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Sno-balls from Nectar + Ice in Metairie.
Nectar + Ice

Where to Eat Sno-Balls in New Orleans Right Now

A guide to New Orleans’s favorite — and most iconic — treat to beat the heat

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Sno-balls from Nectar + Ice in Metairie.
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In New Orleans, when the thermometer rises towards triple digits and the humidity is deep swamp, there’s only one thing that will get people to stand in line — the sweet relief that only comes from a frosty sno-ball. Sno-ball stands are in every neighborhood, but their history goes back more than eight decades, when Ernest and Mary Hansen took their newly-invented ice-pulverizing Sno-Bliz machine streetside Uptown. Not to be confused with a snow cone or Italian water ice, the fine and fluffy shave of ice is designed to hold up to sweet syrups and condensed milk toppings.

Here are the area’s essential sno-ball stands open right now; this guide will be updated throughout the season.

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Nectar + Ice

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All the way out by Zuppardo’s is this gem of a family-run shop, just shy of a year old. Founder Shyanna Batres, a Muslim woman, says it’s her mission to provide sweet treats to the greater New Orleans area for vegans, halal diners, and those with allergies, and as such, makes all of the shop’s sno-ball bases in-house, offering vegan condensed milk as a substitute for the classic sno-ball addition. There is no shortage of classic sno-ball flavors here, but also a slew of unexpected offerings — ever heard of a mochi-stuffed sno-ball? Try one here, where all sweet treats (including dessert coffees) are topped with a pretty edible flower.

Sno-balls from Nectar + Ice.
Nectar + Ice

Casey's Snowballs

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One of Metairie's best no-frills neighborhood options for sno-balls, (they spell theirs with the w) Casey's has a variety of flavors, including a "juiceball" made with juice rather than syrup. The stand is known for its chocolate sno-ball, along with monsoons and other ice creamy wonders.

Sno-La Snowballs

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Sno-La took the ice cream stuffed sno-balls and raised the bar by switching that ice cream out for cheesecake. Plus, the huge flavor list hits decadent heights with the famous Chantilly cake, a New Orleans original; Oreo cheesecake; and Tiffany’s blue box. Ask about catering and sno-ball tasting parties.

Lou Lou's Snoballs

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As far as local sno-ball stands go, Lou Lou’s is on the newer side, tucked off of busy Airline Drive in a tiny blue and yellow cottage. Some call them the best sno-balls in Metairie — even better than Sal’s, and with less of a wait. Either way, Lou Lou’s, also offering soft serve and other frozen treats, is popular for its not-too-sweet fruit flavors as well as richer options, like coffee cream, chocolate macadamia nut, and white chocolate mocha stuffed or topped with condensed milk.

Sal's Sno-Ball Stand

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Located in a small brick building in Old Metairie, this family-operated stand has been around since 1960. It does it up old-school style, meaning plenty of traditional flavors, huge blocks of ice brought in daily, and plenty of outdoor seating. Sal’s is open until 10 p.m., refreshingly late.

Plum Street Snoballs

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Set in a particularly adorable section of Uptown, this family-run shop turns out signature flavors like orchid cream vanilla in Chinese food takeout boxes, wrapped in a plastic bag to avoid spillage — great for the kiddos. You pretty much can't go wrong with any flavor at Plum Street. Open 2 to 7 p.m., close to Tulane University.

Hansen's Sno-Bliz

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Ernest and Mary Hansen first opened the doors to this iconic sno-ball stand in 1939, after George Ortolano and Hansen built the city’s first electric ice-shaving machines. Today, their granddaughter Ashley Hansen and family run the summertime favorite, which has become a destination all its own, winning a James Beard in the American Classics category in 2014. Get the cream of nectar, a passionfruit-satsuma mix, or any of their specialty flavors or toppings, like charred peach syrup or bananas Foster on top.

Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Ike's Snowballs

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This cool little stand with ample outdoor seating is in front of MoPho near City Park, across from Delgado. Get it stuffed with ice cream and grab one of the savory snacks offered. And check this, Ike’s even offers meat-flavored snowballs for the dogs, who are always welcome on the outdoor patio.

Ike’s Snowballs

Nola Snow Snoballs

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Inexpensive and generous with the condensed milk, this Lakeview neighborhood favorite offers all the classic flavors plus some fun ones like wedding cake and spearmint. Nola Snow hours are 2 to 6 p.m. in the spring but extended in summer, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. through August.

Pandora's SnowBalls

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This Mid City favorite usually has a line to rival Hansen's. Pandora's goes heavy on the syrup and flavors range from the tame, like wild cherry, to the funky, like the creamy Tootsie Roll. The good thing is City Park and Bayou St. John are very close by, so there's ample shady, picturesque spots to enjoy a sno-ball. Sugar-free options too.

Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Red Rooster

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This year-round sno-ball stand is primarily built for to-go orders, but there is a picnic table out front for onsite slurping. The Central City stand opened in 1977 with just sno-balls, but has since expanded to po’ boys and ya-ka-mein (or yet-ca-mein), fried chicken and seafood, meat pies, and much more. Red Rooster is located near Al Davis Park.

Imperial Woodpecker Sno-Balls

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This stand from sno-ball aficionado Neesa Peterson does classic flavors, and originals including cream of bananas Foster, cream of chicory coffee, watermelon jalapeno, and strawberry basil. There are picnic tables outside Imperial Woodpecker. Catering available.

Sidney's Snowballs

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Sidney’s sno-balls are particular fluffy, making classic flavors — the grape is a favorite — taste extra light and refreshing. There’s often a line at the red Claiborne Avenue stand as it’s also popular for its vast food menu (especially the tamales), but there’s a nice vibe and it moves fairly quickly.

New Orleans Snowball

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Love a year-round sno-ball stand, and New Orleans Snowball is conveniently located on Elysian Fields at the entrance to Gentilly Terrace. The well-marked stand serves traditional, top-notch sno-balls in a slew of flavors, as well as smoothies and snacks.

Nola Sips Snobar

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Nola Sips opened in the space that formerly held Freezy Street, bringing a colorful, lively space for boozy, designer sno-balls loaded with toppings to St. Claude Avenue. Beyond candy-topped, sno-balls come in strawberry cheesecake, mixed berry, and served in a pineapple, alongside other fruity frozen cocktails and bar snacks like crawfish fries, wings, and burgers. Follow on Instagram for happy hour info and specials.

Chance In Hell SnoBalls

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This shop started as a pop-up with a clever name and logo — “Icy treats for a world on fire.” Now it is reliably open Friday through Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. on the corner of France and Burgundy (though coming soon, relocating to Louisa Street). Chance makes natural, small-batch, seasonal sno-ball flavors: lemon ice box pie, peach cobbler, rosemary sweet corn, strawberry shortcake, vanilla saffron pear — the possibilities are seemingly endless here. Follow on Instagram for events and news on the move.

Rodney's Snowballs

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Rodney’s has been a Lake Forest walk-up destination for the sweet treat for decades now. Delicious sno-balls come in flavors like margarita, wedding cake, and cotton candy, but the classics shine here, like nectar cream, juicy mango and pineapple, passionfruit, and cherry.

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Nectar + Ice

All the way out by Zuppardo’s is this gem of a family-run shop, just shy of a year old. Founder Shyanna Batres, a Muslim woman, says it’s her mission to provide sweet treats to the greater New Orleans area for vegans, halal diners, and those with allergies, and as such, makes all of the shop’s sno-ball bases in-house, offering vegan condensed milk as a substitute for the classic sno-ball addition. There is no shortage of classic sno-ball flavors here, but also a slew of unexpected offerings — ever heard of a mochi-stuffed sno-ball? Try one here, where all sweet treats (including dessert coffees) are topped with a pretty edible flower.

Sno-balls from Nectar + Ice.
Nectar + Ice

Casey's Snowballs

One of Metairie's best no-frills neighborhood options for sno-balls, (they spell theirs with the w) Casey's has a variety of flavors, including a "juiceball" made with juice rather than syrup. The stand is known for its chocolate sno-ball, along with monsoons and other ice creamy wonders.

Sno-La Snowballs

Sno-La took the ice cream stuffed sno-balls and raised the bar by switching that ice cream out for cheesecake. Plus, the huge flavor list hits decadent heights with the famous Chantilly cake, a New Orleans original; Oreo cheesecake; and Tiffany’s blue box. Ask about catering and sno-ball tasting parties.

Lou Lou's Snoballs

As far as local sno-ball stands go, Lou Lou’s is on the newer side, tucked off of busy Airline Drive in a tiny blue and yellow cottage. Some call them the best sno-balls in Metairie — even better than Sal’s, and with less of a wait. Either way, Lou Lou’s, also offering soft serve and other frozen treats, is popular for its not-too-sweet fruit flavors as well as richer options, like coffee cream, chocolate macadamia nut, and white chocolate mocha stuffed or topped with condensed milk.

Sal's Sno-Ball Stand

Located in a small brick building in Old Metairie, this family-operated stand has been around since 1960. It does it up old-school style, meaning plenty of traditional flavors, huge blocks of ice brought in daily, and plenty of outdoor seating. Sal’s is open until 10 p.m., refreshingly late.

Plum Street Snoballs

Set in a particularly adorable section of Uptown, this family-run shop turns out signature flavors like orchid cream vanilla in Chinese food takeout boxes, wrapped in a plastic bag to avoid spillage — great for the kiddos. You pretty much can't go wrong with any flavor at Plum Street. Open 2 to 7 p.m., close to Tulane University.

Hansen's Sno-Bliz

Ernest and Mary Hansen first opened the doors to this iconic sno-ball stand in 1939, after George Ortolano and Hansen built the city’s first electric ice-shaving machines. Today, their granddaughter Ashley Hansen and family run the summertime favorite, which has become a destination all its own, winning a James Beard in the American Classics category in 2014. Get the cream of nectar, a passionfruit-satsuma mix, or any of their specialty flavors or toppings, like charred peach syrup or bananas Foster on top.

Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Ike's Snowballs

This cool little stand with ample outdoor seating is in front of MoPho near City Park, across from Delgado. Get it stuffed with ice cream and grab one of the savory snacks offered. And check this, Ike’s even offers meat-flavored snowballs for the dogs, who are always welcome on the outdoor patio.

Ike’s Snowballs

Nola Snow Snoballs

Inexpensive and generous with the condensed milk, this Lakeview neighborhood favorite offers all the classic flavors plus some fun ones like wedding cake and spearmint. Nola Snow hours are 2 to 6 p.m. in the spring but extended in summer, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. through August.

Pandora's SnowBalls

This Mid City favorite usually has a line to rival Hansen's. Pandora's goes heavy on the syrup and flavors range from the tame, like wild cherry, to the funky, like the creamy Tootsie Roll. The good thing is City Park and Bayou St. John are very close by, so there's ample shady, picturesque spots to enjoy a sno-ball. Sugar-free options too.

Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Red Rooster

This year-round sno-ball stand is primarily built for to-go orders, but there is a picnic table out front for onsite slurping. The Central City stand opened in 1977 with just sno-balls, but has since expanded to po’ boys and ya-ka-mein (or yet-ca-mein), fried chicken and seafood, meat pies, and much more. Red Rooster is located near Al Davis Park.

Imperial Woodpecker Sno-Balls

This stand from sno-ball aficionado Neesa Peterson does classic flavors, and originals including cream of bananas Foster, cream of chicory coffee, watermelon jalapeno, and strawberry basil. There are picnic tables outside Imperial Woodpecker. Catering available.

Sidney's Snowballs

Sidney’s sno-balls are particular fluffy, making classic flavors — the grape is a favorite — taste extra light and refreshing. There’s often a line at the red Claiborne Avenue stand as it’s also popular for its vast food menu (especially the tamales), but there’s a nice vibe and it moves fairly quickly.

New Orleans Snowball

Love a year-round sno-ball stand, and New Orleans Snowball is conveniently located on Elysian Fields at the entrance to Gentilly Terrace. The well-marked stand serves traditional, top-notch sno-balls in a slew of flavors, as well as smoothies and snacks.

Nola Sips Snobar

Nola Sips opened in the space that formerly held Freezy Street, bringing a colorful, lively space for boozy, designer sno-balls loaded with toppings to St. Claude Avenue. Beyond candy-topped, sno-balls come in strawberry cheesecake, mixed berry, and served in a pineapple, alongside other fruity frozen cocktails and bar snacks like crawfish fries, wings, and burgers. Follow on Instagram for happy hour info and specials.

Related Maps

Chance In Hell SnoBalls

This shop started as a pop-up with a clever name and logo — “Icy treats for a world on fire.” Now it is reliably open Friday through Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. on the corner of France and Burgundy (though coming soon, relocating to Louisa Street). Chance makes natural, small-batch, seasonal sno-ball flavors: lemon ice box pie, peach cobbler, rosemary sweet corn, strawberry shortcake, vanilla saffron pear — the possibilities are seemingly endless here. Follow on Instagram for events and news on the move.

Rodney's Snowballs

Rodney’s has been a Lake Forest walk-up destination for the sweet treat for decades now. Delicious sno-balls come in flavors like margarita, wedding cake, and cotton candy, but the classics shine here, like nectar cream, juicy mango and pineapple, passionfruit, and cherry.

Related Maps