New Orleans Bourbon Street Bar Crawl w/ Shots & Souvenir Cup

Bourbon Street is not a quiet night out, and this two-hour crawl makes that clear from the first welcome shot at Coyote Ugly. You move through the French Quarter with a guide, stop at four bars or clubs, and finish near Jackson Square. I like the souvenir cup with drink discounts and the choice between a calmer late-afternoon start and a louder evening slot.

I also like the small-group limit of 25 and the social setup, with games designed to get solo participants, birthday groups, and friends talking. The main caution is that the free-shot offer can vary by venue. Several stops provide one, but some participants were asked to buy a drink first, so bring extra money and ask about each bar’s terms.

Key points at a glance

• Welcome shot and games at Coyote Ugly: You check in, meet the guide, and start with a social activity instead of walking into the night cold.
• Four venues in about two hours: The route includes bars, pubs, live music spots, and possibly a nightclub on evening departures.
• Souvenir crawl cup: The cup comes with drink specials during the experience, though availability should be confirmed when you arrive.
• Two different moods: Late-afternoon departures tend toward live music, while evening crawls bring a DJ and nightclub feel.
• A guide-led Bourbon Street introduction: Jason, Josh, Ben Wah, and Autumn are among the guides praised for keeping groups involved and entertained.
• A practical $35 price: The cost covers the crawl, guide, games with alcohol, some shots, and associated entry fees for night tours, but you should budget for additional drinks.

What this Bourbon Street crawl is really like

This is less a history walk with drinks and more a guided introduction to New Orleans nightlife. You are paying for a host, a ready-made route, a social group, and entry to several venues without having to decide where to go next.

The experience works best when you arrive ready to participate. Games begin at the first stop, and the guide helps combine separate couples, birthday groups, solo visitors, and larger parties into one moving group. The result can be an easy way to meet people, especially if you are in town alone or your own group wants a night with more structure.

The route covers only about two hours, but the pace is active. You spend roughly 30 minutes at Coyote Ugly, 10 minutes walking through the French Quarter, and about 80 minutes among the Bourbon Street stops. You will not get a long stay at each bar. The point is to sample several places and keep the night moving.

The experience is offered in English with a mobile ticket. Groups are limited to 25 people, which is small enough for a guide to keep track of the group without making the crawl feel private or exclusive.

Starting at Coyote Ugly on North Peters Street

Your meeting point is Coyote Ugly Saloon at 225 North Peters Street, close to the edge of the French Quarter and the Mississippi River. The location is practical for rideshare and taxi drop-off because you can be left directly at the front door.

It is also easy to reach by public transportation. Take the Riverfront streetcar to Bienville Station, then walk about two minutes to the saloon. That simple connection matters in New Orleans, where driving and parking near Bourbon Street can add stress to an otherwise easy evening.

The first half hour is used for check-in, the first welcome shot, drinking games, and introductions. You receive the crawl cup here. This opening stop sets the tone: lively, social, and focused on meeting the people who will spend the next two hours with you.

The cup is more than a keepsake. It is meant to provide drink specials during the crawl, and you are encouraged to fill it before leaving because drinking in the street is allowed in New Orleans. That is a distinctive part of the route, although you should still follow the guide’s instructions and keep track of your drink.

Coyote Ugly is also where you can ask the practical questions that matter. Find out how the drink specials work, which shots are included at each stop, and whether the cup is available. One group reported that cups were temporarily unavailable, so it is wise to confirm this before leaving the first venue if receiving one is important to you.

A short French Quarter walk with useful context

After the opening games, the group walks through the French Quarter toward Bourbon Street. The walk lasts about 10 minutes, so this is not a full neighborhood tour. Still, it gives the guide a chance to explain New Orleans architecture and why the French Quarter looks the way it does today.

I like this short transition because it prevents the experience from becoming a series of disconnected bars. You get a quick sense of place before the nightlife takes over. Look up as you walk. The buildings, balconies, and street layout are part of what makes this area different from an ordinary bar district.

The walk also lets you settle into the group. If you are traveling alone, this is often when introductions become easier. If you are with friends, it gives you a chance to compare plans and decide how much you want to participate in the games and group activities.

Wear sneakers. Several people found the walking between bars more substantial than expected, and Bourbon Street is not the place for uncomfortable shoes. Eating before the crawl and drinking water along the way are also sensible choices, especially if you plan to accept several shots.

Four Bourbon Street stops, with the lineup changing by time

Once you reach Bourbon Street, the crawl spends about 80 minutes visiting four bars, pubs, clubs, and live music venues. The exact lineup depends on the departure time because the organizers choose places to fit the mood of the afternoon or evening.

Late-afternoon crawls feature a live band at the final venue. Evening crawls offer a DJ and nightclub atmosphere. Some stops may include karaoke, balconies, drink specials, live music, or a more traditional bar setting. This variety is useful because Bourbon Street can change character from one doorway to the next.

The tradeoff is predictability. You are not promised one fixed set of bars, so do not book this expecting a particular club or band. The changing route allows the guide to choose venues that fit the time of day, but it also means the experience can feel different from one departure to another.

The guide remains the main link between the stops. Jason receives especially strong praise for his energy, attentiveness, and ability to include people in the group. Josh is also singled out as a good host, while Ben Wah and Autumn are praised for making first-time participants feel involved.

A good guide matters here. Bourbon Street can be confusing, noisy, and full of competing choices. Having someone gather the group, explain the next stop, and keep the mood moving saves you from spending half the evening in line or arguing about where to go next.

Shots, drink specials, and the fine print on value

At $35 per person, the crawl is reasonably priced if you use the included features. You receive the guided route, four stops, drinking games with included alcohol, a souvenir cup, drink specials, and entry fees associated with evening tours. That can compare well with paying separate cover charges and wandering between bars on your own.

The value becomes less clear if you expect every drink to be free. The description promises welcome shots at multiple venues, but the actual experience can vary. Some people received shots at every stop, with one venue requiring a purchase. Others received free shots at only two bars, while the remaining offers required buying a drink first.

This is the most important point to understand before booking. You should see the free shots as part of the crawl, not as a guaranteed four-shot package under identical conditions. The drinks themselves may also cost more than you expect at popular Bourbon Street venues.

Bring extra cash or a payment method for drinks beyond the included offers. One group reported being charged for more drinks than it ordered at a stop, although the manager corrected the problem. That appears to be an isolated complaint rather than the main pattern, but it is still a reason to check your bill before paying.

The souvenir cup can improve the value if the promised discounts are honored and you plan to order more than one drink. If you mainly want a short introduction to Bourbon Street with a few included drinks, the $35 price is easier to justify than if you are hoping for an all-inclusive night.

Choosing late afternoon or evening

The time slot changes the character of the experience more than the two-hour length suggests.

A late-afternoon departure suits you if you want a softer beginning to your New Orleans night. You can see the French Quarter before the evening crowd reaches full force, then finish with a live band. This option also works well if you want to continue elsewhere afterward.

The evening departure is the better fit for a party night. Expect a DJ, a nightclub feel, and a louder Bourbon Street atmosphere. It is also the natural choice for birthdays, bachelor or bachelorette groups, and friends who want the crawl to be the main event rather than an early warm-up.

Neither choice is automatically better. I would choose late afternoon for a first night in New Orleans when I wanted room for dinner or another activity. I would choose evening for a weekend celebration when the group wanted music, shots, and a more intense nightlife setting.

Who will enjoy this most

This crawl is a strong match for people who want a ready-made social night. Solo participants can meet others without having to approach a crowded bar alone. Couples and small friend groups get a guide and a built-in reason to talk with other people.

It also works well for birthday groups. Several parties used the crawl for milestone celebrations, and the games and group format gave the night a shared focus. The guide can help keep the energy up, especially when the group includes people with different levels of comfort in a nightlife setting.

First-time New Orleans visitors may also appreciate the quick architectural context and the guided route. You get a taste of the French Quarter and Bourbon Street without spending hours deciding where to go.

I would not choose this experience if you want a quiet cocktail evening, a detailed architectural tour, or complete control over the bars you visit. The group format, loud venues, walking, and alcohol-centered activities are central to the experience.

Getting there, getting home, and staying comfortable

The start at Coyote Ugly is near public transportation and easy for a rideshare drop-off. The crawl ends at Bourbon Street Honky Tonk, at 727 Bourbon Street near Orleans Street. That puts you about a block from St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square.

The end point is useful because you are not stranded at an unfamiliar edge of the city. You can continue your night around the French Quarter or arrange your ride from a well-known central location. The experience itself does not include transportation between bars, so you walk the route.

Eat before you arrive, drink water, and wear comfortable shoes. Keep your phone charged and make sure you have enough storage if you plan to record the music and street scenes. One birthday group specifically advised clearing phone storage before the event, which is practical advice for a night built around photos and short videos.

The maximum group size is 25, and most people can participate. The activity is offered in English. Confirmation is provided at booking, and the mobile ticket means you do not need to print paperwork.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes during that period are not accepted. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, the operator offers another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the Bourbon Street crawl?

Book it if you want a social, alcohol-focused introduction to Bourbon Street and like the idea of moving through several venues with a guide. The best reasons are the $35 price, the small maximum group, the cup discounts, and the chance to meet people through games rather than simply standing in a crowded bar.

Go in with realistic expectations. Shots are not handled exactly the same way at every stop, drink purchases may be required for some offers, and the lineup changes by departure time. Bring extra money, check charges carefully, and treat the included alcohol as a bonus rather than the entire value of the tour.

For a birthday, first New Orleans night, girls’ trip, or solo evening when you want company, this is a practical pick. For a quiet night or a carefully planned list of specific bars, choose your own route instead.

FAQ

How long does the Bourbon Street bar crawl last?

The crawl lasts approximately two hours. About 30 minutes are spent at Coyote Ugly, followed by a 10-minute walk through the French Quarter and roughly 80 minutes at Bourbon Street venues.

Where does the crawl start?

The experience starts at Coyote Ugly Saloon, 225 N Peters St, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130.

Where does the crawl end?

The crawl ends at Bourbon Street Honky Tonk, 727 Bourbon Street, near Orleans Street. The venue is about a block from St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square.

How many bars and venues are included?

The experience includes four stops at bars, pubs, clubs, or live music venues in the French Quarter and on Bourbon Street.

Are drinks and shots included?

Drinking games with included alcohol are provided, and multiple venues offer welcome shots. The exact shot arrangement can vary, and some venues may require you to purchase a drink to receive a shot. Drink specials are also provided.

What is the difference between the afternoon and evening crawls?

Daytime or late-afternoon tours feature a live band, while evening tours have a DJ and nightclub atmosphere. The venues are selected to suit the time slot.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not refunded or accepted.