These restaurants and bars in New Orleans are definitely haunted

New Orleans bills itself as the most haunted city in America. And no wonder: the port city was built more than 300 years ago on a foundation of misery, ranging from wars and natural disasters to the slave trade and deadly plague.

There are many ghost tours around the French Quarter that take believers and skeptics on wild ghost hunts that shed light on undeniably horrific chapters in New Orleans history. Haunted bar crawls, where tips are encouraged, are a spooky way to learn about the city's history. Or consider taking a tour of these bars and restaurants with a few friends to get in the mood – but don't be surprised along the way. In New Orleans, where voodoo arts are still practiced and haunted treasures abound, it's no wonder that the natives, dead or not, tend to become restless.

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Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar

941 Bourbon Street, French Quarter

It's clear that a bar named after the city's most notorious pirate is haunted. Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop was the den of Jean Lafitte, who specialized in smuggling and did a lot of looting and looting on the side. Ghost hunters spotted the man standing in the dark corners of the bar near the fireplace. Stare at it and it will disappear – maybe. The ghost of a woman is also said to be wandering around on the upper floor. Order one of the powerful Voodoo Daiquiris, made with real juices, to calm your nerves.

Muriel's Jackson Square

801 Chartres Street, French Quarter

The bar on the second floor of Muriel's is called the Seance Bar for a reason. The location of the restaurant looks back on a historic and eventful past, as evidenced by its restless spirits. Pierre Jourdan built his dream home on the edge of Jackson Square in the early 19th century, but lost it in a poker game and then threw himself out of a second-story window. It seems like he's still hanging around, a shimmering glimmer of light usually seen at the upstairs bar. A poltergeist throws things around the yard, shadows and voices appear and disappear. Something is wrong – which is why the owners make peace by reserving a table with bread and wine reserved for Mr. Jourdan.

Pat O'Brien's

718 St. Peter Street, French Quarter

While Pat O's is known for its dueling piano bar and colorful hurricanes, the staff has seen plenty of shenanigans that have nothing to do with Bourbon Street. Reports of running footsteps, hitting a single piano note – with no player in sight – and dragging a chair across the floor are documented. Believe it or not, the ladies' room is said to be haunted. Funny how all the noise in the next stable has nothing to do with the legs. On the other hand, drink enough Hurricanes and everyone will float.

The farm of the two sisters

613 Royal Street, French Quarter

Rumor has it that at least three of Jean Lafitte's bloody duels and Marie Laveau's voodoo incantations took place in the Court of Two Sisters. However, it is not only known for its extensive jazz buffet. Because it was the site of at least one unsolved murder, the Touched reported seeing fairies and goblins partying in the courtyard. Then there is the wishing well, ominously named “The Devil’s Wishing Well,” a nod to Marie Laveau’s dark arts.

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Napoleon House

500 Chartres Street, French Quarter

The Napoleon House was intended to serve as an exile home for Napoleon Bonaparte. Instead, it became a grocery store and a front for the New Orleans Mafia. Whatever happened at 500 Chartres Street over the centuries, the angry spirits that resulted are well documented. From Civil War soldiers to Mafia ghosts to the ghost of former city mayor Nicholas Girod, there's no telling what might be served as a side dish to this delicious pressed muffuletta and Pimm's Cup.

Old absinthe house

240 Bourbon Street, French Quarter

Ghost City Tours always stop at the Old Absinthe House on Bourbon – and for good reason. The original building, built in 1752 and destroyed in the Great Friday Fire of 1788, was rebuilt in 1806 and served as a grocery and liquor store for more than 40 years. It was a haven for illegal stuff during Prohibition, and it's no surprise that it's gained some spirited regulars over its 215-plus-year history. The ghosts of Jean Lafitte, Andrew Jackson and even Marie Laveau could be felt here – plus the woman in a long white dress and a child who can often be heard running up and down the third floor. Sip an absinthe frappe at the bar and think about it for a while, or head out back and enjoy a witch's meal at Tatlo, part speakeasy, part Filipino restaurant, and part absinthe den.

Commander's Palace

1403 Washington Avenue, Garden District

Commander's Palace is one of the city's most traditional dining experiences – you could say it's incredibly good. It seems like there are a few regulars in the famous turquoise Victorian style, from a young girl endlessly coming down the stairs to a moody resident in the ladies' room to randomly flickering lights in the kitchen. The restaurant's location opposite the historic Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, where more than 7,000 people were buried, could be a reason why some guests never leave the restaurant.