Shopping in New Orleans is an absolute treat! From the elegance of Royal Street to the fun and funkiness of Magazine Street and the Arts District, there’s something to please even the fussiest person on your gift list.
If fine art, estate jewelry, and rare antiquities are on the list, look no farther than the exquisite shops of the French Quarter’s Royal and Chartres Streets. Along these historic and quaint streets, shoppers find magnificent 18th century architecture and some of the most amazing antique stores and galleries anywhere in the world. Find dazzling diamonds, elegant chandeliers and authentic European and American antiques for your special gift giving.
And as the weather in New Orleans is temperate during the holidays, the outdoor French Market near Esplanade Avenue and the Mississippi River is a great place to find stocking stuffers. Look for famous Creole and Cajun food products, including spices, mixes, and mouthwatering New Orleans pralines. Elsewhere, artisans and craftspeople populate the market with booths of their handmade crafts and jewelry and unique imported items from around the globe.
No shopping visit to New Orleans would be complete without a trip to the six-mile stretch of Magazine Street in uptown New Orleans. Some of the most interesting shopping in the United States happens along this historic corridor next to the Mississippi River. Here the shopper finds 19th century Creole cottages filled with antiques, art, children’s clothing, designer wear and more. There are specialty shops, fantastic boutiques, and quirky antique emporiums containing multiple dealers. Plan to spend a day or more wandering this shopper’s paradise. And have a fabulous lunch or dinner at one of the festive bistros along the route.
Contemporary and modern arts are the catch of the day in the New Orleans Arts District, often dubbed the “Soho of the South” because of its similarity to its New York City counterpart. As one of the most trendy and chic areas of the city, this former 18th and 19th century Port of New Orleans storage district has been transformed into a thriving, upscale neighborhood of art galleries and museums offering one-of-a-kind gifts. In all, New Orleans boasts more than 160 top-flight art galleries.
For shoppers who thrive on the mall experience, New Orleans has several, with some of the biggest names in retail at your service. Saks Fifth Avenue, Brooks Brothers, Pottery Barn and Gucci make Canal Place their home while Macy’s and trendy youth-wear shops are found at the New Orleans Centre. Music lovers can find everything they’re looking for at Virgin Mega Store in the historic Jackson Brewery before cruising the shopping concourse of the Riverwalk where Abercrombie and Fitch, The Sharper Image and dozens of other unique shops open their doors. All are located downtown within walking distance of each other.
Spice up your holidays and please your loved ones with gifts from New Orleans this Christmas!
Note: This story was written by New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation. For more information about all the fun things to see, do and eat while in New Orleans, visit www.neworleansonline.com, the official tourism website for the city. Be sure to get a Good Times Guide with information about New Orleans, coupons, attractions and restaurants. New Orleans: Happenin' Every Day!
HOLIDAY SHOPPING!
