French Quarter Shopping: The Best Perfumeries
New Orleans is often compared to a bewitching but temperamental woman. If that analogy is apt, then she’s also a perfumed one. From delicately fragrant honeysuckle and sweet olive to ghostly night-blooming cereus, floral scents hang heavy in New Orleans’ humid, subtropical air. They are as much a part of the city as pastel shotgun houses or the sound of a busker’s saxophone licks.
Although few senses are as subtle as the olfactory, the scent is also enormously evocative. Complex emotions and memories may be summoned from a whiff of freshly cut grass or hot apple pie. Why not include a bottle of perfume harnessing the essence of New Orleans among your souvenirs? You’ll make a fond memory when you purchase the perfume… and relive it every day when you apply it.
Bourbon French Parfums
805 Royal St.
Participate in a 180-year-old tradition when you browse for perfume at this quaint Royal Street shop. A specialist can custom-mix a unique fragrance tailored to your body chemistry, or you can take home a classic scent such as lilac, French lavender or musk. All perfumes are hand-mixed in small batches from natural ingredients.
Hové Perfumeur
434 Chartres St.
You’ll find a treasure trove of single-note floral perfumes at this elegant, high-ceilinged shop, some in distinctly old-fashioned scents like heliotrope and vetiver. There’s more to enjoy, though: bath salts, body powders, colognes, massage oil, and French-milled perfumed soaps. Tuck a beautifully wrapped bar in your luggage, and sweetly scented clothes will be your reward upon returning home. And get this: Founded in 1931, Hové is the oldest continuous perfumer manufacturer in New Orleans.
Lush
532 Royal St.
Yes, it’s a chain, but when the associates are this generous with samples and the product is both luxurious and eco-friendly, who can complain? Crafted in France of organic, vegetarian ingredients, each Lush perfume contains all-natural essential oils. Many feature coordinating lotions, soaps, shampoos, and bubble bars, so you can soak yourself in scent from head to toe. Spend an hour sampling the wares to see which suits you best.
Madame Aucoin Perfume
608 Bienville St.
Madame Aucoin was said to be the first female perfumer in New Orleans, who coined the term “The Paris of America” for her perfumery in the French Quarter. The current location of the shop is a modern reincarnation of her legacy in her former residence. The perfumery’s goal is a reformulation of Madame Aucoin’s original collection. This boutique perfumery is a must destination if you’re a fan of lesser-known French and other independent, niche brands both locally made and imported.
Tijon New Orleans
631 Toulouse St.
Tijon is definitely a luxury, unique experience as you’ll be handed a lab coat and a workbook so you can create your own perfume. There are over 300 oils available, and you can bottle and name your own. Should you want to reorder in the future, Tijon will retain your formula. Tijon also offers classes, its own signature perfumes, and the New Orleans-inspired collection.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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Vintage Shopping in the French Quarter
Photo courtesy of Trashy Diva on Facebook
It’s often said that a stroll through the French Quarter is like stepping back in time. Whether you’re viewing 18th-century buildings like the St. Louis Cathedral, or taking in 1940s-era music at a jazz club, it’s easy to feel transported to a different era. So why not dress to fit the theme? The Vieux Carre offers a host of vintage and vintage-inspired boutiques bursting with unique garments and accessories. There’s not much better than a wearable, one-of-a-kind souvenir — unless it’s the knowledge that vintage clothing is both timeless and eco-friendly. Here are a few must-stop vintage shops in the Quarter.
Dollz & Dames
216 Decatur St.
A funky retro-inspired boutique not unlike Trashy Diva, Dollz & Dames sells vintage-inspired clothing, shoes and accessories. (You can’t miss its eye candy of a storefront on an otherwise sleepy side of the block.) In addition to vintage- and retro-inspired stuff, there’s some true vintage and repurposed merch. It’s a treasure trove.
Lost and Found
323 Chartres St.
The same goes for Lost and Found, if you’re looking for some fun retro/pinup scores. The shop has plus sizes, accessories, kids’ clothes, costume bits like tutus petticoats, jewelry, socks, and much more.
Trashy Diva
537 Royal St. (also has a location Uptown at 2048 Magazine St.)
Launched in 1996 by owner Candice Gwinn as a vintage clothing shop, Trashy Diva gradually transitioned to become a purveyor of new, vintage-inspired clothing that takes its design cues from the 1920s, ’30s, ‘40s, and ‘50s. All the clothing is locally designed by Gwinn in New Orleans and manufactured in her private warehouse in China — so the light fabrics, vivid colors and dramatic prints are ideally suited to the local climate and traditions. (For example, a cotton voile sundress in a Mardi Gras-inspired print is a hot seller). The dresses are flattering and classic enough to warrant the investment. Available in sizes 0 through 24, they’ll be part of your wardrobe for years to come.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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5 Essential New Orleans Record Stores
LA Music Factory photo by Infrogmation of New Orleans on Flickr
Yes, you could fire up Spotify to stream your favorite New Orleans musicians — but the warmth, crackle and hiss of vinyl has so much more personality. (Not to mention that the beautifully designed sleeves can double as wall art.) Sometimes, music is best experienced both as an auditory and tangible product. For those times, here are a few standout record stores. You might just bring home a great souvenir — or discover a new favorite artist while flipping through the crates.
Euclid Records
3301 Chartres Street
This two-story, 4,000-square-foot music mecca in Bywater hosts frequent free in-store performances and movie nights. You can also sell your old CDs and LPs here.
Louisiana Music Factory
421 Frenchmen Street
Why not shop for music in the middle of a music district? You’ll find new and used records by local and national recording artists, T-shirts, music gear, magazines, and so much more.
No Pulp Records
228 Decatur Street
Located on the third floor of Beckham’s Bookshop in the heart of the French Quarter, No Pulp Records is well organized and is a must-stop for New Orleans-centric vinyl. The bookstore is a must-stop by itself, too.
Peaches Records
4318 Magazine Street
You’ll find this family-owned shop Uptown. The 15,000-square-foot store has a plethora of LPs, EPs, CDs, cassettes, merch, T-shirts, and miscellaneous gifts, including prayer candles.
The Mushroom
1037 Broadway Street
An Uptown mainstay for college students since 1970, this record store/head shop is dusty, incense-scented, and crammed with crates of records. It’s a pleasant way to while away an afternoon.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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Cigars and the Good Life in the French Quarter
Photo by Trevor Mark
Cigars may not be native to Louisiana, but they have certainly taken firm root in the city’s celebrated culture of indulgence. The traditional finale to a rich meal, the cigar is also used to mark an important event such as the birth of a child or the completion of a big business deal. It’s no surprise then that a city that loves its fine cuisine and is willing to launch into boisterous celebration on the smallest pretext should prove a welcoming home for the cigar.
On A Roll
A fine cigar, after all, is to a common smoke as a bowl of dark, rich gumbo is to a can of soup: incomparably finer and more lavish. It’s also a handcrafted product made by artisans, rather than a mass-produced commodity, as one visit to the Cigar Factory (415 Decatur St.) will demonstrate vividly.
In a bustling atmosphere fueled by meringue music and the ever-present aroma of just-lit cigars, a team of cigar makers works rapidly and with a focus on a line of rustic wooden booths, rolling the establishment’s proprietary blends as visitors look on. Turning a pile of tobacco into a properly formed, appropriately aged and carefully maintained cigar is a long process, and each step is on display here, from the rolling table to the aging room to the walk-in humidor. The Cigar Factory operates a second location closer to the all-night action on Bourbon Street (206 Bourbon St.), which is open much later.
If you’re in a classy mood, The Bombay Club — all wood paneled handsomeness and stately atmosphere — treats guests to an excellent humidor and gorgeous courtyard. Couple your stogie with some scotch or a cognac, and you’ve got the ingredients for a perfect al fresco New Orleans evening.
Many cigar aficionados have brand loyalty and are only willing to stray from their favorites for so long. The French Quarter has several tobacconists offering large selections from well-known cigar makers, as well as specialty cigarettes and pipe tobacco.
For example, the Crescent City Cigar Shop (730 Orleans Ave.) looks and functions much like the cigar shops visitors are likely familiar with from home. Much more exotic, however, is the retail experience at Reverend Zombie’s House of Voodoo (723 St. Peter St.), where altars of religious statuary, ritual totems, candles, and other curios share shop space with a wide selection of cigars and other tobacco products.
Most of the cigar shops also sell smoking accessories, from utilitarian cigar cutters to beautiful humidors. But a stop at M.S. Rau (630 Royal St.), gives a unique historical perspective to just how seriously the cigar culture was regarded in the gilded age and earlier. This immense antique mecca boasts a collection of cigar-smoking accessories, including some crafted by renowned makers such as Tiffany, Faberge and Cartier.
Often made from gold and sterling and sometimes even encrusted with gemstones, these antiques can command kingly sums. For much less treasure, however, visitors might well feel like kings and queens themselves with a fine cigar in hand strolling under the balconies and moon of a French Quarter evening.
Where to Find Cigars in the New Orleans French Quarter
- Cigar Factory New Orleans (415 Decatur Street)
- Crescent City Cigar Shop (730 Orleans Avenue)
- Cuban Creations Cigar Bar (533 Toulouse Street)
- Don Leoncio Cigars Bar (430 Canal Street)
- La Habana Hemingway Cigars (522 Bourbon Street)
- Ra Shop French Quarter (733 Toulouse Street, 1201 Decatur Street)
- Reverend Zombie’s House of Voodoo (723 St. Peter St.)
- The Bombay Club (830 Conti Street)
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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Shopping for Discovery and Surprise
Photo by Infrogmation of New Orleans
In the battle against strip malls and generic chain operations, it seems like the merchants of New Orleans’ French Quarter can claim victory. Personality and individuality prevail here, and diverse, often family-owned and operated retail establishments line the neighborhood streets, allowing for a shopping experience that simply can’t be replicated anywhere else.
Raucous Variety
In the Quarter you’ll find an exhaustive wealth of American and European antique and contemporary furniture; paintings, sculpture, drawings, and every other artistic medium imaginable; local and regional crafts; and clothing galore, including custom-designed gowns, off-the-rack designer numbers, vintage couture, decadent lingerie, custom millinery, and hip, trendy, street-wear.
All manner of new, used and rare books and music are offered in shops ranging from the expansive to the closet-esque. Cooks can placate their passions at century-old grocery stores cum delicatessens, comprehensive kitchen shops and general stores offering hard-to-find regional foodstuffs.
The six-by-twelve block space that is the French Quarter is the special soil that generates this unique retail environment. Plan at least one full day of leisurely browsing and digging when shopping in the Quarter. A comfortable pair of shoes, an open mind and an open schedule will be of great benefit. While a large sum of cash is also nice to have, window shoppers and curiosity seekers will not be disappointed either.
Photo by Trevor Mark
Of Ports and Pedigrees
New Orleans’ age, distinct European heritage, and status as a major port city have made it a favorite destination for collectors. The concentration of elegant antique shops lining Royal Street is highly reputable establishments often run by third- and fourth-generation family members who are eager to educate on the pedigree and history of their goods. The life span of the establishments is reflected in the exceptional range of their international stock of fine objects d’art, jewels and antiquities. The sheer number of shops also translates into bargaining power for the consumer.
Two blocks from Royal Street, Decatur Street, by comparison, is at once both trendy and bohemian. Its boutiques sell unique costumes as well as vintage clothing and accessories befitting screen queens.
Literally and figuratively, Chartres Street is somewhere in between. Chic, locally-owned shoe and clothing boutiques and shops offering custom-designed jewelry coexist on the same block with contemporary art galleries, and oddities shops stocked to meet the demand for things like Civil War musket balls and fashion repurposed from cork.
The French Quarter supports numerous bookstores representing all manner of interests with a strong bent toward local and regional writers, both modern and classic. Like other retail establishments in the neighborhood, the majority of the bookshops offering used, rare and collectible books are independently owned.
Back of the Quarter
The French Market at the back of the Quarter is a fun place to shop for a dinner party, peruse local cookbooks, or dig for bargains from all corners of the world. A collection of small shops extends from the front of the complex at Decatur and St. Ann Streets back to Ursuline Street.
Until the late 19th century Choctaw vendors sold herbs and medicinal plants at the site of the French Market, which extends from Ursuline Street back to Governor Nicholls Street. The Spanish erected the first enclosed market here in 1782, where fresh meat, poultry, produce, game, seafood, baked goods, spices, seasonings, fruit, and live plants are now sold.
The flea market is part of the French Market. It extends from Governor Nicholls Street back to Barracks Street. Some vendors hustle here every day, but weekends are particularly lively, and anything you can imagine can be bought here, from notable local artists and jewelry designers to importers of fine international crafts to folks selling the contents of their grandmother’s attic (as well as mass-produced junk). These independent vendors expect you to bargain for their “best” deal. Sometimes you get it. Sometimes you don’t. Usually, you leave feeling amused.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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French Quarter Shopping: One-of-a-Kind Stores
French Market. Photo by Selena N.B.H. on Flickr
Shopping in the French Quarter runs a long gamut of opportunities: from high-end chain retail at Canal Place to magical-spell components at a voodoo-for-tourists shop located down a small back alleyway. You’ll find just about every version of retail therapy in the Quarter, but the options are fairly tremendous, and it helps to be able to narrow the clutter of choices down. One bonus: Staying in a French Quarter hotel, which gives you pedestrian access for all your shopping needs.
Boutique du Vampyre
709 St. Ann Street
Hey — vampires gotta shop too, right? And when they do, they come to Boutique du Vampyre, which bills itself as the only vampire shop in the country. Whether that’s true or not, this shop is a unique experience unto itself, run by the city’s six-foot queen of vampires, the German-born Marita Jaeger. What does a vampire buy? Well, there are capes and cloaks, but there’s also Transylvanian hot sauce (hmmm), books on vampirism and general goth-y gift stuff.
Chiwawagaga
511 Dumaine Street
When we say there’s a store for every need in the French Quarter of New Orleans, we’re not kidding, and no shop in the city exemplifies this truth like Chiwawagaga, a self-proclaimed “small store for dinky dogs.” You read that right: This shop is dedicated to small-breed dogs (and their owners), and is stocked with costumes that will fit perfectly on your pet chihuahua, Maltese, terrier, etc. Ever wanted to see a dachshund in a hot dog outfit? This is the place. As one might guess, this store is all the rage in the weeks leading up to Barkus, the carnival pet parade.
Crescent City Books
124 Baronne Street
Our other favorite spot in the Quarter for the written word, Crescent City Books feels like the sort of shop a kid walks into before being transported to some magical world. It’s dusty, but it’s the best kind of dusty — the dusty of a used bookstore where every title is well beloved, carefully curated and waiting to be discovered by a lucky customer, which we’re hoping is you.
Faulkner House Books
624 Pirate’s Alley
There is no shortage of fantastic independent bookstores in New Orleans; it pains us that we only have room for two of them here. Faulkner House, a cozy book of a bookshop (isn’t that always the best kind?) is a beloved institution, located in a building where its namesake once rented rooms back in 1925. The shop is stuffed with literature representing a wide swath of genres, and it becomes a major focal point for visitors who are in town for the annual Tennessee Williams Literary Festival.
Fifi Mahony’s
934 Royal Street
You’re in New Orleans. You need a costume. You have to look fabulous. This isn’t Kansas, Dorothy — no “Thing 1” or “I’m a Nurse” or “John’s Crazy Bachelor Party” t-shirt is going to cut it. So do as the locals do and get a real wig and some off-the-wall accoutrement to accompany it at Fifi’s. Let’s be very clear, though: Don’t come here expecting to get away with some lame feather boa and cheap wig combo. This is the shop of choice for many of the area’s most creative costumers, drag queens, theater professionals, makeup artists, etc. You’ll get a fitted artifact of awesome fashion expression at Fifi’s, and you will rock it.
French Market
1235 N. Peters Street
The French Market is as much a tourist attraction as it is a shopping destination, but you can certainly buy stuff here. What that “stuff” is depends on your taste — there are plenty of tatty souvenir trinkets, belts with big fleur-de lis-buckles, cheap sunglasses and fake gator heads, but you can also find African prints, handcrafted art objects and local crafts. We’re not passing judgment on any of the above — the point is, walking around the Market is fun, and as much of a travel experience as buying something here.
Lejardin
612 Royal Street
You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to art galleries on Royal Street (let alone the French Quarter), and while we don’t have time to explore every individual art gallery in this piece, we do want to highlight Lejardin, which is an excellent storefront that gathers locally made arts, crafts, picture frames, jewelry, and other goodies. Besides boasting a plum location, the shop also has a gorgeous courtyard, stuffed with a nicely curated selection of local art. A perfect shop for a New Orleans-made souvenir.
Louisiana Music Factory
421 Frenchmen Street
We’re cheating a little bit here, as the Music Factory is technically in Faubourg Marigny, just outside of the French Quarter. But whatever — if you’re in town looking for local music to take home, it is imperative you stop by LMF, which boasts an inordinately large selection of CDs, albums and concert ephemera from one of the most musically important states in the country.
Lucullus Antiques
610 Chartres Street
You can’t walk without tripping over an antique store in the French Quarter; what sets Lucullus apart is its selection of culinary antiques, ranging from dishes to flatware to copper pots and pans that seem to have emerged from the mists of time. There are plenty of other antiques for sale as well, but we have a lot of love for Lucullus’ focus on selling the sort of goods that are intimately associated with our city’s rich culinary heritage.
Santa’s Quarters
1025 Decatur Street
We’re not trying to sound like Grinches here, but it’s a little baffling how Santa’s Quarters stays in business for 11 months out of the year. Because when you come in here, it is all Christmas, all the time. OK, let’s be fair: There’s actually a fair amount of Carnival accoutrement as well, plus some odd artifacts from Cajun country, but look, when you name your store “Santa’s Quarters,” there’s an ideal you’re living up to, and this spot does not disappoint. There are nutcrackers, Santa statues, bits of tinsel, ornaments, and every accent and oddity one associates with the holiday season in this store. And, even in the sweltering heat of a New Orleans summer, they’re playing Christmas carols in here without fail.
The Quarter Stitch
629 Chartres Street
A lot of people pass The Quarter Stitch without a second look, but there’s a certain kind of person who enters this store and basically loses their mind. The Stitch is made by and for those who are obsessed with knitting (on that note, if you read the name of the place and laughed, you’re likely one of those folks who would lose their minds in here). Also a great spot for almost any kind of art and crafting supplies, and meeting the sort of locals who will sink a lot of time into both creating a new hat and a cool DIY Mardi Gras costume.
Voodoo Authentica
612 Dumaine Street
For what it’s worth, we need to point out that voodoo is a real religion in New Orleans, and its practitioners are no more scary or outlandish than the worshippers of any other faith. Most of those who hew to voodoo celebrate the “magic” side of the religion with the occasional lit candle and prayer. With that said, most people in the city understand there is a “marketable” side of voodoo that appeals to tourists, and Voodoo Authentica does a good job of selling this sort of “commercial voodoo” while also being run by friendly folk who are happy to tell you about how the religion functions. We also give this shop credit for being a cool combo of clean, cozy and extremely colorful. They also give local artists and practitioners a presence by selling their art and crafts and offering readings.
Happy shopping!
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Jewelry Stores in the French Quarter and Nearby
Photo courtesy of Wellington & Company Fine Jewelry on Facebook
Whether you’re looking for a gift or to treat yourself to a new piece of jewelry New Orleans is a good choice for jewelry shopping. It has some of the best antique stores in the world, stocked with exquisite luxury items, plus lots of funky wearable art in the local boutiques that carry local artists and emerging brands. Here are our top 10 suggestions for where you can find the perfect souvenir or gift for your special someone in the French Quarter and nearby areas.
Adler’s
722 Canal Street
A New Orleans landmark that is over a century old, Adler’s has been family-run ever since Coleman E. Adler opened its original location on Royal Street in the French Quarter in 1898. Adler’s eventually outgrew its Royal Street space and expanded to its present location on Canal Street. In addition to high-end jewelry Adler’s also carries specialty gifts and home accessories, including watches and crystal. It’s well-known for its New Orleans-specific pieces, like Mardi Gras ornaments and water meter cufflinks.
Bijounola
635 St. Peter Street
Bijou NOLA carries unique jewelry designed by local and international artists. Owner Maria Cottrell hails from New York and has been in New Orleans since the late 70s. Bijou NOLA is not just a store but also a gallery, showcasing elegant and eclectic collections. Some are NOLA-centric, others stand apart because of their global flair, but all are one of a kind. One of the artists represented by Bijou NOLA is Tomasz Prlodowski, a Polish engineer and artist with an eye for contemporary architecture.
Couronne Jewels & Watches
301 Royal Street
This elegant French Quarter store on the corner of Royal and Bienville streets is aptly named for the word “crown” in French. It carries antique jewelry, fine art and antiques, including classic watches and rings. Couronne Jewels & Watches will also repair your broken watch or a piece of jewelry.
Earth Odyssey
306 Chartres Street
This unique French Quarter store specializes in “spiritually focused” jewelry, gemstone beads, and rocks and minerals. You’ll find crystals, fossils, sterling silver jewelry, and aromatherapy items. Earth Odyssey also offers psychic readings and holistic services. Most jewelry pieces are under $100.
French Quarter Gem & Lapidary
527 St. Philip Street
Locally owned and operated, the welcoming French Quarter Gem & Lapidary specializes in minerals, semi-precious and precious stones, and jewelry. The stock appeals to all ages and falls across different price ranges, and you can find gifts for all occasions. French Quarter Gem & Lapidary also repairs sterling and gold jewelry.
Mignon Faget
333 Canal Street, Level 1
The store is the namesake of its owner, a local artist and jewelry designer best known for its elegant takes on New Orleans nature and architecture. Her handcrafted jewelry reflects the city’s environments and is a perfect gift for someone who loves New Orleans, as well as a great souvenir for someone who wants to commemorate a trip to New Orleans with a wearable piece of art. Faget has been designing since the late 1960s and uses skilled artisans and high-quality gold, silver, and precious and semi-precious gemstones. Collections include such ubiquitous local elements as fleur-de-lis and crescents. Many pieces are inspired by the flora and fauna of the Gulf, and what represents Louisiana (for example, pelicans, crawfish and oysters).
M.S. Rau
630 Royal Street
This New Orleans institution has been a French Quarter landmark for over 100 years (since 1912) and had been voted the “Best Antique Store in New Orleans” numerous times. You can get lost in its 30,000 sq. ft. museum-like space overflowing with one of the best collections of 18th-and 19th-century antiques, fine art and jewelry in the country. M.S. Rau remains a favorite among serious and novice antique collectors worldwide. You’ll find important pieces by Renoir and Brueghel alongside pieces by Faberge, Chanel, van Cleef & Arpels, and Tiffany & Co., next to the rare colored diamonds and sapphires of Kashmir. And if you can’t find what you’re looking for chances are M.S. Rau could try to find it for you through their network of contacts around the world.
Porter Lyons
623 Royal Street
Porter Lyons was founded by designer Ashley Porter. The brand began as a collection of exotic skin belts before venturing into fine necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings. Each collection is inspired by a specific culture, with a portion of sales benefiting an organization working to preserve the richness of that place. Combined with a unique take on stud earrings for women and other 14K gold jewelry, Porter Lyons puts a signature New Orleans aesthetic on every piece. The store also offers ear piercing.
Valobra Jewelry
333 Royal Street
Valobra Jewelry Atelier has been designing and creating jewelry for world-renowned jewelry houses since 1905. It was the official jeweler to the Italian royal family at some point, and had been commissioned by the House of Savoy to create a number of pieces including royal medals and matrimonial tiaras. The Valobra family expanded the company from its original location in Torino, Italy, to its first U.S. gallery in the French Quarter in New Orleans in 1982. The Valobra creations had been featured in worldwide in fashion magazines like Vogue and W, and had been commissioned and worn by movie stars to the Emmys and the Academy Awards. The Royal Street space is a store but also an impossibly elegant gallery that showcases exquisite antique and estate jewelry, including antique brooches and cufflinks, and Art Deco rings.
Wellington & Co.
505 Royal Street
This alluring French Quarter fixture is owned by Tom and Brandy Whisnant and has a distinctly Parisian vibe. It specializes in fine antique jewelry including engagement, bridal, and estate pieces. You can also find Honora pearls and fleur-de-lis charms and necklaces, vintage cufflinks, and the extensive Tacori collection, among other items.
If you’re planning a stay in New Orleans, be sure to check out our resource for French Quarter Hotels.
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Hat Shopping in the French Quarter and Nearby
Photo courtesy of Fleur de Paris on Facebook
Themed weddings. Mardi Gras balls. Thanksgiving at the racetrack. Afternoon tea. New Orleans offers no shortage of opportunities to don your finest hat — and thanks to its costume culture and over-the-top reputation, you can be sure that there’s no such thing as too bold when it comes to toppers. Whether you’re looking for a huge, feather-trimmed hat to wear to the racetrack or an understated, sparkling fascinator to complement a slinky cocktail dress, these milliners have you covered.
Fleur de Paris
532 Royal Street
When it comes to hats, the bigger, brighter and bolder the better. And by these criteria, Fleur de Paris makes the best hats in the business. From candy-egg-hued, ostrich feather-trimmed Easter hats to smart, elegant chapeaus, every hat is made to order in-house and ideally suited to that customer’s face shape, coloring and aesthetic. Hand-dyed silks, purses and dresses round out the merchandise at Fleur de Paris, which is said to be the largest millinery shop in the U.S. Worried that a hat with a pizza-sized brim is too much of a statement piece? Don’t be. It’s New Orleans, after all.
Goorin Bros. Hat Shop
709 Royal Street
You wouldn’t guess Goorin Brothers is a national hat chain — it feels like the kind of bespoke, handed-down-through-the-generations gem that you’d stumble upon tucked away on a quiet city street. And the quality of the hats upholds that impression, thanks to the Goorin family’s 120 years of devotion to hat-making techniques. Launched in Pittsburg in 1895 with a single horse-drawn buggy, the fourth-generation business now boasts 30 shops across the U.S. and Canada.
You’ll find toppers for men (rugged leather wide-brimmed, snazzy plaid flatcaps) and women (elegant cloches, floppy straw hats), as well as accessories. Hat addict? You wouldn’t limit yourself to just one pair of shoes — why not create an equally impressive hat wardrobe?
Meyer The Hatter
120 St. Charles Avenue
If your tastes run to the classic, conservative side, you’ll feel right at home in one of New Orleans’ multigenerational family businesses. It’s the oldest family-owned hat store in America. This long, narrow, fifth-generation enterprise has earned the loyalty and business of New Orleans’ most prominent families over the last 129 years. Meyer the Hatter counts Kermit Ruffins, Susan Sarandon, Eric Clapton, Sylvester Stallone, Elvis Costello, the Backstreet Boys, and many other celebrities as customers.
However, the hats don’t come with A-list price tags: many cost less than $100. Today, you’ll find Stetson hats, Kangol caps, jazz band hats, wool pork pie hats, Maysor fedoras, and more inside the store, which hasn’t changed much since the 1890s — though it has moved its location a few times, it’s never left the block. Some things never change… and with the help of the three generations working at this hat shop, hopefully, neither will Meyer’s. It’s the perfect place to pop in and grab a souvenir you’ll enjoy every day.
Trashy Diva
537 Royal Street, 2048 Magazine Street
Founder Candice Gwinn launched Trashy Diva as a vintage clothing shop in the 1990s. Today, she sells her original vintage-inspired designs, as well as lingerie, jewelry and hats galore at the boutique, a cult favorite for retro lovers worldwide. Lids include cloches, fedoras, berets, fascinators, pillboxes, and cocktail hats. Though they’re specially chosen to complement Trashy Diva’s array of 1920s, ‘30s, ’40s, and ’50s style dresses, these ladylike hats go with almost any ensemble.
If you’re looking to create a show-stopping head-to-toe look, make a beeline for Trashy Diva and its impeccably dressed shop girls, who double as wardrobe stylists. They’ll zip you into an uber-flattering dress and guide you to the hat that perfectly frames your face and tops off the ensemble. Best of all? These classic styles don’t go out of style, and they’re so well-made that you might just be able to hand them down to your grandchildren.
Yvonne LaFleur
8131 Hampson Street
Yvonne LaFleur, the woman behind this eponymous boutique, is known for her custom millinery (and she is rarely sighted outside without a hat topping her signature chignon). Bring in an outfit or let one of the shop girls outfit you in the latest styles, and LaFleur will create a custom hat on the spot. It’s a not-to-be-missed experience and a rite of passage for the generations of New Orleanians who have visited the romantic boutique for everything from fall wardrobes, jewelry and debutante gowns to bridal dresses, handbags and lingerie. Sequined dresses and mink furs hang from the ceiling, and the overall vibe resembles that of a bygone era. Yes, Yvonne LaFleur is in Riverbend, and yes, it’s worth the scenic ride on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans soon? To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
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The Best Vegan & Gluten-Free Dishes to Look for in the French Quarter (and Nearby)
Photo courtesy of Sweet Soulfood on Facebook
New Orleans is a culinary mecca, but one admittedly laden with meat and seafood and swimming in cream and butter. It hasn’t been an easy ride for vegetarians and vegans, especially in the past decade, though this is changing. With the proliferation of exclusively plant-based and gluten-free, vegan-friendly offerings around town the vegetarian culture is thriving, and the vegan scene is getting there.
In other words, it is not a bad time to be vegan in New Orleans, and it’s much easier these days to find glorious vegan fare that goes way beyond the bland afterthought of the years past. Here are our top recommendations for the best vegan and gluten-free dishes, with emphasis on the local cuisine but also spanning the globe, that you can find in the French Quarter and nearby.
Breakfast
Where to get it: Meals From the Heart Cafe (French Market; 1100 N. Peters St., #13, French Quarter), The Daily Beet (1000 Girod St., CBD; has another location Uptown, 3300 Magazine St.)
The French Market gem Meals From the Heart Cafe earns its stripes with the vegan versions of a burger and hard-to-find gumbo, but don’t overlook its gluten-free and vegan pancakes and vegan apple patties. In a city where breakfast is often a decadent, eggs-and-meat-heavy affair, this is a treat.
The feel-good menu at The Daily Beet, which started in St. Roch Market and has since expanded to the CBD and Uptown, has all the makings of a healthy, satisfying breakfast, including smoothies, juices, avocado toast, and quinoa bowls. The Magazine Street location is also offering vegan buckwheat sweet potato pancakes for brunch.
Burgers
Where to get it: Meals From the Heart Cafe
Meals’ popular Beyond Burger is both vegan and gluten-free. The restaurant’s M.O. is “A Healthier Take on New Orleans’ Famous Cuisine,” and it riffs off the New Orleans staples like gumbo with its health-conscious versions. There are also breakfast items like vegan pancakes and apple patties. Delivery available.
Cheesesteaks
Where to get it: Trilly Cheesesteaks (3735 Ulloa St., Mid-City)
Trilly has a whopping five kinds of vegan cheesesteaks on its menu, from the traditional Philly version to chicken, buffalo chicken and Far East (with ginger soy sauce) to BBQ chicken. All are made with steak or chicken seitan and served on an Amoroso’s roll. There are also vegan sides like cheese fries and poutine.
Crepes
Where to get it: Crêpes à la Cart (1039 Broadway St., Uptown; has event popups throughout the city)
This popular creperie doles out classic, vegan and gluten-free crepes in flavors ranging from sweet to savory. Try the hummus crepe, made with gluten-free vegan batter.
Dessert
Where to get it: Sweet Soulfood (1016 N. Broad St., Tremé/Lafitte), Carmo (527 Julia St., Warehouse District), Breads on Oak (222 Carondelet St., CBD; 8640 Oak St., Suite A, Uptown)
You’ll find all-vegan versions of some of New Orleans’ and Southern traditional desserts like pralines and bread pudding, plus cornbread with rum sauce, and even ice cream at Sweet Soulfood. The tropical-themed Carmo in the Arts District has a whole menu of vegan desserts, including Caribbean banana cake, zucchini chocolate chip cake, house-made cookies, Kahlua chocolate pecan cake, gateau, and more. Breads on Oak offers brioche donuts, cookies, biscuits, seasonal cakes, and more. It’s also a good spot for an all-day breakfast.
Gumbo
Where to get it: Meals From the Heart, Sweet Soulfood
The back-alley French Market Meals From the Heart Cafe is worth the trip for its hard-to-find vegan okra gumbo alone, but its health-conscious menu is full of vegan and gluten-free riffs on other New Orleans classics that usually come only in meat and seafood versions, like the popular Beyond Burger (also soy-free), and the vegan crabcake. Sweet Soulfood also serves a vegan version of okra gumbo.
King Cake
Where to get it: Breads on Oak
Around Mardi Gras, you can score a vegan king cake from Breads on Oak, with or without filling. The traditional version is made with cinnamon, and the fillings include almond cream, cream cheese, pecan praline, tiramisu, and more. Breads on Oak also ships in season.
Hot Dogs/Sausage
Where to get it: Dat Dog (601 Frenchmen St., Marigny; plus two more locations Uptown)
Yes, the menu is full of meat, from duck to alligator, but there are at least four vegan offerings too, including the Italian “dog” made with eggplant, and bratwurst (pea and rice protein, and fava beans). Quite a few among the 30 toppings are also vegan-friendly.
Jambalaya
Where to get it: Sweet Soulfood
Sweet Soulfood is a cafeteria-style vegan haven that is on the border of the Tremé/Lafitte and Bayou St. John neighborhoods of New Orleans. Their jambalaya is served along with many other rotating all-vegan takes on Southern staples.
Where to get it: Blaze Pizza (611 O’Keefe Ave., Downtown; 5001 Freret St., Uptown), Pizza Delicious (617 Piety St., Bywater)
Blaze’s Veg Out pizza comes with either keto or cauliflower crust (both gluten-free), topped with zucchini, red onion, mushrooms, and red sauce. Vegan cheese is optional. There’s also a vegan pizza with vegan regular dough, vegan chorizo, and a slew of veggie toppings. Pizza Delicious’s vegan roasted cauliflower comes with marinara and balsamic red onion. You can add vegan Daiya cheese for an additional price.
Po-boys
Where to get it: Small Mart Cafe (2700 Chartres St., French Quarter)
Small Mart is revered for its wide selection of New York City-style bagels, but its specialties also include vegan po-boys plus Indian and Pakistani street-food fare like the daily curry and vegetarian samosas.
Red Beans & Rice
Where to get it: Meals From the Heart Cafe, Sweet Soulfood, Carmo
The Meals’ version is solid (get the vegan gumbo to go with too), or check out the gluten-free vegan version at Sweet Soulfood. And the “tropical” enclave of Carmo, nestled among the galleries of Julia Street, features vegan beans and rice among its mainstays, along with the daily curry and a plethora of interesting, all-vegan desserts.
Spanning the Globe
Where to get it: Carmo
The health- and sustainability-conscious Carmo in the Arts District features vegan versions of such local specialties as beans and rice, but the menu expands from the Gulf South to the Caribbean, West African and Southeast Asia influences with vegan seviche, curry, house-made Armenian breads, and bright and beautiful salads with mouth-watering toppings.
We’re also excited to share our favorite vegetarian destinations in the French Quarter, so read on!
Not sure where to stay? We got you covered! Check out our top recommendations for hotels in the French Quarter.
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Where to Score the Best Crawfish in New Orleans
Spring means crawfish season in New Orleans, and that means picking the best spot to enjoy an old-fashioned boil. This list is far from exhaustive — in fact, it’s more like a drop in the bucket — and that’s a good thing. We’re lucky to live in a place where boils happen in bars, restaurants and backyards every day this time of year.
Cajun Seafood
1479 N. Claiborne Ave.
Cajun Seafood opened its original location on S. Broad Street in 1995 and remains, in the words of many locals, “The best smelling corner in the city” (as the company’s website reminds us). Since then, Cajun expanded to three more locations (each family-owned and operated), and the one on N. Claiborne is located in Tremé. The counter service spot usually has a wait, sometimes trailing around the outside of the building on Saturday afternoons and during second lines.
Diverse offerings include po-boys, Chinese food, boiled seafood, ya-ka-mein (also spelled as yaka mein — a magical concoction of chopped beef, noodles, green onions, hard-cooked egg, and broth), and fried chicken, as well as varying fresh seafood options. The boil is moderately spicy, with a pleasant clove and garlic flavor. It’s a middle-of-the-road crawfish — a crowd-pleaser.
Captain Sal’s Seafood & Chicken
3168 St. Claude Ave.
Located on St. Claude Avenue in the Bywater, Sal’s sells inexpensive boiled seafood, fried chicken and po-boys from an inauspicious concrete building. The crawfish are spicy, and that spice carries over into the corn and potatoes for some of the spiciest sides we’ve ever tried.
The crawfish are also buttery and garlicky; they have a particularly rich flavor. As the season progresses Sal’s offers weekly half-price deals, usually beginning around Easter. There’s plenty of space to sit inside, and there’s counter service. Don’t expect much of a wait here.
Captain Sid’s
1700 Lake Ave., Metairie
Located just down the street from Deanie’s in the heart of Bucktown, Captain Sid’s has been around since 1979. Captain Sid’s specializes in fresh and boiled seafood, plus there’s a deli with cooked items like stuffed crabs, crawfish pies, alligator sausage, the bisques, and the etouffees. The place is no frills, there are no tables, so be ready to take your order to go. The original owner, Sidney “Captain Sid” Patrick, came up with a unique seafood seasoning, and that’s what you’ll be tasting in your crawfish.
Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant
Multiple Locations
Deanie’s, around since 1961, is an institution and a recognized name in the city known for its great seafood. The original restaurant and seafood market are located in Bucktown in Metairie (1713 Lake Ave.). There are two more locations in the French Quarter and the Garden District. All three are perfect for dining in.
Mid-City Seafood and Deli
2526 St. Bernard Ave.
This Seventh Ward spot near the corner of St. Bernard Ave. and Broad St. is known for its boiled seafood and fried chicken. The boil has strong hints of clove, and deep, delicious flavor as well as a mild, lingering heat. It’s counter service only — but you come for the food, not the atmosphere. The po-boys are numerous, well-priced, and also well regarded.
Mukbang Vietnamese Street Food
8312 Oak St.
Mukbang specializes in seafood plates with with an elevated Vietnamese-Cajun twist, and offers seafood options less common in New Orleans restaurants, like clams and even all-out seafood towers. When the crawfish is in season, expect Mukbang to have it, though it’s always a good idea to call ahead and check if the restaurant is boiling.
Salvo’s Seafood
7742 Highway 23, Belle Chase
It’s a bit of a trek, but Salvo’s offers delicious boiled seafood at better prices than most restaurants in the city. Their all-you-can-eat seafood specials rotate nightly between crab, shrimp, and crawfish, but crawfish is consistently available by the pound as well during season.
The full-service restaurant has been open since 1984, and also offers sandwiches, steaks and ribs, though most people come for the boiled and fried seafood specials. The all-you-can-eat boiled seafood specials also include all-you-can-eat boiled sides.
Boils at Bars
Crawfish can be found at bars around the city in the spring. The R Bar in the Marigny often doles out crawfish, and the Maple Leaf Bar is known for its boil helmed by Jason Seither (of Seither’s Seafood), which offers a unique boil with carrots, garlic, and sweet potato, among other unusual vegetables sometimes added to the pot. The 24-hour Three Legged Dog in the French Quarter also has weekly boils, and the Mid-City’s Bayou Beer Garden throws an occasional boil on its spacious back patio, during the Saints games in particular.
Are you planning to spend some time in New Orleans this sprint? This is a great time to visit as the temps get higher and the city’s schedule is full of fun events and the annual spring festivals. To stay close to all the action, book a historic boutique hotel in the French Quarter at FrenchQuarter.com/hotels today!
