Bar Crawling in New Orleans: What to Know

A New Orleans bar crawl is exactly what you think: a guide leading a group of 8-20 people between several bars, pouring shots or cheap mixed drinks along the way, and cracking jokes. Expect loud, cheesy fun with a mix of tourists, bachelor parties, and the occasional local. The French Quarter crawls are the rowdiest and most crowded; Frenchmen Street versions tend to be slightly more about the music and less about pure drinking. You'll walk a lot, stand outside in crowds, and the bathrooms get grim after midnight. It's genuinely fun if you're in the mood to be social and a bit sloppy, less so if you want quiet conversations or craft cocktails.

Best time is February through May or October-November when the weather isn't brutal. Summers are sticky and brutal; peak Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest weeks are overwhelming. Expect to pay around $25-45 for a standard crawl that includes 3-4 drinks. The more music-focused ones on Frenchmen usually cost a bit more but feel less like a meat market.

Pick the Frenchmen Street music crawl if you actually want to hear good live bands. Skip the haunted-themed ones unless you enjoy theatrical ghost stories delivered at volume 10 while standing on the sidewalk. Hydrate, wear comfortable shoes, and don't be afraid to peel off early if the vibe isn't right.