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French Quarter Tours
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2 hours 30 minutes (Approx.)
Offered in: English
Keeping you safe during COVID-19
What you can expect during your visit
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Regular temperature checks for staff
Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
More questions?
(888) 651-9785
Overview
Discover New Orleans ‘spirited’ side on a fun and informative cocktail tour! You’ll rub shoulders with local imbibers at historic bars and restaurants and have the option to sip on classic concoctions like the Sazerac and Pimm’s Cup. Immerse yourself in the stories from your guide and savvy mixologists, and learn the famous – and sometimes scandalous – histories of drink and drinking culture in New Orleans.
- Walking tour of New Orleans original cocktails
- Discover the history of renowned libations, including the Sazerac and Pimm’s Cup
- Visit the oldest restaurant in New Orleans, and its wine cellar and private dining area
- Enjoy a view of New Orleans through its history of fine dining and drinking.
- This tour has been featured on The Travel Channel
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Your journey through the ‘spirits’ of New Orleans begins in the French Quarter. In mid‐afternoon, meet at the Lighthouse at the Steamship Natchez dock, dressed in ‘casual’ fine‐drinking attire – some dress codes prohibit tank tops, cut‐offs or super short shorts. With an expert guide and fellow drinks enthusiasts, you’ll spend an enjoyable time visiting historic local haunts.
En route to the first bar, check out the distinctive local architecture. You’ll see French‐ and Spanish‐inspired buildings, gorgeous Creole townhouses and intimate courtyards – some of which offer a great space for imbibing and mingling. At each legendary venue, admire the mixology of notable bartenders and learn the origins and truths of centuries‐old cocktails from your guide. Any of the featured southern drinks are available for purchase, so treat yourself to a Sazerac (or two).
Your tour also includes a stop in at Antoine's Restaurant, the oldest family restaurant in New Orleans, and tour its historic private dining rooms and collection of Mardi Gras memorabilia before returning to the starting point, where your excursion ends. You’ll finish with plenty of time (and insider information) to continue the fun with your own self‐guided drinks and eats tour.
En route to the first bar, check out the distinctive local architecture. You’ll see French‐ and Spanish‐inspired buildings, gorgeous Creole townhouses and intimate courtyards – some of which offer a great space for imbibing and mingling. At each legendary venue, admire the mixology of notable bartenders and learn the origins and truths of centuries‐old cocktails from your guide. Any of the featured southern drinks are available for purchase, so treat yourself to a Sazerac (or two).
Your tour also includes a stop in at Antoine's Restaurant, the oldest family restaurant in New Orleans, and tour its historic private dining rooms and collection of Mardi Gras memorabilia before returning to the starting point, where your excursion ends. You’ll finish with plenty of time (and insider information) to continue the fun with your own self‐guided drinks and eats tour.
Itinerary
Embark on your exploration of New Orleans’ cocktail culture from the Gray Line Lighthouse Ticket Office, right on the Mississippi River in the city’s French Quarter. Your group of like-minded 21-and-up revelers will travel the neighborhood’s historic streets, ducking in and out of watering holes and restaurants in buildings that still stand as beautiful examples of French and Spanish Colonial Architecture.
While it’s easy to get lost in the history of your surroundings, the real stars of the tour are the cocktails. Listen in as your guides reveal the stories behind each inventive libation and the characters that brought them to life. Learn the origins of Southern Comfort, a liqueur invented in New Orleans in 1874, and the even older story of the Sazerac, which dates back to 1850. Sample any of your favorites by purchasing a glass.
You’ll also get an inside peek into the city’s oldest restaurant and its wine cellar and private dining rooms, where some of New Orleans' most important wheelings and dealings took place. Drink in the spirit of New Orleans by enjoying this 2.5-hour tour at the beginning of your visit to the Big Easy to pinpoint the stops you must revisit, or use it as an unexpected way to bid adieu to a city that’s as rich in stories as it is in drinks to share them over. It's history—with a twist!
Duration: 2 hours
Admission Ticket Free
Traveler Photos
Traveler Tips
- "Sign up and go, you will have a great time." See review
- "While we drank at every location, it was very optional, and this would be an amazing tour even without the delicious beverages." See review
- "I highly recommend this tour to everyone of all ages, whether you plan to drink or not." See review
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Product code: 3780ST
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