Best Dessert in Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans French Quarter/CBD

"There are no shortcuts to quality” reads a sign on the cinderblock wall of the city’s most beloved shaver of ice and maker of syrups. Which means you are likely to wait for the pleasure of a creamy-textured snowball, made using a contraption developed in the 1930s by Ernest Hansen and based on sweeteners created by his wife, Mary. Flavors run from old-fashioned cream of nectar to trendy ginger-cayenne."

"SnoBalls are New Orleans' twist on a slushie or snow cone and have been around for ages. Hansen's opened up in 1939 during the Great Depression and has been serving snoballs ever since. With hundreds of flavors and different mixtures of their homemade syrups, you're bound to be satisfied by this delicious summer treat."

"Open since 1939, this location still uses the same ice-shaving machine its owner invented in 1934. Expect the lines to be long, even on those oppressively hot days."

"For a taste of what some might call the best confections in New Orleans, head over to the Garden District and drop by Sucre, Tariq Hanna's sweet retreat filled with gossamer macarons, Italian gelatos and chocolates that stand up to the best in Belgium. The Dark Chocolate Bark â€" sheets of chocolate shot through with assorted nuts and dried fruits â€" is a must-taste, as is the Drinking Chocolate, which is served with handmade marshmallows and caramel cookies for dipping. This sweet shop is as beautifully appointed as the meticulously packaged goodies it features and is the ideal stop if you want to satisfy a special someone's sweet tooth."

"Next up is the Garden District's Sucré, situated at 3025 Magazine St. With 4.5 stars out of 822 reviews on Yelp, the chocolatier and shop, which offers desserts, macarons and more, has proven to be a local favorite."

"Opened in 2011 by three NOPD officers, this bright blue building on Canal Street sells out more days than not, thanks in no small part to its signature maple bacon long john doughnut. The cops are gone now — they sold to a baker in 2017, but all doughnuts are still made by hand at Blue Dot Donuts, a point of pride for this busy shop. Get there early, and on the weekends, expect a line."

"The selection of baked goods includes plain, chocolate-glazed, jelly-filled and creatively flavored donuts, as well as donut holes, eclairs, apple fritters and bacon-maple long johns."

"Lunch at Auction House Market This is a newer place on the outside of the French Quarter, just past the Loew’s Hotel. Inside are several cool restaurants like pop-up shops. You can get so many varieties here like Cuban, French, New Orleans style, desserts, you name it."

"Even if you’re not planning a trip out to the Chalmette Battlefield for a morning of history, you’d do yourself a service by planning a stop on the way for a morning pick-me-up at Gerald’s, an old-school bakery that sells new school donuts. Their melt-in-your-mouth sweet dough is the perfect base for giant apple fritters, classic glazed donuts, cinnamon twists, and even more fanciful options like the ones that come covered in M&Ms."

"Hot, fresh donuts are served 24 hours a day at Gerald's Donuts. The family-owned and operated establishments (three locations in total) also make king cakes all year round, not just during Mardi Gras. Classic cake donuts come in flavors like powdered lemon, blueberry, maple, and strawberry cream."

"Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette, (504) 252-9498; 6901 St. Claude Ave., Arabi, (504) 277-0030; www.geraldsdonuts.com. Gerald’s Dozen includes any 12 ring doughnuts plus doughnut holes."

"Bakers Dozen serves some of the best donuts in New Orleans, from the traditional classics to more creative creations such as a salty caramel pretzel donut. Everything here is bursting with flavour and some of the finest, most inventive ingredients around. Apple fritters and honeybuns are particularly delicious here, but you should definitely sample one of their seasonal specialty donuts while you’re at it, too."

"You have to get here early to get your fix, since they’re only open until 11 am (and closed Mondays and Tuesdays), but this straightforward spot is a favorite of local epicures and chefs for a reason. They make great basics, like the glazed twist, and do them brilliantly. But they also have a little more fun with themed specials, like during Carnival season when they make a mind-blowing donut king cake."

"Baker's Dozen in Jefferson has set itself apart with creatively themed doughnuts — munch on your favorite super hero for $1.50 — as well as delicious combinations like its sweet and salty caramel pretzel doughnut (pictured). All up, a nice neighborhood spot with lots of regulars."

"Designed by architect Thomas Sully and built in 1893 as a private residence, The Columns was converted into a boarding house during World War I. A local family turned the mansion into a hotel in 1953, and that’s when the porch bar became popular. Jayson Seidman, a hotelier who developed The Drifter and The Frenchmen, purchased the property in 2019. During the summer, there’s nothing quite like sitting on the porch, sipping a mint julep and watching the St. Charles Streetcar ferry passengers along the avenue."

"Built in 1883, the Columns gorgeous Italianate setting and stellar bar (order a Ramos gin fizz) has a new owner and a new chef and the place is better than ever. Jason Seidman bought the mansion with the idea of sprucing up the old gal, not making dramatic changes. Stoltzfus, who worked at Restaurant August before opening Coquette in 2008, brings his fine dining chops and trademark attention to detail to Columns' new menu."

"This old school New Orleans hotel sits right on St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District, with a front patio that provides the best seating around for watching the streetcars laze on by. Grab a mint julep or Pimm’s cup at the bar and make yourself comfortable, because you’ll probably want to stick around a while."

"Sitting next to this outstanding shotgun on Ponce de Leon Street, this structure has a large gallery that spans from its side to its front. If you’re not a fan of artificial lighting, you’ll love its ambience. A post shared by Frances Tosca (@f_tosca) on Jul 5, 2017 at 6:37am PDT"

"Fair Grinds in the Mid-City section of New Orleans is the go-to spot if you are looking for 100 percent fair trade coffee house. They also offer a great tea selection and casual options for breakfast and lunch. Fair Grinds takes the whole fair trade thing super serious."

"New Orleanians love Five Happiness, a sprawling eatery on Carrollton since 1979. Named for the Chinese tradition of five kinds of happiness: longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and peaceful death, Five Happiness adds a full belly to the list. The crispy whole fish with black bean sauce is a winner, ditto the Peking duck, which comes with ten thin crepes for bundling."

"Brand Gallery had it’s inaugural opening in August 2015 in conjunction with the annual Whitney White Linen Night. From that point forward, we have been committed to creating a platform for emerging artists to showcase their work and to building a community around collectors who connect with each piece. We showcase the work of artists who are currently based in New Orleans or have their roots in Louisiana and the surrounding region."

"Over in the French Quarter, check out A Gallery For Fine Photography, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 15 reviews on Yelp. Treat yourself at the art gallery by heading over to 241 Chartres St. As to what the business is known for, "Founded at a time when photography was only beginning to secure a foothold both in museum collections and in the art market at large, A Gallery for Fine Photography is a living landmark in the history of photography," it states on Yelp in the section highlighting specialties."

"The Octavia Art Gallery focuses on artists whose work is informed by distinct cultural heritage but also vast global perspectives. The staggeringly dynamic paintings pop out from the big white walls as you wander through the brightly lit space on Magazine Street, just off Julia Street. At Octavia Art Gallery, you might catch the exquisite wildlife photography of Joe Zammit-Lucia and the sombre industrial landscapes of Errol Barron."