Shopping in New Orleans - authentic goods, best outlets, malls and boutiques

New Orleans offers lots of shopping spots to suit every taste, from modern shopping centers and outlets to colorful markets and antique shops where one can buy interesting vintage souvenirs. The most popular tourist shopping destination is the French Quarter. It is noteworthy that this quarter is the only one in the city where drinking alcohol in the streets is officially allowed. Besides hundreds of shops, great restaurants and bars serve visitors here, so the picturesque quarter will be a perfect place for evening outs.

The highest concentration of tourist-oriented stores can be found on Royal Street where you can find the most popular souvenirs and regional delicacies. Here they sell souvenirs and jewelry with traditional symbols of the city, as well as bright carnival masks and voodoo souvenirs. All ladies are welcome to numerous shops selling culinary books and kitchen utensils. Gourmets give preference to grocery stores where they can buy sauces and spices popular in New Orleans. The same street accommodates several music stores where you can buy modern CDs and old vinyl records.

Fleur de Paris is one of the outstanding stores presented in the French Quarter. This boutique offers a wide selection of men's and women's evening clothes, as well as its own private hat workshop. The latter has been working for decades, and here you can always pick up nice hats or order custom-made ones. New Orleans is famous for its fiery carnivals, which are held literally every month. Wonderful masks and carnival paraphernalia can be bought in Razzle Dazzle, a store that also sells handmade jewelry and attributes. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Cooking enthusiasts would likely be more interested in nearby Roux Royale store. Here you can buy books with Cajun and Creole recipes. Popular souvenirs among tourists are books with recipes of cocktails popular in the city. If expensive souvenirs are out of your budget, you can choose original wine corks or some affordable kitchen accessories. When it comes to souvenir shops, Toulouse Royal Gifts is a special one notable for a variety of goods. Here you can buy classic trinkets and magnets, handmade jewelry, as well as miniature jars of sauces from local manufacturers. The symbol of the store is the alligator so many exclusive souvenirs are themed accordingly.

Travelers who like bringing exquisite jewelry from their trips should check out Currents Fine Jewelry. It always presents a huge selection of jewelry made of gold and platinum. This store is famous for its designer jewelry in the Art Deco style. One of New Orleans' most mystical stores is Erzulie’s Authentic Voudou. As the name suggests, it is dedicated to voodoo magic. The store itself is designed more like a magic salon. Everywhere you can see handmade amulets and talismans, books on magic, and all kinds of attributes necessary for performing magic rituals. You can buy literally everything, from protective talismans and voodoo dolls to various elixirs and magic powders. Erzulie’s Authentic Voudou is also attractive because it employs an experienced fortuneteller who can read hands and tarot cards.

Having explored the incredible shops in the French Quarter, you can head to New Orleans' largest shopping malls. The most popular are Riverwalk and Oakwood Center where people go in search of new clothes and accessories, as well as children's goods. Both house shops of famous brands such as Accessories, Old Navy, Next, and Mango. Cozy restaurants and cafes will be a nice bonus to your shopping.

Fans of markets are welcome to Crescent City Farmers Market, New Orleans' largest farmers market. At any time of the year, its visitors can find seasonal vegetables and fruits, meat delicacies, as well as popular local seasonings, without which it'd be impossible to prepare the traditional dishes. The most delicious premium farm products are sold at this market. The French Market is notable for presenting a huge selection of inexpensive but high-quality souvenirs. Local artisans come to this market every week to offer their own-made products.