New Orleans is a spiritual centre for many. You’ll find pop-up tarot readers in Jackson Square outside the cathedral, Voodoo shops in the French Quarter, and spooky vibes year-round. How can a visitor to this vibrant and intriguing southern city sort through the tourist traps and find authentic and respectful ways to indulge in the bewitching and spooky side of New Orleans? Luckily, our writer Anna Willatt has done some sleuthing for you. Here’s the starter of your witchy New Orleans visit with 9 must-visit spots for shopping and snacking:
Our Favourite Bewitching Spots in Witchy New Orleans
Warmest witchy welcome and souvenir oracle deck: Path of Awakenings
I stumbled into this beautiful, calming shop from the baking hot sidewalk outside and was greeted by two wonderful souls, one of whom was the tarot reader on duty that day. I tracked down this shop because of the owner – Fatima Mbodj, also known as Awaken with Fatima – a celebrity psychic and tarot reader.
The main draw to visiting Path of Awakenings was to pick up Fatima’s evocative New Orleans’ Oracle Deck which, as I came to appreciate during my time in the city, is an accurate illustrative tribute to this fascinating place. And I left with much more than the deck!
Best for a tarot reading in the heart of the French Quarter: Sirena’s Psychic Parleur (renamed Medusa’s Lair)
As someone who has had a lot of tarot readings, I took my sweet time finding where I wanted to have a reading in witchy New Orleans. This is a city where tarot and divination abounds, but not all readers feel authentic. That said, perhaps the tarot reader you go to at 2am on Bourbon Street on a pop-up table and chairs set up is exactly the person you were meant to go to!
I chose to have a (sober!) reading with tarot reader Alyx in an atmospheric, tiny little shop in the French Quarter, Sirena’s Psychic Parleur (renamed Medusa’s Lair). The practitioners here also offer tea leaf reading, poppet creation, and group sessions so make the perfect choice for a girl’s trip.
The reading felt very intimate and cozy, and the studio dog came and sat with us added extra special vibes. The reading pulled out a lot of themes that resonated with my life and gave me some encouragement from the beyond to keep going! What more could you want?
Dine with a ghost: Muriel’s, Jackson Square
A dumb supper is often celebrated around Halloween, when you create a space at the table for a loved one who has passed and have dinner with their spirit. At Muriel’s, Jackson Square, there is always a seat at the table for the ghost of Pierre Antoine Leopardi Jourdan, at the foot of the stairs as you head up to the opulent and sumptuous Séance Lounges.
Muriel’s is an absolute staple in the French Quarter in witchy New Orleans and has been top of the list for spooky NOLA lovers since 2001 (I’ve met quite a few goth girls who got married there!). It’s bustling as a good bistro style restaurant should be, and the team are incredibly generous with their recommendations, their warmth, and their ghost stories! The food is absolutely delightful. Don’t forget to leave space for the pain perdu (bread and butter pudding) and a spiked alcoholic coffee to finish. I took my coffee upstairs in the Séance Lounges feeling like a fortune teller in my lair, after pausing by the table set for Mr Jourdan, complete with bread and wine.
Authentic botanica away from the tour groups: Island of Salvation Botanica
As the bewitching nature of New Orleans is so woven into its brand as a destination, some discernment helps to decide who to listen to at a tarot reading and which stores to spend your money in, in search of real magic. Away from the French Quarter, I visited Island of Salvation Botanica, an authentic and friendly Botanica in the New Orleans Healing Center opposite the delicious St Roch Market.
The shop (botanica) is full of beautiful items and magical supplies, and should you have a specific magical request, the team are more than happy to help. When I visited, I was supported to select a candle for some friends which was dressed for me with oils and herbs so I could light and leave it at their Santa Muerte shrine. Experiences like this bring around deeper understanding and reverence for other religions and spiritual practices by taking away the sensational aspect you may experience on a tour bus!
After visiting this botanica, I would recommend stopping in Honey’s across the road for a coffee and at St Roch Market for some delicious Bahamian food before heading off to wander this colourful neighbourhood. Exploring away from the French Quarter is a must to soak up witchy New Orleans.
Blood bags and Vampire Burgers: Vampire Café
NOLA is very linked to vampires, and you can read my article about vampire set setting in New Orleans here.
I was expecting the famous Vampire Cafe to be schlocky with exhausted staff and food options. I was blown away by how enjoyable it was! I went on a weekly lunchtime and it was pretty peaceful. I got seated straight away, the server was delightful. The sangria blood bag cocktail aka ‘Fangria’, of Instagram-fame, was super tasty, and the vampire burger hit the spot. If this is vampire living, bite me right now, witchy New Orleans!
Brunch and cocktails in a former church, school house, rectory and convent: Elysian Bar at Peter & Paul
When I first saw photos of this hotel, I fell in love. Not only is it picture perfect but the repurposing of these buildings — and the care taken to share some of the stories from its walls — is astonishing.
While this isn’t spooky in the most overt sense, you can sense the history of this building whether you pop by for a decadent, spirit-forward (pun intended) cocktail and prop up the Elysian Bar at Peter & Paul, the former rectory, or enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the yellow-and-white gingham-adorned front room. I did both. A slice of elevated, atmospheric New Orleans.
Tales of Vampires & Witches: Garden District Bookshop
No visit to witchy New Orleans is complete without some atmospheric wanders in the Garden District, heavily linked to the vampiric and witchy writer Anne Rice. Read more about Anne Rice and New Orleans here.
Anne Rice used to hold all of her book launches at the adorable Garden District Book Shop, close to Lafayette Cemetery where she also held spooky PR events! If you visit the book shop today, you’ll get to explore the Coffin of Terror section, which includes her work and some limited and signed editions of her Interview with the Vampire series, and much more. Grab a book and an iced café du lait from the Chicory House coffee shop and saunter around the Garden District to soak up that old world crumbly house goodness. Who knows, you may spot a Mayfair witch on her porch.
Witchy Filipino Restaurant & Absinthe Bar: Tatlo
The next must-visit place on our list is Tatlo, a witchy Filipino restaurant that is currently in the process of moving venues. When I visited, the deeply atmospheric spot was just off raucous Bourbon Street. Walking through the door adorned with protection marks, through sage-scented smoke, I entered my whimsigoth teenage fantasy that wouldn’t have been out of place in the cult 90s movie The Craft.
My meal started with a manifestation ritual through writing a wish on a bay leaf and burning it while enjoying a Zodiaquri (astrological aligned daiquiri) and leafing through oracle cards. The food by chef Cristina Quakenbush was nothing short of witchcraft. A moment, please, for the butter candle on my noodles, which illuminated my dinner before I devoured it. Tatlo will be in its new home soon, so do follow the signs on their Instagram and add it to your witchy New Orleans wish list.
Cemetery Coffee Shop: Sacred Grinds
Finally, I managed to get to end of this list with only one cemetery – and New Orleans is the city of the dead! If graveyard symbolism and peaceful cemetery wanders are your thing, I have just the unusual place to fuel up on caffeine first.
Sacred Grinds is a quirky coffee shop nestled between Oddfellow’s Rest and St. Patrick’s Cemetery with a patio overlooking the tombs. It’s located at the end of the Canal Street Streetcar and a great stop-off before heading to see Anne Rice, the queen of NOLA gothic’s, mausoleum in Metairie Cemetery.
Plan your witchy New Orleans trip today!
To plan your spooky girl trip to New Orleans check out: neworleans.com
The Bourbon Orleans is perfect haunted luxury hotel for your stay, in the heart of the French Quarter.
To explore more of the vampiric connections of NOLA head over to this article.
