The best snowballs in New Orleans
- Aimee Boudreaux MacIver
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
Welcome to my first annual awards for the best snowballs in New Orleans.
As I recently expounded here, snowballs are absolutely critical for summer survival in New Orleans. If you've only ever had shaved ice and snow cones, then snowballs (sometimes spelled snoballs) will change your life. Like a true before and after defining moment. Snowballs are made of ice so fine that it's almost creamy, with flavors that totally absorb like some divine nectar (a classic flavor, btw) upon fresh snow. You'll never get any ice chunks floating in weird pools of syrup. Any flavor will dramatically cool off your core temperature; when it rises again, get another snowball.
My awards are admittedly highly subjective, but I am pretty sure nobody in New Orleans has tried more snowballs than I have, loves snowballs as much, or is as picky about them. I’m also pretty sure nobody else stocks the freezer with snowballs to make it through winter while the stands are closed. Highly subjective, yet highly invested.
Before we get to the best snowballs in New Orleans, you need to keep in mind that most snowball stands offer 30-plus flavor options. You may experience a glimpse of beatific engulfment trying to process the choices, so I recommend starting with New Orleans classics like wedding cake or aforementioned nectar.
Now, ladies and gents, the awards.
Lifetime achievement award: Hansen's Sno Bliz
Open since 1939, Hansen’s is a New Orleans institution. Come here to participate in something bigger than yourself, something generational. Expect a line and expect it to be worth it: Hansen’s is cold gold.
Most photogenic: Plum Street
Plum Street serves snowballs in Chinese takeout boxes wrapped in plastic bags to catch the melt. What could be cuter for a snowball selfie? The whole stand also offers nostalgic charm—the kind of place you’d come barefoot on your bike as a kid.
Most likely to get a Michelin star: Imperial Woodpecker
Thai tea, lavender honey, and basil watermelon? Are these snowballs or a foodie fever dream? Nobody makes dreamy flavors more culinarily interesting than Imperial Woodpecker. Get one of these on your way to an art showing.
Best sugar-free flavors that won’t make you sad: LouLou's
My dilemma: for medical reasons, I’m supposed to avoid the intravenous sugar drip that snowballs essentially are, but I still want to eat them at least once daily. Sugar-free snowballs are also notoriously terrible, with weird chemical aftertastes and squeaky ice that doesn’t really melt properly. LouLou's is a revelation. Get the sugar-free wedding cake or peach.
Most reliably consistent: Pandora's
Pandora’s always has a line because it’s always good. Solid flavor lineup of classics like spearmint, strawberry, and pina colada. If you want a guaranteed 10/10 experience every single time, this is your place.
Best if you find yourself across the lake: Flying Dolly's
Across Lake Pontchartrain is what we locally call the Northshore, a collection of sweet small towns and suburbs. It’s wonderful—safe, peaceful, humming with wholesome activities—except for the shocking dearth of acceptable snowball stands. Flying Dolly’s makes reliably fluffy ice and delicious syrups, but the real jewel here is their homemade ice cream. Yes, we sometimes stuff our snowballs with a scoop of cookie monster for the ultimate hybrid treat.
Best chocolate: LouLa (also on the Northshore)
Chocolate is a controversial snowball flavor because many stands get it wrong—either too watery, too sweet, too artificial, or all of the above. Yet tucked along the Tchefuncte River, modest LouLa gets it exactly right. Their chocolate snowball is deep and fudgey, blended with condensed milk for a snowball that will make you rethink wedding cake, pineapple, and blue raspberry.
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