Best Gelato in Mid-City

"From the moment you step through the wooden screen doorsat Hansen's uptown, you'll be struck by the relaxed atmosphere and friendly service. The snoballs at Hansen's Sno-Bliz are a local legend, dripping with handmade syrups in flavors like ginger and cardamom. It was Ernest and Mary Hansen who pioneered the treat with Ernest's patented Sno-Bliz machine back in 1939, giving the shaved ice a powdery, fluffy texture nothing like the granular uber-sweet sno-cones sold in some locales."

"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."

"And with delicious food options like the Mexican food at Juan’s Flying Burritos and the sweets at Sucre, Magazine Street has plenty of places to relax and refuel. Alternatively, take the St. Charles streetcar back towards the French Quarter, getting off at Lee Circle in the Central Business District to visit NOLA’s top-rated WWII Museum on the other end of Magazine Street."

"This newish gelato spot on Canal at Royal is a game changer for the lower French Quarter, an artisanal, organic chain founded in Paris in 2002. Amorino is located all over the globe, from Casa Blanca to Abu Dahbi, a Euro-style shop with flavors like caramel, chocolate and passionfruit, along with coffee, macarons and other treats."

"Every day they’re open is Sundae Best at Hotel Peter & Paul in the Marigny, the sweet spot founded by ice cream whisperer Erica Buher. Situated in the hotel’s former convent space, the cozy little shop spotlights her handmade custard-style ice creams in spunky flavors like peanut crackle and jam, lemon bar, and honey and chocolate covered Zapps. There are vegan options too — a range of sorbets and best of all, homemade hot fudge."

"A family affair, pastry chef Abby and husband Aaron (their business is named for sweet baby Lucy) churn out a collection of popular, small-batch ice creams in flavors like Key Lime Pie, Cane Syrup Pecan and Brown Butter Hazelnut Cookie. You’ll find pints at weekly pop-up markets all over town and other places listed on their Instagram feed."

"A post shared by The Fudgery (@thefudgery) on Sep 21, 2014 at 4:23pm PDT. The Fudgery offers a large selection of flavors for your ice cream, fudge, shakes, smoothies, candy apples, and other delicious sweet treats. The moment you step into the shop, you will be greeted by the divine aroma of fudge and bright smiles by its charming employees."

"The Mississippi River is a very prominent part of New Orleans, so you have to get a picture along its banks. My favorite spot is just south of Jackson Square where you can get a nice shot of the Crescent City Connection Bridge in the background. This shot below was late in the day we arrived after a long flight."

"You may very well hear this tree before you see it: a massive live oak in the middle of City Park. The Singing Oak is an art installation by artist Jim Hart that features wind chimes measuring as long as 14 feet. Part of the charm of The Singing Oak is just finding it."

"Congo Square is located within Louis Armstrong Park, just north of the French District. It is a location steeped in history as the the enslaved of New Orleans would gather here on their day off to set up a market, sing, dance, and play music. There isn’t much here now, but the tiles and tress make for an interesting composition steeped in untold history."

"Inside, there are iconic sites like Congo Square, a historic meeting place for slaves in the 1800s. There are also sculptures, a duck pond and plenty of green space where you can relax after spending your morning walking around the city."

"Located inside the historic Roosevelt Hotel in downtown New Orleans, the Waldorf Astoria Spa is an oasis of uninterrupted tranquility. This luxury spa offers a full range of services, from facials, full-body massages and couples’ massages, to manicures and complete spa day experiences. If you want to go all out and make it a whole day to yourself (as you should), have a meal at Domenica afterwards (reservations recommended), and then mozy on over to the Sazerac, the hotel bar for a drink of your choice."

"One of the newest entries to the New Orleans spa scene is also one of the city’s most opulent. The award-winning Waldorf Astoria Spa, in the refined Roosevelt Hotel, offers 10 private treatment rooms and unparalleled personalized pampering. Custom therapies, combining local ingredients and contemporary techniques, are crafted to clients’ specific needs."

"Waldorf Astoria Spa New Orleans is a swank day spa in the Roosevelt Hotel on the edge of the CBD. Expect high-end treatments with an emphasis on European product lines. Local ingredients are also featured, like the official state fruit of Louisiana, the strawberry."

"The idea for business came upon an observation while having a pedicure at a local shop. On occasion, I would see a male come in to have a pedicure or a manicure and they appeared to be somewhat ill at ease in an all female setting..."

"In a city known for its fiery Cajun and Creole cuisines, tongue-tingling dishes abound, but the gumbo at this neighborhood stalwart really stands out by combining the two culinary traditions. The resulting dish is “the absolute hottest and most-delicious gumbo out there,” Geoffrey Zakarian declared on Top 5 Restaurants. For this distinctive stew, a spice-laden savory stock is combined with a robust Cajun-style roux, okra, chicken thighs and andouille sausage."

"In a city that's po'boy proud, Liuzza's at the Track stands out from the crowd, thanks to the house specialty, a buttery, Worcestershire-fueled gi-normous portion of gulf shrimp slathered between a hot and crusty roll. It's called barbecue shrimp, but there's really nothing barbecued about it. Save room for the gumbo."

"After your cemetery tour hop in a cab or Uber and head over in about a 5-minute drive to St. Roch Market for lunch. If you were intrigued by all the voodoo history you learned you can also make a pit stop on the way at the Voodoo Spiritual Temple, home of Voodoo Priestess Miriam, one of the last authentic voodoo practitioners in New Orleans."

"This food hall brings together a medley of culinary experiences in a restored structure originally built in 1875. The light-filled interior space provides the perfect foil for the street-food-esque dining concept. You may want to visit twice if you want to try all of what the vendors are selling."

"The revitalized market has outdoor seating along St. Claude Avenue. Purchase food inside from one of the vendors. Then, grab a table outside, and watch the neighborhood residents pass you by."