Best Ice Cream in the French Quarter
A local's guide to the sweetest spots in the neighborhood
The French Quarter has no shortage of places to cool down. Between the heat, the humidity, and all the walking you'll do on these old sidewalks, ice cream isn't just a treat here. It's a survival strategy. Whether you want a hand-scooped cone, an overstuffed ice cream sandwich, or a cup of proper Italian gelato, the Quarter has you covered. We put together this quick guide to help you find the best scoops, sandwiches, and frozen treats in the neighborhood so you can spend less time searching and more time eating.
O.K. Ice Cream
We'll go ahead and start with ourselves, because this is our guide and we're proud of what we do. O.K. Ice Cream is at 1129 Decatur Street, right in the heart of the French Quarter between the French Market and Jackson Square. We serve all-natural ice cream from Quintin's, a New Orleans maker that has been crafting ice cream with real ingredients since 1998. No artificial flavors. No artificial colors. Nothing you'd need a chemistry degree to pronounce. Our biggest draw is probably our Screamers, ice cream sandwiches made to order with your choice of flavor pressed between fresh-baked cookies, brownies, or cake. They're messy and they're worth it. We also do thick, hand-spun milkshakes and frozen coffee that hits different on a ninety-degree afternoon. Our flavor rotation leans into local favorites like Cafe Au Lait, Polly Praline, and Bread Pudding Rum Ripple, alongside classics and seasonal specials. Come visit us in person or order delivery if you're staying nearby.
Angelo Brocato
Angelo Brocato has been making Italian gelato and pastries in New Orleans since 1905, and walking into their shop feels like stepping into another century. They're located at 214 N Carrollton Avenue in Mid-City, so it's a trip outside the French Quarter, but absolutely worth the ride. Their spumoni is the real deal. Layered, colorful, and nothing like whatever you've had from a grocery store freezer. The lemon ice is bright and clean, perfect after a heavy meal, and the cannoli are filled to order so the shells stay crisp. The parlor itself has old tile floors, a long glass case of pastries, and the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to sit down and stay for a while. If you love Italian frozen desserts, this place is essential.
Cafe Du Monde
Technically not an ice cream shop, but you can't write a guide about sweet treats in the French Quarter without mentioning Cafe Du Monde. Their beignets are the most famous dessert in the neighborhood, and probably in all of New Orleans. Three pillowy, deep-fried squares of dough come out hot and buried under a mountain of powdered sugar. The cafe sits right on Decatur Street near Jackson Square, and it's open daily from early morning to late night. Go late at night after the crowds thin out and you'll have the whole outdoor patio practically to yourself. It's not ice cream, but it's an essential part of any French Quarter sweets tour, and honestly, a beignet followed by an ice cream cone from down the street is one of the best one-two punches you can put together on Decatur.
French Market Vendors
The French Market stretches along Decatur Street from Jackson Square toward the Marigny, and inside you'll find a rotating cast of vendors selling everything from hot sauce to handmade jewelry. During warmer months (which in New Orleans is most of the year) you'll also find seasonal ice cream and frozen treat vendors set up inside the market. The selection varies depending on who's there and what time of year it is. You might find shaved ice, frozen fruit bars, soft serve, or something you've never seen before. It's part of the fun of walking through the market. No guarantees on what you'll find, but it's always worth a look if you're already strolling through.
Sucre
Sucre is the upscale option on this list. It's more of a confectionery and pastry boutique than a traditional ice cream shop, but they do frozen treats with real style. Their French macarons come in a rainbow of flavors, their gelato is smooth and well-made, and the whole shop has a polished, beautiful presentation that makes everything feel like a special occasion. If you're looking for something to bring home as a gift, a box of their macarons or artisan chocolates is about as good as it gets. It's a treat-yourself kind of spot, and the quality is obvious from the packaging to the last bite.
What Makes French Quarter Ice Cream Special
The ingredients are a big part of it. Louisiana pecans, chicory coffee, Creole cream cheese. These aren't gimmick flavors here. They're part of the food culture, and when your ice cream is made with the same ingredients your grandmother puts in her pecan pie, you can taste the difference.
It also helps that you can eat ice cream here eleven months out of twelve. The warm weather keeps demand high year-round, which means shops don't have a dead season where quality slips. Everything stays fresh.
And then there's the walking. The French Quarter is one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the country, and ice cream is the perfect walking food. You grab a cone or a Screamer, eat it heading down Decatur toward the river, and it feels like exactly what the afternoon needed.