105 Best Places to Shop in New Orleans, Louisiana

Aidan Gill for Men

Garden District Fodor's choice

Merging the attentiveness of a spa with the old-world charm of a barbershop, this high-end men's salon caters to guys who prefer getting a hot-towel shave and a haircut while enjoying a whiskey. The front of the store is devoted to manly diversions, with shaving sets, contemporary and New Orleans–theme cuff links, pocket knives, wallets, bow ties (a specialty), grooming products for face and hair, and gifts.

Aunt Sally's Praline Shop

French Quarter Fodor's choice

Satisfy your sweet tooth with an array of pralines, made while you watch. The traditional version is concocted from cane sugar spiked with pecans, but other flavors include chocolate, café au lait, and even bananas Foster. You can also buy hot sauce, prepackaged muffuletta mix, and Bourbon Street glaze, as well as art and books about New Orleans, zydeco CDs, and logo cups and aprons.

Center for Southern Craft and Design Store

Warehouse District Fodor's choice

You don't have to pay admission to enter this part of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, where you can buy ceramics, glasswork, decorative pieces, books, scarves, and jewelry by Southern artists. The museum itself is filled with contemporary and folk paintings, mixed-media artworks, photography, and sculpture.

Live music and after-hours events are held on Thursday.

Recommended Fodor's Video

Faulkner House Books

French Quarter Fodor's choice

Named for William Faulkner, who rented a room here in 1925, this bookstore is designated a National Literary Landmark. It specializes in first editions and rare and out-of-print books—mostly by Southern authors—but also carries new titles. The store keeps thousands of additional books at an off-site warehouse and hosts an annual Happy Birthday, Mr. Faulkner! Festival that salutes Faulkner and new Southern writers.

Fifi Mahony's

French Quarter Fodor's choice

Anyone with a passion for playing dress-up and a flair for the dramatic will love this place filled with custom wigs, wild accessories, makeup, and hair products. The shop provides essential resources for Mardi Gras and Halloween costumes as well as ample creative advice.

Fleurty Girl

French Quarter Fodor's choice

Owned by the ebullient Lauren Thom, Fleurty Girl—its name is a play on "fleur-de-lis"—is the place to go for New Orleans apparel, home decor, and gifts. The store is known for its T-shirts displaying the humorous catchphrases and iconography of local culture and New Orleans Saints pride. There's affordable jewelry, children's books, colorful rain boots, Carnival-themed gear, and fleurs-de-lis in every imaginable form. There's also a location in the Garden District, at 3117 Magazine Street.

Hové Parfumeur, Ltd.

French Quarter Fodor's choice

A must for perfume lovers, this store has been creating fragrances since 1931. Scented oils, soaps, sachets, and potpourri have been made on-site for four generations and are sold all over the world. There are dozens of fragrances for men and women, as well as bath salts, anti-aging treatments, massage and body oils, antique shaving and dressing-table accessories, and new and antique perfume bottles.

M.S. Rau

French Quarter Fodor's choice

Antiques lovers may want to set aside several hours to marvel at the extensive collection here. Rare pieces, such as furniture from royal families, join 18th- and 19th-century French, American, and English antiques, sterling silver, statuary, fine art, and jewelry in this 30,000-square-foot store, which opened in 1912.

Mignon Faget

Uptown Fodor's choice

Mignon Faget is the most famous jewelry designer in New Orleans, and her upscale sterling-silver and 14k-gold collections reflect her love and fascination with botany, nature, architecture, and the city's culture. Elements of bamboo, fleurs-de-lis, honey bees, red beans, and iron balconies have all been inspirations. Faget studied sculpture at Newcomb College at Tulane University and started out as a fashion designer in 1969, but she quickly gave up clothing to focus exclusively on jewelry. Her work has been featured in museums and shops around the world, but her biggest fan club remains right here in New Orleans, where her pieces are instantly recognized. In addition to her boutique on Magazine Street, she has a gallery at the Shops at Canal Place.

perch

Garden District Fodor's choice

Eclectic, feminine, and contemporary, this store's home furnishings are the sort you'd find in a high-end architectural magazine. If you love the look but don't have the decorating gene, the staff provide interior design services.

Rubensteins

Central Business District Fodor's choice

One of the city's premier men's stores has been selling high-end suits, tuxedos, casual wear, and made-to-measure apparel since 1924. Brands range from Brioni and Zegna to Ralph Lauren, Prada, and Hugo Boss.

Southern Food and Beverage Museum Gift Shop

Uptown Fodor's choice

The Southern Food and Beverage Museum documents and celebrates Southern culinary heritage, so its gift shop, of course, carries some of the best cookbooks from the South. It also has food-related and New Orleans–centric gifts, cooking utensils, and vintage and modern cocktail tools and manuals.

Trashy Diva Boutique

French Quarter Fodor's choice

New Orleans–based designer Candice Gwinn puts a retro-romantic spin on the women's fashions she creates. Inspired by styles from the 1940s to the 1950s, the Trashy Diva line includes dresses, blouses, skirts, coats, jewelry, and upscale shoes with vintage flair and modern fit. The Trashy Diva lingerie shop, located at 712 Royal Street, features corsets and romantic evening wear. An expansive Trashy Diva shoe, clothing, and lingerie boutique is also located in the 2000 block of Magazine Street.

Adler's

Central Business District

This century-old, locally owned jewelry store carries upscale watches, engagement rings, gemstone jewelry, wedding gifts, top-of-the-line china, silver, crystal, and more.

Angelique

Carrollton-Riverbend

This upscale women's clothing store provides on-trend apparel, shoes, and accessories from contemporary labels such as Diane von Furstenburg, Halston Heritage, Vince, Red Valentino, and Alice & Olivia.

7725 Maple St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70118, USA
504-866–1092

Ariodante

Warehouse District

Mostly local and Gulf Coast artists are represented in this gallery, featuring high-end and reasonably priced contemporary crafts and fine art, including jewelry, blown glass, sculpture, furniture, photography, paintings, ceramics, and decorative accessories.

Artist's Market

French Quarter

This co-op of regional artists showcases a wide variety of works, including handmade masks, photography focusing on New Orleans personalities and scenery, ceramics, blown glass, paintings, wrought-iron architectural accents, turned-wood bowls and vases, prints, jewelry, beads, and more.

Aux Belles Choses

Uptown

This dreamy cottage of French and English delights has richly scented soaps, vintage and new linens, antique enamelware, collectible plates, and decorative accessories.

Bargain Center

Bywater
Inside this funky muraled storefront on a busy Bywater corner, you'll find thrifted art, clothing, furniture, and knickknacks ranging from junk to vintage treasures, as well as some local arts and crafts.

Basics Underneath

Uptown

The ladies here are focused on ridding the world of sagging bra straps and overflowing cups. With a sharp eye for measurement, the staff specialize in finding the right fit, whether it's something for work or for a more romantic occasion. The store also carries sleepwear and gifts. Next door, at 5515 Magazine Street, is Basics Swim and Gym, a fitness and swimwear boutique from the same owners.

Blue Cypress Books

Carrollton-Riverbend
At this shop, college students, locals, and visitors alike sift through the crowded shelves and tables of used and rare books in all genres, including children's. The shop also sells postcards and small locally themed gifts by the register.

Bourbon French Parfums

French Quarter

Opened in 1843, this old world–style shop offers about three dozen fragrances for men and women, including a 200-year-old formula for men's cologne. It will custom-blend perfumes for individuals based on assessments of body chemistry, personality, and scent preferences. The shop also sells perfume bottles and toiletries.

Brass Monkey

French Quarter

This small, charming shop specializes in Limoges boxes with design motifs ranging from small red beans—a favorite food in New Orleans—to baby carriages. It also has antique walking sticks, Venetian glass, and English Staffordshire porcelain.

Byrdie's Pottery

Faubourg Marigny
A pottery studio on a busy corner, there is always a nice array of unique vases, planters, bowls, and mugs for sale here. Check the website for workshops, events, and open hours, which can be a little sporadic (Saturdays are a good bet).

C. Collection

Carrollton-Riverbend

Geared toward fashion-forward college students, this store resembles a sorority-house closet jammed with hip, flirty, affordable clothes, shoes, handbags, and accessories, ranging from casual to dressy, by brands such as Kensie and Tulle.

8141 Maple St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70118, USA
504-861–5002
shopping Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.

Café du Monde

French Quarter

This open-air café and New Orleans landmark serves café au lait (half coffee, half hot milk) and beignets (holeless doughnuts sprinkled liberally with powdered sugar). Take-home products from the café include prepackaged chicory coffee and beignet mix, coffee mugs, and posters depicting the spot. The café's store across the street also sells logo T-shirts, aprons, and other souvenirs. Another branch is in the CBD, at the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk.

Canine Connection & Canine Culture

Uptown

This dog boarding facility has a retail shop that stocks an array of gourmet pet food and treats, designer bowls, toys, health products, canine fashions, and doggie-themed home decor.

Clock and Watch Shop

Central Business District

Master clockmaker Josef Hirzinger repairs and restores all types of new, vintage, and antique watches and clocks at his two-story shop. He also sells many brands of new watches and clocks, ranging from miniature and mantel styles to large grandfather clocks.

Currents Fine Jewelry

French Quarter

Owners Terry and Sylvia Weidert create a variety of chic, art deco–inspired designs in 14- and 18-karat gold and platinum.

Dauphine Street Books

French Quarter

New and used books focus on local history, the arts, modern fiction, and out-of-print works, including a fine selection of antiquarian books and obscure titles.

410 Dauphine St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, USA
504-529–2333