Magazine Street in New Orleans, Louisiana

Located just outside the French Quarter, Magazine Street is a six mile stretch that features some of the best shopping in New Orleans. Extending through the Uptown area and the Garden District, this avenue is home to a plethora of retail establishments and has always been a favorite with artistic types, giving it a sort of Bohemian feel and look.

The name “Magazine Street” has nothing to do with periodicals. Rather, the street gets its name from the word “magazin”, which referred to the presence of an 18^th century warehouse that housed products that were awaiting shipment to other countries. The name got corrupted sometime later and the thoroughfare has been known as Magazine Street for more than a century.

The main draw of Magazine Street is the art galleries and antique shops. The ones located along this street are considered to be some of the best in the city and it’s not unusual to see locals and tourists walking down the street with a painting or sculpture in hand. Likewise, the street is also full of home décor shops where you can buy interesting furnishings, imported rugs, chandeliers and other lighting, tableware and much more. Many of the pieces are antique while others are more contemporary. Some are hand-crafted as well. There are also a few excellent bookstores along the avenue, offering both new and used manuscripts for a variety of tastes, and a variety of apparel shops including some excellent boutiques that feature clothing created by talented local designers.

Coffee shops and cafes are a common site as well, but not the well-known chain establishments. Most are privately owned and offer an extensive menu of java and light fare as well as free internet access. There are also about two dozen restaurants and eateries located along those six miles. They range from quite fancy to stop-in-and-grab-a-bite-type establishments. You’ll find everything here from pizza and po-boy sandwiches to Mexican fare to elegant restaurants that serve Creole, Cajun, and French cuisine or wonderful, local seafood specialties. Some are popular night spots that offer a variety of genres of live music, including traditional jazz and contemporary Zydeco.

Visitors can also find some service-type businesses located along Magazine Street as well. For example, there are at least a half-dozen salons and day spas scattered along the thoroughfare, offering myriad services from hair cuts and manicures to Swedish massage, facials, and body wraps. There is also several real estate offices located on the street as well as a number of doctor’s offices. There’s even a bed and breakfast – The Terrell House - located in a beautiful old Italianate structure and offering about 10 rooms for those seeking lodging.

Many of the shops along Magazine Street are open well into the evening hours, depending on the time of year. Most of the restaurants and clubs are open quite late as well, often into the wee hours of the morning.

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