New Orleans Souvenirs range from Mardi Gras Beads to fun t-shirts. These are some of our favorite souvenirs from New Orleans, Louisiana, including some you can order online.
Best Souvenirs from New Orleans
When it comes to gifts and souvenirs from New Orleans, there are so many fun options to choose from.
I think the best New Orleans souvenirs are the ones that help you remember your trip to the Big Easy. Whether you are in town for Mardi Gras, a special event, or just because these souvenirs are perfect.
TL;DR Don't have time to read the full article? Here are my top finds:
🏨Hotels and Vacation Rentals
📍Tours
🐊 Discount for Top New Orleans Attractions
Café du Monde Beignet Mix and Chicory Coffee
The Original Cafe Du Monde is located in the French Market in the French Quarter across from Jackson Square. You can enjoy hot fresh beignets and chicory coffee.
One of the best souvenirs is bringing home a beignet mix or chicory coffee. There is a gift store located in the French Quarter, or you can order them online, including on Amazon.
If you are flying home, we suggest ordering the mix online, so you don't have to worry about how heavy your bags are or having beignet mix and coffee open in your suitcase.
Cafe du Monde Beignet Mixes and Chicory Coffee is one of our favorite New Orleans food gifts. Everyone has heard of these beignets and will be excited to try them.
Find out more about visiting the Original French Quarter location of Cafe Du Monde.
Mardi Gras Beads and Throws
Carnival Season starts January 6th and runs until Fat Tuesday. Don't worry if you are not in town during Carnival Season; You can still find Mardi Gras beads at pretty much every single one of the gift shops you pass by.
We do suggest looking closely at any necklaces your kids may find and love. There are racy adult beaded necklaces and messaging that can be found in souvenir shops right next to a fleur de lis or peace signs.
Mardi Gras King Cake
The best King Cake in New Orleans is a constant debate, and people will happily tell you their favorites. We like to pick up a few different ones to taste test and decide which is the best.
Some of the most famous King Cakes come from Randazzo's, Gambino's, and Dong Phuong Bakery. You can also pick them up at the Rouse's Local Grocery Store in a variety of flavors.
King Cakes are available from January 6th until Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday). You may see them earlier in local stores including a Christmas version.
Many locals are superstitious about enjoying King Cake before January 6th.
Mardi Gras Masks
Mardi Gras masks come in all shapes and sizes! You can get a basic one that is glittery and covers the top of your face or a full face mask with feathers.
You may even see character masks and everything else you can think of turned into a mask.
New Orleans Food and Cocktails
The Crescent City is known for its amazing food and cocktails for a reason! Restaurants have to be amazing to survive in a city filled with epic food.
Some of the best New Orleans food to bring home includes Cajun spices, Jambalaya or Gumbo Roux, Hot Sauces (Tabasco, Crystal, and more), Pralines (toasted pecans, sugar, cream and butter), Hubig's New Orleans Style Pie, shrimp, red beans, or a Pat O'Brien's Hurricane Mix.
Pick up a shot glass, hurricane glass, or visit the Sazerac House and learn more about New Orleans cocktails and pick up a gift at their giftshop.
Here are some of the famous foods to buy in New Orleans
Zapp's Potato Chips - Zapp's New Orleans Kettle Style Potato chips are kettle cooked, one batch at a time. They offer distinctly Louisiana flavors including Spicy Cajun Crawtators, Cajun Dill Gator Tator, Voodoo, Evil Eye, VooDoo Heat, and more!
Peychaud's Bitters - An essential ingredient in a classic Sazerac these aromatic bitters started in New Orleans. Make sure to visit the Sazerac House to learn more about this great mixer.
Pat O'Brien's hurricane mix - If you enjoyed a hurricane cocktail while in New Orleans you can make one at home with this great mix.
Aunt Sally's Pralines - Enjoy hand poured Southern-style pralines from Aunt Sally's. They use locally sourced ingredients to create the highest quality pralines possible. They first opened in New Orleans in 1935 in the historic French Market.
PJ's Coffee - PJ's Coffee was founded in the Carrollton neighborhood of New Orleans in 1978. They have southern pecan arabica coffee, French Roast, French Hickory, and more.
Elmer's New Orleans Chee-Wee's - Cheese curls that come in fun flavors. This New Orleans company has been around since 1855.
Central Grocery Olive Salad - An essential ingredient to making a Muffaletta sandwich at home!
Camellia Brand Beans - Pick up a package of beans to make red beans and rice on Mondays. Camellia brand started in NOLA in 1850 in the French Market.
Blue Plate Mayo - This legendary spread of the South started in 1927 in New Orleans. They now have a New Orleans Hot & Spicy Mayonnaise.
Voodoo Dolls
Voodoo dolls come in all shapes and sizes in New Orleans. It really depends on the type you are looking for.
Along with Voodoo Dolls you can find gris gris bags, potion oils, spells, candles, and ritual kits.
Voodoo Authentica is a local store that also sells online with a large variety of voodoo products.
Fleur-de-Lis
You will find Fleur de Lis on everything from t-shirts to jewelry to housewares and honestly everything else you can imagine or don't want to imagine.
New Orleans is rich in French Culture which helps make the fleur de lis a symbol of the city. In 1862, French explorer Sieur de la Salle 1st claimed the Mississippi Valley for King Louis XVI. He planted a flag adorned with the fleur-de-lis to show the land was claimed.
French Settlers founded La Nouvelle Orleans (New Orleans) in 1718 and flew a fleur de lis flag to honor the French monarchy's ties to the area.
Music
Jazz music can be heard as you wander around town. We suggest exploring the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park to learn more about New Orleans Jazz.
Local Artwork
There are quite a few galleries and local markets that specialize in local artists. You can also find street artists next to Jackson Square.
These artisans have unique beautiful paintings and other art on display.
No matter which New Orleans gifts you bring home we hope that the spirit of NOLA stays with you.
New Orleans Tours and Attractions
Mardi Gras World - Take a self-guided tour of this world-famous NOLA Attrraction. Buy Tickets HERE
Steamboat Natchez - Check out what it is like to cruise on the Mighty Mississippi River. Boat tour photos and info. Book tickets HERE
New Orleans Hop On Hop Off Bus - A great way to explore the city and see a ton of sites. Book tickets HERE
Ghost and Cemetery Tours - Join a spine-tingling adventure into the haunted streets of New Orleans. Check out tours HERE
Airbot Tours - This is one of our favorite activities in NOLA. Get out in the Bayou and see alligators and the swamp. Check out tours HERE
Click HERE to see all of the top rated tours and activities in New Orleans
Additional New Orleans, Louisiana Articles
Cafe Du Monde - World famous beignets and chicory coffee in the heart of the French Quarter
Steamboat Natchez - Check out this historic steamroller cruise along the Mississippi River.
Sucre - Enjoy patisseries and macarons at this luxury sweet shop.
Sazerac House - Learn more about the history of the Sazerac and Peychaud's Bitters.
Carousel Bar - Visit this iconic New Orleans Bar where you can sit at the carousel and enjoy a great drink.
Gambino's Bakery - known for its Doberge Cakes, Mardi Gras King Cakes, and fantastic baked goods.
If you are looking for a New Orleans hotel we recently stayed at the New Orleans Sheraton and it was fantastic.
Don't miss our other Gulf Coast destinations including Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Fairhope, Fort Morgan, Foley, Mobile, Alabama and so many more!
Keep an eye out for articles on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Florida!
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