when you use the crawl cup for drink specials and treat the welcome shots as part of a larger evening plan. It’s also a smart choice if you’d rather show up at a landmark, meet your group, and follow an experienced guide than spend your first night in New Orleans trying to figure out where to go next.
Skip it or reconsider if you dislike adult-party atmospheres, want totally predictable venue choices, or you strongly prefer a tour where every stop feels traditional. Also, if you’re the type who gets frustrated when extra drinks aren’t free, make sure you’re ready to purchase only what you actually want.
If your goal is simple—meet people, laugh, sing karaoke, hear live music, and move down Bourbon Street with a plan—this one is a good match.
FAQ
How long is the Bourbon Street bar crawl?
The tour lasts about 2 hours.
Where do I meet the guide?
Meet your guide inside Coyote Ugly Saloon on Bourbon Street, at the big purple table.
What is included in the $35 price?
It includes a walking tour, a local guide, a souvenir cup, and welcome shots.
Are drinks included beyond the welcome shots?
Additional drinks are not included, though you can use your cup to access special drink deals during the tour.
What should I bring?
Bring a passport or ID card, and wear comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes.
Is the tour for people under 21?
No. It is not suitable for people under 21 years old.
Does the tour run in bad weather?
Yes. The tour operates rain or shine.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Final Decision: Should You Take This One?
I’d take this tour if you want a guided Bourbon Street evening with the social part built in: meeting people, starting with welcome shots, and having enough activity at each stop to keep the night from feeling like random bar hopping. Just go in knowing that extra drinks are on you, and Bourbon Street can be a little unpredictable in style. If that fits your travel mood, the value is there.
