New Orleans French Market and Farmers Markets Guide

The New Orleans French Market is a long row of arcades at the edge of the French Quarter where produce, souvenirs, coffee and prepared food have been sold for generations. It sits near the river and the Quarter's sights, which makes it an easy stop on a walking day.

The arcades offer shade but not air conditioning, so visit in the morning in warm months. A famous coffee stand at the market's edge is the stop most people make.

What is the New Orleans French Market?

The market's original building was known as the Butcher's Hall, and the Works Progress Administration renovated the market buildings in the 1930s.

Today, the market includes shops selling New Orleans souvenirs, art and cookbooks, stalls displaying fruit and vegetables and open-air vendors selling handmade goods. It is a place to browse, snack and watch the street. The arcades are lined with stalls, and on a busy day you can hear buskers from the neighboring streets and smell coffee and frying dough from the stand at the end.

What is French Market food like?

The market is not mainly about meals, but it is a good place to taste small things: coffee, doughnuts, pralines, hot sauces, spices and jams. Stalls sell bottles of local hot sauce, bags of Creole seasoning and jars of pepper jelly, all of which travel well.

For a full meal, restaurants in the Quarter and nearby streets are a short walk. See the brunch in New Orleans guide and the best oysters in New Orleans guide for places to eat after you shop.

Is the coffee stand the main draw?

For many visitors, yes. The coffee stand is known for square French-style doughnuts, covered in powdered sugar, served with chicory coffee. It sits at the market's edge, where the old meat market once stood.

Expect lines at peak times. Order beignets and a cafe au lait, and be ready for powdered sugar on your clothes. Some visitors prefer a cup of coffee at a less crowded cafe nearby.

What are Crescent City Farmers Market days?

The Crescent City Farmers Market is a different experience: a market where growers, fishers and bakers sell directly. The market says it operates weekly, year round, at locations across the city, and a regional guide describes sites uptown, in Mid-City and in City Park. A downtown market has used the French Market area in the past.

Days and addresses have moved over the years, so check the official site before you go. Look for satsumas in winter, tomatoes in summer, shrimp, eggs, greens and fresh bread.

Which stalls should you look for?

At a farmers market, look for seasonal produce, local seafood, honey, baked goods and prepared foods. At the French Market arcade, look for hot sauce, spices, pralines and coffee. Both kinds of market have crafts and gifts. If you want a food souvenir, hot sauce, pepper jelly, Creole seasoning and a bag of coffee with chicory are the classic choices. Pralines are another, though they are best eaten within a few days.

Ask vendors what is in season. If you are visiting from out of town, a market is also the cheapest way to try the local ingredients: a jar of cane syrup, a sack of satsumas or a box of Louisiana strawberries makes a better souvenir than a T-shirt. Ask the stallholder how long it keeps. Louisiana growers are proud of their satsumas, strawberries, tomatoes and mirlitons, and will tell you how to cook them.

How do you fit the market into a Quarter day?

Start at the market in the morning, when it is cooler, with a coffee and a doughnut. Walk through the arcades, and then head to a restaurant for brunch. In the afternoon, explore the Quarter's streets, galleries and music clubs.

The market is near the riverfront, so a walk along the water is a good way to end the visit. Wear comfortable shoes and sun protection. If you plan to visit a farmers market too, check its days first and match it to your itinerary, since the Quarter and the farmers markets do not always share a schedule.

What else should you know?

Keep valuables close in any crowded tourist area. Prices at souvenir stalls vary, so compare. Carry a little cash, because some vendors prefer it.

Weather matters: summer is hot and humid, and storms arrive suddenly. The arcades offer shade, but not air conditioning. Visit early or late in the day in summer, and carry water. In winter, the market is pleasant and quiet, and a hot coffee tastes better than it does in August.

What to read next

For a different neighborhood, read the Magazine Street restaurants guide, and for the other side of the Quarter, the Bywater guide. The US guides page lists more cities.

Friends' picks on the Mosey map show the places the people you follow have rated or saved, so check it for beignet and market stops before you head out.

A market is worth remembering. In the Mosey app you can rate a beignet, a praline or a jar of hot sauce, write a note on the stall and build a New Orleans list for visitors.