Although it looks like a typical tourist shop from the outside, Aunt Sally's is actually the best place in the French Quarter to find good-quality gifts and souvenirs. Located between Cafe du Monde and the French Market, it's a great place to pick up something nice for yourself or for those you left behind.
The last time I was in New Orleans, I bought pralines from several different places and asked some of my friends to do a taste test. Aunt Sally's pralines won hands down. Packed with pecans, smooth, and rich, they are the best. They come in original and chocolate, and both are wonderful.
Aunt Sally's also sells a wide range of New Orleans and Southern cookbooks, featuring cookbooks from some of the best restaurants in New Orleans. Many seasoning mixes and other cooking ingredients are available, along with such unique items as an alligator oven mitt.
There is also a nice range of CDs available, featuring local artists, and books on New Orleans, including Kerri McCaffety's beautiful books on the French Quarter, Garden District, and the bars of New Orleans.
I've never made it out of Aunt Sally's without a big bag full of goodies, and the website keeps me supplied with pralines when I can't get to New Orleans. Check it out for the wide range of New Orleans items available.