My Weekend Adventures in New Orleans

A Love Letter to Local Shopping

My favorite chocolate shop, and they make a great affogato! Nice place to rest and regroup between shops 😊 ☕️

Living in New Orleans means every weekend is an opportunity to fall in love with this city all over again. And let me tell you, this past weekend did not disappoint. Armed with my favorite tote bag and questionable navigational skills, I set out to explore some of the city’s most delightful boutiques and hidden gems. Spoiler alert: my wallet is significantly lighter, but my heart (and apartment) is significantly fuller.


Tivoli: Where Curiosities Come to Life

Tivoli Magazine St., New Orleans

First stop: Tivoli in the Lower Garden District. Y’all, if you haven’t been here yet, what are you even doing? This charming little shop is basically what happens when a well-traveled New Orleans native with impeccable taste decides to curate lovely things. Paper goods that make you want to write actual letters (I miss getting fun mail), books you didn’t know you needed, and gifts that will make you the hero at every birthday party. Sidenote: the wrapping paper is to die for! Buy it by the sheet, and your gift just got upgraded to first class.

I may have spent an embarrassing amount of time just... existing in there. Sometimes you need a place that reminds you that uniquely curated, useful things still exist in this world of mass production.

Lekha: Ethical Fashion with New Orleans Soul

Next up was Lekha at 2111 Magazine Street, and honestly, I’m still thinking about it. This isn’t just another boutique—it’s a whole vibe. Designer Trishala Bhansali creates these gorgeous clothes and home goods that are designed right here in New Orleans but handmade by female-owned workshops in India. Every piece tells a story, and the quality is unmistakable.

I tried on approximately seventeen things (I wanted them all), and let’s just say my closet is about to get a significant upgrade. The shop also carries a curated selection of apothecary brands, so you can smell good AND look good. Win-win.

Tyler & Tate: A Designer’s Obsession

Then I stumbled into Tyler & Tate at 4537 Magazine Street, and folks, I may never recover. Ryan Tyler Dunagan and Grant Tate have created this magical space that’s part designer furniture shop, part lifestyle boutique, part fever dream of unique and beautiful things. They’ve got designer lampshades, ceramic lamps, clothing from Fox & Hen the Label, and enough gorgeous takeaways to make you question every design decision you’ve ever made.

I’m not saying I’m now the proud owner of several items I definitely don’t need, but I’m also not NOT saying that. The duo sources antiques mainly from France and Italy, and their eye for beautiful things is truly unmatched. If you go, tell them the person who spent way too long debating between two throw pillows says hi.

Vegas: Dressing the Men in Your Life

Speaking of Magazine Street gems, I made a pit stop at Vegas (2042 Magazine Street) to tackle birthday gifts for the adult sons. This place is a lifesaver for anyone trying to help the men in their lives achieve that effortlessly put-together casual look. You know—the kind where it looks like they just threw on whatever, but somehow they look amazing? Yeah, that’s the Vegas magic.

The staff here is super helpful, which is crucial when you’re trying to figure out what a 20-something guy actually wants versus what you think he wants. Mission accomplished: found perfect gifts and only had one moment of “is this too old/young/boring/loud?” Crisis averted.

Vintage Market by Trashy Diva: Instagram Inspiration Meets Reality

Right next door to Vegas is Trashy Diva, the vintage version (2048 Magazine Street), and naturally, I had to duck in for a quick peek. I’d seen this fashion scarf styling idea on Instagram (of course, I had), and I was on a mission to find the perfect bakelite brooches to recreate it because that’s what happens when you have too many browser tabs open and unrealistic personal style ambitions.

The vintage collection here spans from the 1920s to the Y2K era, curated by designer Candice Gwinn. Their collection of vintage jewelry and brooches is extensive and impressive. Did I need another brooch? No. Did I buy one anyway because it was calling to me from its display? You know the answer to that.

Halloween Vibes: Pumpkins and Spooky Decorations

Between shopping stops, I had to check out the pumpkin patch at the corner of Claiborne and Octavia—fresh pumpkins straight from New Mexico! They’re perfection. And can we talk about that incredible skeleton house on St. Charles? The Halloween decorations that come alive at night in this city are next-level. New Orleans doesn’t do anything halfway, including seasonal decor.

Floor 13: Where Purple Recliners Find Me

Feeling ambitious, I made a little run up to Mid City to visit Floor 13 at 341 N. Hennessey Street. This 17,000 square foot warehouse of vintage, antique, and mid-century furniture is basically Disneyland for design nerds. Owner Holis Hannan has created these amazing vignettes throughout the space, and I have to confess something: there’s a purple leather recliner there that is calling my name. Do I need a purple leather recliner? Absolutely not. Will I probably go back and get it? The odds are not in my favor of resisting.

Brunch at Patois: The Perfect Pause

All that shopping worked up an appetite, so lunch at Patois (6078 Laurel Street) was mandatory. This uptown gem never disappoints. The old school vibe, the consistently delicious food, the service that’s somehow both professional and wonderfully New Orleans laid-back—it’s everything. Their gumbo is not playing around, and the overall vibe of the place just makes you want to linger over coffee and creme brulee and plan your next round of shopping.

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New Coffee Obsession Unlocked

Oh, and I discovered my new addiction: Congregation Coffee Roasters at 900 Jefferson Avenue (Magazine and Jefferson). The Horchata Latte has completely ruined me for all other coffee drinks. It’s creamy, it’s spiced just right, and bonus—you can bring your dog! I’ve already been back three times since discovering it. Send help. Or more Horchata Lattes. Preferably the lattes.

The Sneaky Pickle: Low-Key Perfection

Ended the weekend with a quick but delicious bite at The Sneaky Pickle in the Bywater (3200 Burgundy Street). This place is the definition of low-key with high-reward food. Everything is thoughtfully made, the margarita was dangerously good, and yes, I also tried the Lavender Latte because apparently I’m on a latte tour of New Orleans now. No regrets. The vibe is casual, the food is yummy, and it’s the perfect spot to decompress after a weekend of serious shopping. **Side-note: Head down the block for a snowball (I am not a fan of the Snowball delicacy but I did not grow up here - acquired taste?)and a little more vintage shopping at the corner of Louisa St and Dauphine St. - the vintage shop that shares a wall with the snowballs (can’t remember the name) always has something fun to look at and even take home (did we need a marble and leather vintage ashtray - no! Do we have one now…yes!)

Left Bank Vintage Market: The One That Got Away

I also popped into Left Bank Market, 2401 Tchoupitoulas St, for some antique and vintage browsing. Listen, if I wasn’t already giving furniture to my kids at an alarming rate (seriously, at what point do I stop being a furniture warehouse?), I would have absolutely snagged this amazing set of rattan furniture. It was calling to me. I resisted. Barely.

The Beauty of Local

This is what I love about New Orleans—you can spend an entire weekend exploring independently owned shops, eating at neighborhood restaurants, and discovering new favorites without encountering a single chain store. Sure, sometimes it’s harder to find exactly what you’re looking for, but that’s part of the adventure. And honestly? The pearls you uncover along the way are so worth it.

This city rewards curiosity. Every weekend offers another chance to discover something delightful, whether it’s a perfect purple recliner, an Horchata Latte that changes your life, or a boutique full of ethically made clothes that make you feel good about your purchases in every way.

Until next weekend’s adventures—and that purple recliner I’m definitely not going back for...

What are your favorite local New Orleans shops? Drop your recommendations in the comments!

Click here to download a list of all of the spots in this article.

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