Ice Cream Near Jackson Square
Just a five-minute walk down Decatur Street
You just spent an hour in Jackson Square watching the artists set up their easels along the iron fence, listening to a brass band play something that sounded like it was written just for this moment, and dodging the occasional tarot card reader who wants to tell you about your future. Now you're hot, your feet are tired, and you need something cold. Good news: O.K. Ice Cream is a short walk away at 1129 Decatur Street, and we have exactly what you're looking for.
Walking Directions from Jackson Square
From Jackson Square, face the river and head left (downriver) on Decatur Street. You'll walk right past Cafe Du Monde on your left, where the smell of beignets and powdered sugar will try to slow you down. Keep going. You'll pass the French Market, where local vendors sell everything from hot sauce to handmade jewelry. Stay on Decatur and keep walking about three blocks total. We're at 1129 Decatur Street, on the left side of the street between Governor Nicholls and Ursulines. Look for the red and white sign out front. The whole walk takes about five minutes at a normal pace, maybe a little longer if you stop to look at things along the way, which you probably should because this stretch of Decatur is one of the best walks in the Quarter.
What to Try
If it's your first visit, start with a scoop of Cafe Au Lait or Polly Praline. Both are New Orleans originals that taste like the city itself. Cafe Au Lait captures that rich chicory coffee flavor you've been drinking all trip, and Polly Praline is loaded with real praline pieces and buttery caramel swirl. All of our ice cream comes from Quintin's, a local New Orleans maker that has been using all-natural ingredients since 1998. No artificial flavors, no artificial colors, nothing you can't pronounce.
If you're hungry and want something more substantial, get a Screamer. That's our ice cream sandwich, built to order with your choice of flavor pressed between fresh-baked cookies, brownies, or cake. People order one, eat it walking down Decatur, and then turn around and come back for a second one. On a hot day, and there are a lot of hot days in New Orleans, the frozen coffee is hard to beat. It's cold, it's creamy, and it has enough caffeine to power you through the rest of your afternoon in the Quarter.
We also do thick, hand-spun milkshakes in any flavor we carry, and we keep our rotation interesting with options like London Fog, Bread Pudding Rum Ripple, and Strawberry Cheesecake. Check our full flavor list to see what's currently in the case.
What Else Is Nearby
The walk from Jackson Square to our shop takes you through some of the best spots in the entire French Quarter, and most people don't even realize how much they're passing along the way. Cafe Du Monde is right at the start of the walk, and if you haven't had their beignets yet, you should. Three come on a plate, absolutely buried in powdered sugar, and you eat them with chicory coffee while watching the world go by. It's been open since 1862, and for good reason.
A block or two further, you'll hit the French Market, which stretches along several blocks of Decatur. It's one of the oldest public markets in the country, and these days it's full of local vendors selling crafts, art, spices, hot sauce, clothing, and all kinds of things you didn't know you needed. It's a great place to pick up souvenirs that aren't just mass-produced stuff with "New Orleans" printed on them.
The Mississippi Riverfront runs parallel to Decatur the entire time, and once you grab your ice cream from us, it's the perfect place to eat it. Walk over to the Moonwalk or the riverfront promenade, find a bench, and watch the barges and steamboats go by while you finish your scoop. There's something about eating ice cream with a view of the river that just works. For more ideas on how to spend your day, check out our guide to things to do in the French Quarter.
Visitor Tips
We're open Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday from 1 PM to 10 PM, and Friday and Saturday from 1 PM to 10:30 PM. We're closed on Wednesdays. No reservations needed, no line out the door most of the time, just walk in and order. We have indoor seating if you need to cool off in the air conditioning, which is honestly underrated in a city where the humidity can feel like wearing a warm, wet blanket. If you'd rather take it to go, grab your cone or cup and head to the riverfront. It's about a two-minute walk from our door.
If you're visiting with kids, we've got plenty of flavors they'll love, and the Screamers are a big hit with the younger crowd. If you're visiting with someone who doesn't eat ice cream (it happens), we have frozen coffee and milkshakes too. And if you're staying in a hotel or rental nearby and don't feel like walking, you can always order delivery through Uber Eats or Postmates and have it brought right to your door.