The Best Antique Shops In New Orleans

With a history spanning over three hundred years, it comes as no surprise to learn that New Orleans houses one of the leading antique markets in the United States.

Scattered throughout the Port City’s thoroughfares are the relics collected by millions of buyers and traders, who, over time, have managed to gather items belonging to French explorers, English merchants, Spanish pirates, and Southern planters, as well as museum-quality relics like Civil War weapons, original art deco statues, and American and European antiques. Put on your treasure-hunting hat and set out on a quest to discover the things that keep the Big Easy’s culture alive.

1. Magazine Antique Mall

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If you find yourself craving some authentic antiques from New Orleans while touristing around New Orleans’ Uptown neighborhood, Magazine Antique Mall is the place for you. This collector’s haven, located in the heart of the city’s commercial strip, Magazine Street, fosters an eccentric assortment of timeless items gathered by over 40 heirloom vendors. Store specialties include everything from collectibles and vintage furniture to specialty souvenirs and memorabilia. Walk-in customers can visit this 6,500-square-foot mini-mall daily starting at 10:30 a.m., except for on Sundays, when the store opens at noon.

2. Secondline Arts and Antiques

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Sitting beneath strings of bare light bulbs is Secondline Arts and Antiques, an al fresco dealership based inside the historic French Quarter. This 8,000-square-foot shopping courtyard, open seven days a week, features an ever-changing inventory curated by more than 150 local artists and market vendors. Inside the Decatur Street mini-mall, customers will find tables filled with paintings, wooden artwork, jewelry, books, hats, masks, souvenirs, delicacies, clothing, and accessories, among other things. Besides shopping, visitors have the option of renting bikes, scheduling city tours, and even eating ‘SNO-LA Balls,’ a confection from New Orleans made with finely shaved ice and flavored cane sugar syrup.

3. M.S. Rau Antiques

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Looking for a rare diamond? A Paul Revere sterling bowl? Or maybe even a painting by leading French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir? Get excited, because M.S. Rau Antiques has got you covered. A New Orleans landmark for over 100 years, M.S. Rau’s sells high-end period pieces, collectors’ items, jewelry, and art from its 30,000 square foot showroom in the French Quarter. This 1912 fine antiques gallery, recognized as the “Best Antique Store in New Orleans” by the city’s leading entertainment magazine, sits on Royal Street’s commercial strip, and is open for business from Monday through Friday beginning at 9 a.m.

4. James H. Cohen & Sons, Inc.

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Running since 1898, James H. Cohen & Sons, Inc. is a museum-like antiques establishment found at Royal Street, a French Quarter strip populated by one of the largest gallery collections in the South. With a history spanning over three centuries and five generations, this family-owned business has become a New Orleans institution by specializing in the sale of war memorabilia, ancient coins, jewelry, currency, miniatures, antique maps, and collectibles. Vintage lovers can visit Cohen & Sons from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Mondays to Saturdays.

5. The Shops at 2011 Magazine

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Known as the “interior designer’s marketplace of New Orleans,” the Shops at 2011 Magazine are a kind of indoor bazaar, with an eclectic mix of new and old pieces. Winding through bright rooms and hallways, you’re sure to find an antiquated object of passionate New Orleans desire. The marketplace also features collections of local art, jewelry, custom home furnishings, gifts, and more, curated by over 20 area vendors and artists.

This article was updated by Kari Elgin on April 24, 2018.

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