New Orleans Cooking Class and Cocktail Walking Tour

Badge of Excellence

New Orleans, USA

Great choice

5+ bookings last month.

4 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.4

· Sheree_J ·

May 2026

The cooking demonstration was amazing food was so delicious the chef was funny and a awesome cook his partner she was so kind so loving.,

· Khadijah_M ·

May 2026

I had the best time, I flew from London and head chef was so welcoming and everyone else was amazing.

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Overview

Discover the flavors of New Orleans on a combined cooking demonstration and cocktail walking tour. Start with a classic Louisiana cooking demonstration, where you can watch a chef prepare classic dishes including jambalaya and gumbo, then enjoy tastings. Afterward, explore the French Quarter’s historic bars while sipping classic NOLA cocktails. Learn about the history and culture of New Orleans food and drinks along the way.

Learn insider tips from a local chef during a cooking demonstration
Taste local classics such as jambalaya, gumbo, pralines, and more
Sip classic New Orleans cocktails during the cocktail tour
Take home recipes, a custom spice packet, and a discount at the store

What's Included

Guided Cocktail Walking Tour
New Orleans cooking demonstration class
Generous food samplings, coffee, iced tea and beer at the Cooking School
Recipes, custom spice packet, and a discount at the General Store
Drink Special Coupon
Alcoholic Beverages

2 classic cocktails, including taxes and service gratuities

Gratuities
Additional alcoholic beverages are available for purchase

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

New Orleans School of Cooking
524 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
2pm Cooking Demonstration followed by a Cocktail Walking Tour. The Cocktail Walking Tour guide will "pick you up" outside of the Cooking School. The Gray Line tour guide will arrive between 4pm-4:15pm. Make sure you are outside and waiting.

End point

French Quarter, New Orleans, LA, USA

Operating hours
.2:00 pm

Itinerary

Make your way to the New Orleans School of Cooking in the French Quarter, where your afternoon excursion begins. Grab a seat with fellow food enthusiasts for the cooking demonstration.

Listen as a professional chef shares the history of New Orleans' cuisine, and learn as they prepare classic dishes such as gumbo, jambalaya, and crawfish etouffée. Afterwards (participants do not cook in this session), indulge in hearty samples, and take home a complimentary recipe book and spice packet.

Next, embark on a guided cocktail crawl of the French Quarter. Accompany a local drinks expert, stopping at several historic bars to sample classic Nola cocktails, including a Sazerac.

Between stops, admire the incomparable Vieux Carre (Old Square), the city’s oldest neighborhood and remaining cultural hub. View centuries‐old bars and eateries, including the city’s oldest restaurant.

Your combo tour ends back at the starting point, with plenty of time to check out a few other favorite local watering holes afterwards.

New Orleans School of Cooking

2 hours • Admission Ticket Not Included

French Quarter

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

The Court of Two Sisters

Admission Ticket Free

Peychaud's

Admission Ticket Free

St. Louis Cathedral

Admission Ticket Free

Fritzel's European Jazz Bar

Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Your experience will start at the New Orleans School of Cooking
Please note: This is a demonstration class only; there is no hands-on training
Not wheelchair accessible
In order to help preserve the French Quarter from vehicular traffic, it is requested that you please walk, if possible, to the convenient tour departure point - just a short stroll from most downtown hotels

Minimum age is 21 years
Most travelers can participate
Your cocktail tour guide will meet you outside of the cooking school before 4:15pm.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Brooke_M

My friends and I were here for a bachelorette trip & we had so much fun! Chef Cindy brought a lot of character to the class and taught us a lot of history of the food. Kim was our walking tour agent and we quickly started calling her our Bach mom because she was so much fun and very informative. It was really cool to see the back of some of the bars and places that we probably would not have ended up otherwise. Highly recommend this experience!

Reviews

4.4

based on 118 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Fun and Tasty

Deborah_E, May 2026

If you are interested in learning a bit about New Orleans history and the difference between Creole and Cajun cooking this is the tour for you!

Response from Host, May 2026

Thanks so much. We hope you also enjoyed the cocktail walking tour with history and tales of the French Quarter.

Londoner in NOLA

Khadijah_M, May 2026

I had the best time, I flew from London and head chef was so welcoming and everyone else was amazing.

Response from Host, May 2026

Dear Londoner - so delighted to welcome you to the states! Thank you for joining us on this unique Gray Line Tour.

Very fun learn alot about...

DAWN_A, May 2026

Very fun learn alot about the cooking process and got to know about New Orleans city during walking cocktail tour 10/10!

Response from Host, May 2026

What a great review of this two-part tour. Thank you for touring with Gray Line, and we hope you join us in New Orleans once again.

Gumbo YES Chief!

Sheree_J, May 2026

The cooking demonstration was amazing food was so delicious the chef was funny and a awesome cook his partner she was so kind so loving.,

Response from Host, May 2026

Wonderful review Sheree! We will certainly share with the Chef - be sure to try the recipe at home.

Cancelled at last minite

Dawn_R, Apr 2026

They just cancelled at the last minute. I think the partnership with the cooking school and gray line was a problem. I had no notice showed up for cooking school and it was cancelled.

Response from Host, May 2026

We apologize for any inconvenience that this caused you. We make every effort to contact our guests in this type of situation. We hope that you will join us for another Gray Line Tour in the future so we can share our great progams.

Very fun & unique experience to try out different food/drinks of New Orleans and learn about it

Brooke_M, Apr 2026

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you so much for your terrific review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with our team. Your kind words mean the world to us, and we can’t wait to welcome you back again soon!

Cocktails to go

Roni_C, Mar 2026

We loved the cooking class and learning so much about Nola spices. The store is great too. The cocktail tour was very fun.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Thank you for sharing your experience on the tour. It is our pleasure to share our history, our culture, and a good bit of fun!

Cooking demonstration:...

Nalin_M, Jan 2026

Cooking demonstration: Kudos to the chef for almost effortlessly cooking for 75ish people without a hitch. The food was quite well made, too. The room was packed and that is the reason I am giving four stars. I sat behind a pillar so the view was obstructed. There was hardly any space at each table or between tables. Cocktail tasting: The cocktail tasting was fun, with plenty of history and great stories narrated by Kimberly. I wonder if we could have had half or quarter servings of several cocktails instead of full servings of two cocktails because during a tasting one simply needs a small taste of several instead of plenty of few.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you for all the suggestions. The cooking school may have been more booked than usual and therefore the seating was not as spread out. We also appreciate your input on cocktail service. We will take that up with the locations we visit.

The Cooking School is a must do!

Tracy_H, Dec 2025

The cooking demonstration at the New Orleans Cooking School with Chef Eric was a 5 out of 5. Some of the best gumbo and jambalaya we had on our trip! The historical cocktail tour was in our opinion just too long. Robert our tour guide knew probably too many interesting facts and the tour dragged on. We had to leave the tour early, after the second stop as we had a dinner reservation.

Response from Host, Dec 2025

Tracy, thank you for the great review and letting us know how we might improve.

Great food. Great chef

Leslie_U, Oct 2025

Wonderful food and the chef was amazing. Just a little too crowded for me. Of course it was a full house due to it being the weekend before Halloween. It was packed. Everyone worked hard and we had a good time. I wondered though it talked about a walking tour and there wasn’t one. Only one beer for a “cocktail”. My husband said it was good. I didn’t drink. Don’t like beer and that isn’t a cocktail for me.

It was a nice time. Chef...

cherie_s, Sep 2025

It was a nice time. Chef Michael was entertaining with a bit of the people of the French Quarter's history. The food was good. The walking tour with Viky was pleasant and informative. Viky did a very nice job.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thank you for the delightful review and for mentioning Viky as well.

Incredible Event

Deborah_W, Sep 2025

From the moment of entering the building, the aroma swept me away! Chef Eric was fabulous! I learned a ton.

Response from Host, Sep 2025

The Chefs are all amazing, not only what they teach but the joy that they share with the recipes.

Delectable Delight

Jalyn_T, Jul 2025

The chef was very knowledgeable about both the cooking and the culture/history. He was very entertaining also. The food that was prepared was absolutely delicious! Hopefully I can somewhat duplicate it.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

You will be like many people who go home and follow Chef's lead - it will be delicious. Thank you.

Great Cooking Class- A must for all New Orleans Travelers.

lovebeer, Jul 2025

What a great tour and cooking demonstration class. The instructor took us through every detail of the cooking class, including his humor and great stories of the history of New Orleans. The food was very good also.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

It is even a great refresher for New Orleans residents who stop in for pointers. Thank you for touring with us.

Fun time

Dawn_M, May 2025

The cooking class was interesting and the food was pretty good. The cocktail tour was awesome and the tour guide was super informative.

Response from Host, Jun 2025

Thank you for taking the chance on this unique tour. It is a step into the culture of our food and drinks.

Fun, filling, and entertaining!

Susan_E, May 2025

The cooking demonstration with Dianne was awesome! She not only explained how to make the dishes but gave historical information along the way. The food was delicious and plentiful! Look forward to trying recipes at home. Cocktail walking tour was equally amazing. Val was not only friendly but very knowledgeable and personable. We thoroughly enjoyed her company, conversation, and expertise regarding NOLA and cocktail history. We truly enjoyed our afternoon tour. 5 stars to Dianne and Val!

Response from Host, May 2025

5 stars to Dianne and Val will be shared with one and all. Thank you for valuing this two-in-one afternoon of history, food and librations.

Delicious way to spend the the afternoon.

Kimberly_S, Apr 2025

It thought we had booked an interactive cooking class but it ended up being a demo. However, we loved it. It was informative, entertaining, and delicious. It was like watching a cooking program where you can actually smell and taste the food. The cocktail tour picked us up after and we learned a lot and saw a lot. We really enjoyed this combo activity and would do it again.

Response from Host, May 2025

Please come again. It is a wonderful way to experience our culture and you can learn new tidbits and make new friends from around the world.

Would 100% Recommend

Chesha_H, Mar 2025

The food was outstanding however it was the history lesson that I've been discussing with those back home. Great experience dining, sharing and learning. Would 100% recommend!

Response from Host, May 2025

Just why we call it History...with a twist as well.

Great demonstration with...

Teona_D, Mar 2025

Great demonstration with Chef Eric. Chef is a great storyteller and makes the lesson both historical and personal. This is not hands on, although the synopsis of the activity states it is. The synopsis also indicates other venues are included on a waking tour of French Quarter. The activity only takes place at the Nola School of Cooking. Even though it wasn’t what we expected it was still fun and a great learning experience, Chef Eric is a great teacher and host. The food was tasty and a sample bowl of each dish is included in the experience. The only reason it is 4 and not 5 star is because it is a demo and not hands on.

Response from Host, Mar 2025

We are delighted that you enjoyed the school of cooking. The tour rejoins outside and proceeds through the French Quarter with a guide who adds history with cocktails and makes stops at 3 locations. Perhaps you did not make the second half of the tour.

The love and history of cooking

Patty_S, Dec 2024

We had a fantastic, entertaining cooking class. We learned the history of the dishes prepared and details about the ingredients over the centuries.

Response from Host, Dec 2024

Not only do guests learn cooking tips but usually enjoy and lively and fun filled presentation.

Hands down, a must do!

Tabitha_C, Oct 2024

This hands down is the best of the best for anyone with interest in cooking! And don’t go eat lunch before you go!!! They r going to feed you and you will eat better in my opinion compared to an average corner restaurant!

Response from Host, Oct 2024

It is fascinating to see those chefs prepare local dishes and share them with our guests - and then share the creation with the group.

Cocktail Walking Tour is Excellent

Patricia_M, Oct 2024

The Walking Tour with Robi was excellent. He is a true Historian with a great sense of humor. Worth asking for!

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Robi is a guide with a great knowledge of history and an equally great way of sharing it. Thank you for recognizing his skills.

Beyond Burbon St.

Annette_F, Sep 2024

We really enjoyed learning how to cook and tasting a few of the main dishes in New Orleans. The Crab Bisque was absolutely delicious and my favorite dish. Afterwards we had our cocktail walking tour with our tour guide Romi, he was very knowledgeable about the history of New Orleans and also very funny. I would definitely recommend this tour for food, cocktails, and history lovers.

Response from Host, Oct 2024

Thank you for recognizing the food, cocktail and history components of this unique tour.

Good

Hallie_R, Jun 2024

Good food and an awesome guide. Definitely enjoyed it don’t know if I’d do it again though. But was glad they sent home the recipes.

Response from Host, Jun 2024

Perhaps all the food and cocktail advice was the amount that your needed to take home. We hope so.

Cooking class

Norma_V, May 2024

The cooking class was epic. Gumbo Maria was awesome. We were just disappointed that no one showed up for our second part of our excursion, the pub crawl. Viator did say they would refund that part of our excursion

Response from Host, May 2024

We do not do a pub crawl but i am sure you meant the Gray Line Cocktail Tour - History with a Twist! We apologize for any miscommunication.

Our cooking instructor...

LaTanya_B, Apr 2024

Our cooking instructor Dianne was awesome & our tour guide Tim was knowledgeable. Both were very pleasant people who made our experience most enjoyable! Would highly recommend!😁

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Thanks for the high recommendation and we will certainly pass this on to Dianne and Tim

If you have time.

Roya_A, Apr 2024

I would wait and book directly with the cooking school. The cocktail tour guide never showed up which was a little disappointing. However, the food was delicious and Dianne was a wonderful soul/chef.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

We apologize if the guide did not meet you at the appointed time and location. We will find out what happened if you can reply as to which evening you had reserved your tour. The two pieces make a great rounded trip through the tastes of our city.

Very fun tour

gary_d, Feb 2024

Tim was our guide and he was a blast. Very knowledgeable, and able to keep everyone entertained despite the cold weather. Loved learning the history behind the sites we visited and how he tied it all together.

Highly recommended

Ann_P, Feb 2024

Tom, our chef was excellent. He was both knowledgeable and entertaining. The food was great, thank you. Tim was an outstanding cocktail guide with very wide knowledge and great people skills

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Fabulous - Good Food, Good Drinks and Good Fun.

Yummy food & drinks!

Tiffany_F, Feb 2024

Vivian, our chef, was great. She was very engaging and welcoming! Vivian interweaved stories about her life and NOLA history into the demonstration which personalized the experience. Plus, the food was yummy! Also, all the other staff members were very pleasant and contributed to the overall positive experience. Roni, our cocktail tour guide, was very knowledgable and conversational. He welcomed questions and shared history in a very relatable way. Plus, the included drinks were STRONG and we got to expedience several bars we didn’t plan on our list!