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Crawl New Orleans with a Pirate!

People enjoy a pirate-themed pub crawl in a dimly lit street in New Orleans.

Start Your Evening with a Pub Crawl with a Pirate!

When the sun dips behind the wrought-iron balconies of the French Quarter and the gas lamps flicker to life, the streets of New Orleans come alive with music, laughter—and legends. If you’re looking for one of the top things to do in the French Quarter, nothing compares to stepping into the world of rum, rogues, and rebellion with the Pirates of the Quarter Pub Crawl.

This is no ordinary bar tour. It’s a journey through history, humor, and the dark, delicious stories that shaped New Orleans. Led by real pirates (yes, actual  historians with swords, wit, and swagger), this crawl blends storytelling with sipping, turning your night out into a voyage through centuries of scandal.


Drink Where Pirates Once Stood

New Orleans has always been a city of sin and survival—where smugglers traded more than sugar and sailors left more than their pay behind. During the early 1800s, pirates like Jean and Pierre Lafitte ruled the Gulf Coast, smuggling goods through the bayous and selling them right here in the French Quarter. Their black-market empire stretched from the bayous of Barataria to the backrooms of Bourbon Street.

Your pirate guide leads you through the same cobblestone alleys where Lafitte’s men once walked—armed not with cutlasses, but with cocktails. Each stop along the crawl reveals a new layer of the city’s intoxicating past. You’ll learn how rum was more than a drink—it was currency, medicine, and often, the reason for a good sword fight.


Stories of Torture, Treachery, and Temptation

This isn’t a sanitized history lesson. New Orleans was built on brutal realities, and your pirate won’t shy away from them. Hear the grisly tales of 18th-century torture, where captured prisoners faced the gallows—or worse, the wheel. Discover how the city of New Orleans kept its citizens in check.

Learn about brothels, walking the plank, and exotic entertainment. You’ll even hear about the ghostly remnants of these encounters, said to still haunt the Quarter’s streets and shadowy courtyards.

Each bar along the way has its own history, and some, its own spirits—both in bottles and in the air.


Sword Fights and Scandal in the Crescent City

New Orleans was a place where honor was defended with steel. Dueling was not only legal but expected. Gentlemen fought over insults, women, and wagers, and pirates were never ones to back down from a challenge. Your pirate host brings these stories to life with swagger, illustrating how a well-timed slash or shot could settle disputes faster than the courts.

In those same streets, pirates and privateers caroused with soldiers, politicians, and courtesans. The city’s underbelly thrived on contradiction—refinement by day, revelry by night. It’s this blend of elegance and debauchery that makes New Orleans unlike anywhere else in the world.


The Best Crawl in New Orleans

Why choose the Pirates of the Quarter Pub Crawl over any other New Orleans bar tour?
Because this one doesn’t just show you the bars—it shows you why they matter.

You’ll drink in places that predate Prohibition, where whispers of piracy echo beneath the jazz. Your guides are professional storytellers, historians, and comedians all in one. They don’t just share facts—they paint scenes so vivid you can smell the sea salt and gunpowder.

Whether you’re traveling solo, with friends, or as part of a group celebration, this crawl delivers an unforgettable night of laughter, learning, and libations. Guests consistently rank it among the top things to do in New Orleans, and the reviews prove it’s a five-star experience that blends education with entertainment.


From Rum Runners to Royal Rebels

The French Quarter was once the playground of pirates, politicians, and prostitutes—all of whom helped shape its wicked charm. You’ll trace the footsteps of pirates, and other Lafitte allies who fought not just for gold, but for glory.

 Their stories—told with humor and a hint of scandal—give the city’s history a pulse that’s impossible to ignore.


A French Quarter Experience You’ll Never Forget

Each stop on the crawl offers time to grab a drink, mingle, and absorb the surroundings. You might sip a dark rum where Lafitte once made deals, or raise a pint in a tavern that hosted pirates long before neon signs lit the Quarter.

Your guide keeps the pace lively, the jokes sharp, and the history shockingly real. There’s laughter, camaraderie, and more than a few moments that’ll make you raise your glass to the ghosts of New Orleans.

By the end of the evening, you won’t just have had a few drinks—you’ll have stepped straight into a chapter of history, told by those who live and breathe it every night.


Perfect for Travelers, History Lovers, and Party Seekers

If you’re searching for things to do in the French Quarter at night, look no further. The Pirates of the Quarter Pub Crawl is part history lesson, part stand-up show, and all New Orleans spirit.

It’s ideal for:

  • Travelers wanting a deeper, more authentic New Orleans experience

  • Couples seeking a fun and unforgettable date night

  • Groups looking for a party with personality

  • Locals eager to rediscover the legends hiding in the streets of the French Quarter.

Bring your curiosity, your sense of humor, and maybe your sea legs—you’ll need them!


Book Your Adventure

Tours fill up quickly, especially on weekends and festival nights. To guarantee your spot, book your Pirate Pub Crawl in advance through PiratesoftheQuarter.com.

Your adventure begins near Jackson Square, in the heart of the French Quarter, and winds through the city’s most infamous streets and taverns. Expect about two hours of laughter, lore, and libations, led by pirates who know every secret alley and scandalous story.

Don’t just visit New Orleans—live it.
Join the crew, raise a glass, and experience why this pirate-led adventure is consistently rated one of the best crawls in New Orleans and among the top things to do in the French Quarter.