New Orleans Shopping on Magazine Street: Guide for Cruise Visitors
New Orleans is a port that means many things to travelers from around the world. For some, it is a culinary adventure. For others, it is the history and legacy of the Old South. Many visitors find that New Orleans shopping on Magazine Street is the perfect way to explore local culture, art, music, and cuisine away from the typical tourist path.
Laissez les bons temps rouler!
As a port, New Orleans welcomes cruise ships from Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean. These ships offer a variety of itineraries to Mexico and the Caribbean. The port of New Orleans is distinctly unique. In addition to cruise ships, riverboats also make the city a stop on their Mississippi River itineraries.
Both Viking River Cruises and American Cruise Lines include the Crescent City in their cruising experiences through America’s heartland. Travelers can book a cruise on either a traditional paddle wheeler or a modern riverboat. It is a great way to experience the South along the Mississippi River.
Most visitors to New Orleans are familiar with its famous French Quarter, Bourbon Street, the French Market, and the Garden District. I have enjoyed exploring the local artistry near Jackson Square during many previous trips. This time, I decided to spend a day on the city’s historic Magazine Street to experience its locally owned shops, galleries, and restaurants.
If you are visiting, be sure to book a room at one of the boutique hotels near the French Quarter. The area is also home to the nation’s official World War II Museum and the renowned Sazerac Distillery. Both are a short distance from the activity of downtown New Orleans.
Magazine Street
Magazine Street is approximately 6 miles long and follows the curves of the Mississippi River. It runs from the Central Business District through the Garden District and into Uptown. Along the way, you will find boutique hotels, historic architecture, shops, galleries, cafes, restaurants, bars, and festive energy.
Key Takeaways
Magazine Street is a vibrant, 6-mile stretch that offers an authentic alternative to the city's more tourist-heavy districts.
The area is a cultural hub featuring a diverse range of locally owned art galleries, sustainable fashion boutiques, and specialty food experiences.
Visitors can enjoy hands-on activities, from glass-blowing demonstrations and jewelry-making workshops to artisanal coffee-roasting classes.
Planning your visit between Thursday and Saturday ensures the best experience, as most boutiques and galleries maintain peak activity during these days.
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Notable Art Galleries to Visit
Art aficionados will discover an eclectic collection of art galleries on Magazine Street. There are too many to visit in one day, but here is a peek at a few you will definitely want to see.
Art by Christy
An amazing artist with a distinctive talent, Christy lost her hearing at the age of one. Her determination and unwavering belief in herself contributed to her remarkable artistic success. She formally trained at Ringling College of Art & Design and became the school’s first deaf student to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Christy’s artworks is known worldwide, and her intent is to engage the viewer to see sounds and hear color. She specializes in palette knife painting and often uses her fingers as brushes to create movement and emotion. Her work features acrylic paint, spray paint, metallics, goldleaf, glitter, glass beads, jewels, and resin.
Christy’s studio is colorful and bright, just like her. She is welcoming and deeply passionate about artistic expression. Her bejeweled animals and shimmering fish reflect a playful style that feels uniquely New Orleans.
Potsalot Pottery
Alex and Cindy Williams create and sell their pottery in this delightful Potsalot Pottery studio. They have mastered functional pottery for over 25 years. Their pieces include coffee and tea pots, vases, pitchers, cups, dinnerware, bowls, lamps, and trays.
Each piece is handmade throughout the process, so no two items look exactly alike in color or form. Alex and Cindy also exhibit and sell pottery by other local artists, including Little Leaf Pottery and Bad Ash Studio. They often partner with local restaurants and businesses to create custom dinnerware, sinks, lamps, and large decorative pieces.
When Alex shared the story of their clay Bread Bowls, it felt like a warm embrace of southern hospitality. Each bowl comes with his Aunt Carmen’s quick bread recipe. It is proof that in New Orleans, even pottery comes with a story.
Alex Beard Studio
Alex Beard has been based out of New Orleans for the last 30 years. He is best known for wildlife compositions and conservation efforts through his Watering Hole Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to preserving and protecting endangered wildlife and their environments.
He serves on the U.S. Board of Directors for the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya. His work reflects his frequent visits there and his passion for conservation. Alex is also a best-selling author and illustrator of the children’s book series Tales from the Watering Hole, with a new release due in 2025.
New Orleans Glassworks and Printmaking Studio
This colorful and shimmering gallery of glass art is truly captivating. It is housed in a restored 1800s brick building with over 25,000 square feet of space. The studio offers a wide range of creative experiences for all ages and interests.
New Orleans Glassworks features artisans in printmaking, metalworking, glass mosaic art, and stained-glass art. Visitors can tour the open-working studios and watch daily glass blowing demonstrations from October through May. It is best to contact them a few days in advance to see what is scheduled during your visit.
You can also browse the gallery filled with colorful glass pieces, prints, and metal sculptures. Guests can join workshops or private events like Wine + Design, where they create their own wine glass. Commissionable project requests are also welcome by the artisans.
Fashion Boutiques to Explore
Having worked in the fashion and retail industries for most of my career, I am always on the lookout for stylish finds wherever I travel. Exploring these local boutiques provided a truly unique shopping experience.
odAOMO
I happened upon this boutique on Magazine Street, and the window displays immediately drew me in. Local designer and surgeon, Dr. Sophia Aojo Omoro, is the creative mind behind a collection of wearable art, jewelry, and accessories. It is unlike any fashion collection I have seen before.
Branded as odAOMO, each piece is handcrafted from eco-friendly materials by her skilled team in Kenya. The pieces are produced in limited numbers, and the team receives fair wages that positively impact their local villages. The cross-cultural design reflects Kenya’s bold spirit blended with the glamour of New Orleans.
From couture designs made of brocade remnants to custom batiks designed in-house, each piece is striking. All items are crafted from sustainable materials, including leathers and hides sourced from local farms and found materials. It is a thoughtful approach that ensures no lives are harmed for fashion.
The Bead Shop
What is a visit to New Orleans without some beads? This locally owned shop offers a wide collection of collectible beads and making supplies. It is rated as one of the top 10 bead stores in the U.S.
When I visited, the shop was full of guests exploring gemstone beads, wood, bone, glass, crystals, pewter, silver, gold, and seed beads. The creative team provides custom work daily, helping guests design their own jewelry and accessories. You can pick the materials and share your vision, and the team will bring it to life.
You can also schedule time in their stringing room to create your own jewelry. Guests can book a hands-on jewelry-making experience or reserve a private class. It is a creative stop that adds a personal touch to your New Orleans shopping experience.
Food and Drink Stops to Pair With a Magazine Street Day
What is a trip to New Orleans without experiencing delicious food and classic cocktails? We had some amazing dinners during our stay, especially in the Garden District at the Ponchartrain Hotel’s Jack Rose restaurant. The fine dining service and food were both on point, and I look forward to going back.
Here are a few shops where you can take a taste of New Orleans home with you.
Current Crop Roasting Shop
Current Crop is a New Orleans-based specialty gift shop where coffee lovers discover green bean selection and home coffee roasting. Guests learn roast levels and how to achieve them using a French Roast air roaster. I sat in on one of Current Crop’s cupping classes and learned about evaluating coffee quality, flavor, acidity, aftertaste, body, and intensity.
The class was led by Catherine Mansell, the shop’s resident Q Grader and Director of Product. Her energy and enthusiasm made the experience engaging and memorable. I quickly became an admirer of the process behind growing, harvesting, roasting, and tasting coffee.
The shop sells green coffee beans sourced from farms around the world. You can roast your beans at their station or take beans, a roaster, grinder, and brewer home. It is a great way to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee beyond your visit.
Sazerac House
The world-renowned Sazerac Cocktail is closely tied to New Orleans and is often called a taste of the city in a glass. The Sazerac House opened in 2019 on Magazine Street and welcomes visitors year-round. The historic building dates back to the 1860s and features exhibits on cocktail culture and history.
A classic Sazerac Cocktail includes Rye Whiskey, Bitters, Herbsaint, a sugar cube, and a lemon twist. It originated in the French Quarter and remains a staple of the city. Visitors can explore the history of the cocktail and learn about its unique ingredients.
There are three floors to explore at the Sazarac House.
The self-guided tour starts on the third floor where visitors learn the History and Heritage of 19th century French Quarter apothecaries and development of New Orleans cocktail culture.
The second floor introduces visitors to the Art of Craftsmanship in fine spirits today.
The first floor houses the Distillery and the Sazarac House shop, where a wide range of spirits, books and merchandise are available for purchase. Be sure to enjoy a tour and tastings while in New Orleans!
The Vintage
Everyone is familiar with New Orleans’ famous Café Du Monde and its beignets. Those warm puffs of dough covered in sugar are hard to forget. While shopping on Magazine Street, The Vintage is another great stop for breakfast, lunch, or happy hour.
In addition to coffee, wine, flatbreads, sandwiches, and small bites, The Vintage’s beignets rival those of Café Du Monde. You can take home small batch, locally crafted coffee or a package of their beignet mix. It is a simple way to relive your New Orleans experience at home.
Beyond Magazine Street: Other Shopping Areas in New Orleans
If you are looking for traditional shopping malls, New Orleans has several areas to explore. Canal Place is the premier destination for luxury shopping, offering a refined atmosphere with designer labels and international brands.
For outlet shopping, The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk is a popular spot located along the Mississippi River. If you are exploring historic streets, Royal Street and Decatur Street are essential stops. These areas are known for antique shops, voodoo shops, flea markets, and local street markets.
Festivals and Events in New Orleans
There is always something fun and festive happening in New Orleans. The city hosts over 130 festivals and events throughout the year. These include holiday celebrations, cultural events, food and beverage festivals, music festivals, and art shows.
I visited New Orleans one week before Fat Tuesday during Mardi Gras. The parade season begins in January and ends on Fat Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Dates vary each year, so it is important to check the schedule in advance.
Parades follow different routes across the metro area. Many begin on Magazine Street and continue down St. Charles Street. This is where we watched two of the city’s most famous processions.
Mardi Gras parades are organized by Krewes, which are social groups that host parades and balls during the Carnival season. As Mardi Gras approaches, parades take place almost every day. Members ride on elaborate floats and toss beads, toys, and souvenirs to the crowds.
From art galleries and crafting studios to fashion boutiques and cafes, Magazine Street offers more than shopping. It is a celebration of culture, art, food, and festivity. It reflects what makes New Orleans a city like no other.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to travel along Magazine Street?
The best way to travel along Magazine Street is to explore it in sections using ride-sharing services or the local bus system. Magazine Street spans approximately 6 miles, making it quite long to walk in its entirety.
This allows you to move easily between districts like the Garden District and Uptown.
When are the best hours and days to go shopping in New Orleans?
The best time to go shopping in New Orleans is between Thursday and Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM. Most local shops on Magazine Street operate within these hours. Visiting during these days ensures the highest number of shops are open and active.
Are there options for luxury or traditional mall shopping in New Orleans?
Yes, New Orleans offers both luxury and traditional mall shopping options. Canal Place near the French Quarter is the premier destination for high-end luxury brands. The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk provides a large selection of outlet stores along the Mississippi River.
Final Thoughts
New Orleans shopping on Magazine Street offers more than just retail. It is a way to experience the city’s art, fashion, food, and culture in one place. Whether you are exploring galleries, boutiques, or local cafés, every stop adds something memorable to your visit.
Plan your visit well, take your time, and enjoy the rhythm of the street. Magazine Street is not just a destination, it is an experience that captures the spirit of New Orleans.
Love the artisan items featured here but can’t make the trip? Visit our SHOP page to discover similar Things handcrafted by artisans – delivered straight to your door!
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Next Voyage - Join me as I embark on a Western Caribbean Cruise aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s Prima ship. We’ll depart from Galveston to the sunny ports of Costa Maya, Harvest Caye, Roatan and Cozumel.
Till then, keep cruisin’ through life, discovering your own special Things!
CHEERS!
