Fall Festivals Open
French Market - Shops of the Colonnade
4.5(13,450)4.5 out of 5 stars, 13450 reviews New Orleans, LA
About French Market - Shops of the Colonnade
The French Market - Shops of the Colonnade offers a vibrant blend of unique shopping experiences and delicious food options, making it an engaging destination for families looking to explore local culture and cuisine.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families looking for a casual day out with shopping and food sampling.Visitors wanting to experience local New Orleans culture in a relaxed setting.All ages, with activities suitable for younger children (shopping, food sampling) and adults (gourmet food experiences).
Why families love it
- Unique artisanal shops with a variety of gift options.
- Highly praised food vendors, especially Loretta's Beignets and N'awlins for seafood.
- Open air market atmosphere that encourages exploration.
- Open air market layout that allows for easy navigation with children.
- Variety of food options that cater to different tastes and dietary preferences.
- Friendly and helpful vendors create a welcoming environment.
Insider tips
- Plan to spend a few hours to fully enjoy shopping and tasting various foods.
- Bring cash for vendors that do not accept cards.
- Share food items like the beignets to manage sweetness and portion sizes.
Good to know before you go
- Visiting during peak meal times to avoid long lines at food vendors.
- Some food items were reported as overly salty.
- Lack of menu pricing transparency, which can be frustrating for budget-conscious families.
- Certain vendors only accept cash, which may inconvenience some visitors.
- Crowds
- The market can get busy, especially during weekends and meal times, so visiting during off-peak hours is recommended.
- Value
- Prices are not consistently displayed, which may lead to unexpected costs. However, the unique offerings and quality of food can justify spending, especially for families looking for local experiences.
- Food
- Food vendors offer a variety of options, but be cautious of saltiness in some dishes. Sharing larger items is advisable.
- Accessibility
- The market appears to be clean and well-maintained, though specific accommodations for special needs were not mentioned.
- Safety
- No specific safety measures were mentioned in the reviews.
What parents say
"The shops on the French market are great to find unique gifts to take back home or to display in your home. All of the people working in the various booths are very sweet and nice. We unfortunately did not have the pleasure of tasting any of the food, but the smell of everything was absolutely delicious. We could’ve spent at least half of the day. They’re trying different foods and drinks and shopping! This is a great place to spend an hour or four hours. There’s always something new to look at and something new to taste or drink!"
a month ago
"First place we went here was Loretta's for their Beignets, and they were absolutely outstanding. They were voted the best in New Orleans in 2024, and for food reason. Pictured, are the Praline stuffed beignets, and they were absolutely delicious. They are very sweet, so my fiancé and I shared them. Then, we went to N'awlins, and at the last moment, I decided to order the upside down grilled oysters. I ordered them half and half - Cajun and Creole. Holy crap, they out of this planet. SOOO GOOD. There's a flea market here, so come here if you're looking for gift ideas. However, some o"
a week ago
"this was a really great open air and shopping strip Market. it has three sections the end has an Open Air Market area that has lots of things you can buy a gift shops. the middle part is open air and it's lots of little vendors with food mainly a few things you can buy a small area on the end that's like a little fresh fruit bulk nuts. the other part of typical shops indoors. just kept very clean"
a month ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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