New Orleans souvenirs are as full of personality as the city itself. From handblown glass art and decorative Mardi Gras masks to freshly made pralines and vinyl records, there’s something for every taste and budget.
Whether you’re browsing the stalls at the French Market or window shopping along Magazine Street, you’ll find no shortage of unique items to bring home for friends, family, or yourself. Here are some of the best souvenirs from New Orleans to look out for.
Café du Monde Coffee & Beignet Mix
Café du Monde coffee and beignet
Open since 1862, Café du Monde is easily one of the most iconic establishments in New Orleans and a must-see for any first-time visitor. It’s located in the French Market, and is one of the city’s oldest coffee shops. Today, the café is packed round the clock with locals and travelers wanting to taste its famous beignets.
To sweeten the deal, the café has its own shop—both online and on-site—where shoppers can purchase Café du Monde coffee and chicory, along with their famous beignet mix. The shop sells ground coffee as well as pods for single-serve brewers. Other variations include French Roast—instead of the classic Coffee and Chicory—and decaf options.
Pralines
Pralines
Another New Orleans sweet treat worth savoring well after you’ve returned home is the praline. These creamy, melt-in-the-mouth desserts are made from sugar, butter, and pecans and come in all sorts of flavors, from traditional rum to chocolate, coconut, and peanut butter.
Depending on where you shop, you might also find rarer varieties that are sold seasonally. For example, some pralines are made with sweet potato, while others feature banana, almond, or macadamia. Around Mardi Gras, you can usually find pralines flavored to mimic the festival’s famous King Cake.
Pralines are a popular souvenir to buy, so you’ll find them sold in many stores around the city. I personally love the pralines sold at Aunt Sally’s Pralines on Decatur Street. It’s a family-owned shop located right next to Café du Monde.
Another well-known spot is Leah’s Pralines, just a few blocks away on St. Louis Street. Southern Candymakers also has great reviews and wraps each praline in custom boxes, making them gift-ready.
Cajun & Creole Spice Blends
Cajun seasoning
If you’re on the hunt for something savory, some of the best souvenirs from New Orleans are Cajun and Creole spice blends. I’m not the best cook myself, but it’s amazing how much these seasonings can transform a dish. Seasonings vary depending on which blend you pick up, but they’re typically packed with paprika, garlic, cayenne, and other herbs.
If you’re in a rush, head to the nearest grocery store to find local brands like Tony Chachere’s and Slap Ya Mama. Otherwise, visit specialty stores like the New Orleans School of Cooking, which sells a few different spice blends alongside its very popular Cajun Power Worcestershire Sauce. You can also browse vendors at the French Market, where many sell locally made spices and sauces.
Hand-Blown Glass Art
Handblown glass
New Orleans has long been a hub for artists, musicians, and other creative types, and taking a piece of art back home is a wonderful way to remember your trip. Scattered around the city are art galleries and glasswork studios where you can purchase hand-blown glass pieces made by local artists.
If you’re planning to stay mostly within the walkable French Quarter, swing by the Dutch Alley Artist’s Co-op on North Peters Street. The gallery offers an introduction to a range of artists’ works, from sculpture and leatherwork to prints and jewelry.
For the full glass art experience, it’s worth hopping in a taxi and crossing the river to Rosetree Blown Glass Studio and Gallery. When I visited, the staff were very friendly and helpful, and I learned more about how these unique pieces are made.
Handmade Jewelry
Handmade necklace
While hand-made jewelry may not be every traveler’s go-to gift, it’s definitely mine. Fortunately, New Orleans has no shortage of boutiques selling one-of-a-kind jewelry from local makers, making it one of the best souvenirs from New Orleans. While the Frenchmen Art Bazaar is only open at night, the French Market is open daily and is a great place to browse jewelry designs and even chat with a few of the designers.
There are also several boutiques worth visiting while in New Orleans. Beatrixbell Handcrafted Jewelry, located across the river, sells a curated selection of necklaces and earrings featuring materials like amethyst, citrine, and raw emerald. There’s also a collection of hand-made hoops in various designs, including lotus shapes, crafted from mixed metals and gemstones.
Hot Sauces
Hot sauce
If you’ve had even one meal here, you’ll know just how flavorful the food in New Orleans is, and hot sauces are often the reason. Locals take their hot sauces very seriously, with favorites including Tabasco, Crystal, and Louisiana Gold.
Magnolia Sugar & Spice Praline Kitchen & Hot Sauce Bar on Royal Street is a go-to place for hot sauce lovers. Keep in mind that it’s a general souvenir shop, so you’ll find all sorts of other items on its shelves.
Also on Royal Street is NOLA Sauce Bar, which offers a more curated selection, including favorites like Pickle My Fancy, Cajun King Hot Sauce, and Rougaroux Reaper.
King Cake
King Cake
If your trip to New Orleans happens to coincide with Mardi Gras, you’re in luck. Typically, the celebrations last for several weeks, beginning on January 6, also known as Twelfth Night or the Feast of the Epiphany, and winding down on Fat Tuesday. During this time, you’ll see many of the city’s bakeries and even grocery stores selling King Cakes, vibrant, ring-shaped cakes decorated in purple, green, and gold.
As a fun fact, purple represents justice, green represents faith, and gold stands for power. Inside the sweet-tasting cake is a plastic baby, and it’s believed that whoever finds the baby will have good luck.
Even if you’re not visiting New Orleans during Mardi Gras, there are a few bakeries that sell King Cake year-round, with some even offering shipping within the United States. Manny Randazzo King Cakes, Haydel’s Bakery, and Gambino’s Bakery are three local bakeries well-known for their delicious King Cakes and festive packaging.
Read: Best Things to Do in New Orleans With Kids
Mardi Gras Masks
Mardi Gras mask
Another fun way to remember your trip to New Orleans, especially during Mardi Gras, is by buying a decorative Mardi Gras mask. These masks have long been a symbol of the city and originally began as a way for everyone to take part in the festivities, regardless of social status. Today, shops like Maskarade sell hand-crafted masks made by local artisans.
If you plan to wear one during Mardi Gras, it might be worth buying an affordable version in case it gets damaged. However, if you’re hoping to take one home as a souvenir, consider investing in a more decorative piece.
Artwork & Vintage Finds
Local artwork Photo by Bernard Spragg on Flickr, licensed under CC0 1.0
In addition to hand-made glassware and jewelry, there are so many other art pieces to shop for while in New Orleans. From street art to sculpture gardens, there’s a lot to see and experience as you tour the city.
If you’re looking to purchase artwork, head to Royal Street in the French Quarter, where there are plenty of art galleries and antique shops. The Rodrigue Studio sells the famous “Blue Dog” paintings, while James H. Cohen and Son sells rare coins and antique weapons.
Fleur-De-Lis Jewelry or Home Décor
Fleur-de-lis jewelry
After popping into a few souvenir shops and art galleries, you might start noticing a familiar design. The fleur-de-lis has become a symbol of New Orleans and represents the city’s French heritage. You’ll see this design on everything from city flags and street tiles to pottery, jewelry, and clothing. If you look closely, you’ll even notice it on the city’s ironwork.
Local boutiques often feature hand-made items adorned with fleur-de-lis motifs, whether it’s silver jewelry, a ceramic plate, a set of coasters, or hand-blown glassware. If you’re in a rush, you can’t go wrong at Fleurty Girl, a New Orleans boutique with nine locations across the city, including shops on Chartres Street in the French Quarter and on Magazine Street. They sell fleur-de-lis tees and all sorts of NOLA-themed gifts.
Voodoo Dolls
Voodoo dolls
While voodoo sometimes has dark or ominous associations, it’s a rather misunderstood tradition. Contrary to what’s often shown in movies and television, New Orleans locals usually see voodoo dolls as a token of good luck or protection rather than something meant to harm. For visitors, it can be a fun and unique souvenir to bring home.
There are a few popular places to buy voodoo dolls in the city, including Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo and The Voodoo Bone Lady Voodoo Shop. Aside from the dolls themselves, you’ll often find other voodoo-related items, such as books and spiritual tools like palo santo and herbs used to clear energy.
Local Jazz Vinyl or CDs
Vinyl
New Orleans is known for its music. Many consider the city the birthplace of jazz, and I can’t remember ever visiting without hearing local bands and musicians performing in the streets of the French Quarter. Sometimes these musicians have signs that show where you can find more of their music or support their work with a donation.
Over on Frenchmen Street in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, the Louisiana Music Factory has shelves packed with vinyl featuring both new releases and reissues of classic albums. Given the city has such a rich jazz culture, I’d consider vinyl to be among the best souvenirs from New Orleans.
FAQs
Does New Orleans have high-end shopping?
Canal Street
New Orleans has several high-end international brand stores, including those on Canal Street such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., and Brooks Brothers. However, many travelers prefer to go the boutique route, and most of those are located along Magazine Street. The street stretches for a few miles, and you’ll find everything from art galleries to clothing boutiques.
What are some unique shops in New Orleans?
Faulkner House Books Photo by tkoltz on Flickr, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
If you’re new to New Orleans, the French Market is a great place to start exploring the city’s artisan scene. There’s a bit of everything here, from local food products to artwork and hand-made goods. Other unique stores include Faulkner House Books, Roulaison Distilling Co. for local spirits, and The Witchery for more spiritual or eclectic items.
What's a good gift from New Orleans?
Cajun seasoning
There are so many great gifts to get in New Orleans, whether it’s Creole or Cajun spice blends, local hot sauces, or hand-made jewelry from a local artisan. If you’re looking for something to display in your home, pick up a few vinyl records from Louisiana Music Factory or fleur-de-lis–themed coasters or prints.
Where to get beignets in New Orleans?
Beignets
Beignets are a must-try in New Orleans, and the most famous place to eat them is Café du Monde. Of course, if you’re not prepared to wait in line at Café du Monde, head to one of Café Beignet’s locations around the French Quarter or Morning Call in City Park.
French Quarter
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