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The Crescent City's shopping is as eclectic as its music, food, and culture. In local boutiques and specialty stores, you’ll find everything from rare antiques to novelty T-shirts, artwork, jewelry, fashion, and foods that represent the city's varied flavors. Up and down Magazine Street and throughout the French Quarter, you'll spot old-world influences intersecting with modern trends, making it easy for even the most discerning shopper to find something new to treasure.
New Orleanians have a deep love for their city and its culture. For shoppers, this translates into pride-centric merchandise, including jewelry and clothing bearing city emblems, such as the fleur-de-lis—the stylized iris design associated with New Orleans since its early days—and Mardi Gras masks, black-and-gold Saints symbols, and humorous statements about political issues and local personalities. Residents strongly support local entrepreneurs, and there are many homegrown stores selling locally made goods.
Make sure to pay attention to some of the city's artwork. Posters designed around Jazz Fest and other special events, for example, often become collector's items. In the thriving arts districts, you'll find contemporary works by local artists alongside renowned names in the art world. The sounds of New Orleans—Dixieland, contemporary jazz, rhythm and blues, Cajun, zydeco, rap, hip-hop, and the unique bounce beat—are available in music stores, such as Louisiana Music Factory and Peaches Records, and at live-music venues including Preservation Hall, Snug Harbor, and House of Blues. Bookstores stock a plethora of local books on photography, history, cooking, and folklore. Clothing stores focus on items that wear well in New Orleans's often intense heat and humidity, with styles ranging from the latest runway fashions to vintage frocks and styles by local designers.
A smaller version of the locally owned Perlis boutique on Magazine Street, this shop features such items as polo shirts and neckties with crawfish logos, as well as everything from Hawaiian shirts to boxer shorts printed with images of Tabasco products and New Orleans themes.
Gemologist and gold- and silversmith Ken Bowers designs contemporary jewelry in gold, silver, and platinum and carries a selection of antique pieces.
A throwback to the days of Southern Belles, this shop on Jackson Square has linens and lace, ranging from christening outfits for babies to table runners, napkins, women's handkerchiefs, and more. It also offers a charming array of antiques and reproductions, such as perfume bottles, tea sets, fleurs-de-lis, and crosses.
French, English, and Continental antique furniture and Biedermeier pieces can be found alongside chandeliers, sconces, trumeau mirrors, accessories, and estate jewelry in this shop, which was founded in 1899.
The Italian-leather address books, fancy journals, hand-decorated photo albums, specialty papers, custom stationery, handmade invitations, and high-quality fountain pens sold here are fitting tributes to the art of handwriting. The store also creates gorgeous stationery with New Orleans themes.
This boutique specializes in glass-on-canvas art, and offers art-making experiences for children and adults starting at just $45
At the foot of Canal Street, this mall offers high-end shopping at department stores, chains, and a few local boutiques. The Westin New Orleans at Canal Place tops the complex; its dining rooms and lobby have fantastic river views.
This high-end shopping center focuses on national chains, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Michael Kors, Anthropologie, Banana Republic, J.Crew, Louis Vuitton, and Lululemon. But the mall also includes quality local shops: a highlight is the Louisiana Craft Guild for one-of-a-kind Louisiana-inspired creations. There's also an independent Prytania movie theater and a new Brasa steakhouse from local chef Edgar Caro.
Even if you aren't looking for environmentally friendly furniture and accessories, this chic home-decor store is worth a visit for its carefully chosen collection of Jonathan Adler ceramics and lamps, John Robshaw bedding, and Greenform outdoor items. The owner has a sharp eye for design, and an environmental consciousness that makes going green seem smart and easy. Note that you can visit by appointment only.
Inspired by cheese shops in Europe, the stock here includes massive wheels and wedges of Gruyère, Brie, cheddar, blue, and exotic cheeses from around the globe. Owners Danielle and Richard Sutton pride themselves on the select inventory, which also includes specialty meats and a variety of great foodie gifts such as cutting boards, preserves, pastas, cutlery, crackers, and more. Sandwiches and salads are served daily, making this a popular, and crowded, spot at lunchtime. Weekly nighttime pairing classes are delicious and informative, but they sell out fast so buy your tickets early.
Silvia and Juan Asturias operate this business near the French Market, where Silvia's fleur-de-lis and flower-inspired designs share space with other silver jewelry from Chile, Mexico, Indonesia, Russia, Thailand, and elsewhere. There are also coral pieces, gift items, ceramic dolls, and more.
You're as likely to find designer duds by Diane von Furstenberg and Dolce & Gabbana as Ann Taylor and J.Crew on the racks of this upscale consignment store. New consignors come in every day, adding fresh inventory.
This shop specializes in inexpensive, everyday wines—including a "Cheap and Tasty" section—as well as a selection of cheese, meats, and gifts. If you have time, the cozy neighborhood spot has a wine bar that's a comfortable place to sip and learn about different vintages.
Designer Tom Mathis creates custom wedding and engagement rings and other in-house designs and also repairs jewelry. The shop also stocks a variety of contemporary designs by local, national, and international jewelry artists.
Named for the famous Louisiana-produced hot sauce, this store also offers spices, cookbooks, New Orleans–themed clothing and aprons, kitchen accoutrements, ties, posters, pewter items, and more.
Handmade jewelry by local artist Thomas Mann, known for his "technoromantic" pins, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces (often featuring industrial-style hearts), is showcased here, alongside work by a changing slate of other artists. The result is an eclectic mix of contemporary jewelry, housewares, sculpture, and unique gifts—the "I/O" stands for "Insight-full Objects."
Owners Ryan Tyler Dunagan and Grant Tate are successful designers and tastemakers, and a visit to their Magazine Street shop can help you put the finishing touches on your wardrobe or home. Peruse through a colorful collection of clothing, home decor, art, antiques, and so much more.
Label-loving locals as well as celebrities in town shooting movies are known to shop at this designer clothing liquidator. The tiny boutique is busting with deeply discounted apparel, shoes, and accessories by major designers, such as Marni, Balenciaga, Michael Kors, Phillip Lim, and Prada. Contemporary lines, such as Serfontaine Denim, Steven Alan, Yigal Azrouel, and Alexander Wang, have also been spotted on the racks. The stylish, friendly, and eminently helpful sales staff has created a loyal cult of frequent shoppers.
RADA, Malìparmi, Grade & Gather, and Loess are just a few of the high-end brands available here. The boutique also carries handbags and jewelry.
An essential stop for memorabilia collectors, Vintage 329 carries items autographed by celebrities, such as a framed photo signed by Gene Autry, a music sheet autographed by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, and a guitar signed by the Allman Brothers. There are also concert posters, costume jewelry, and signed first edition books. New items arrive every week.
Everything in this store carries a New Orleans theme, making it a great place to buy souvenirs people will actually want to keep, including fleur-de-lis–covered flasks, decorative pillows, nightlights with shades made from photographs of city scenes, glassware, ceramics, jewelry, and other works by local artists.
This hybrid institute, best known as "WINO," is part wine school, part wine store, and part high-tech wine-tasting experience. Walk around with a glass and sample this shop's more than 100 wines, available to taste for a fee by the ounce, half glass, or full glass using Enomatic serving systems (the machines resemble a soda fountain or beer taps). Buy the wines you like by the bottle, or just continue to taste to your heart's content—just make sure you keep tabs on your credit card tally, as it's easy to get carried away. Cheeseboards and other small plates are also on offer. The Thursday-evening wine-tasting classes fill up quickly, so plan ahead if you are interested.
Although the clothes may be stylish and contemporary, this beloved local boutique's approach is decidedly old-world elegance. Owner Yvonne LaFleur custom designs hats for all occasions, and her store is always infused with the soft scent of her signature perfume line. The romantic fashions here run the gamut from casual dresses and flirty skirts to lingerie, ball gowns, and a whole room filled with bridal dresses in a variety of styles.
