by nola family staff 

It doesn’t matter how you spell it – Sno-Balls, Snowballs or Snoballs – the icy creation is one of the most beloved culinary traditions in New Orleans, taking its rightful place alongside the beignet, the muffuletta and the po-boy.

And so we present for your reading (and eating) pleasure our lowdown on the best snoballs in and around the Crescent City. There’s no better way to spend a hot afternoon than indulging in one of these delicious treats!

*Call for opening dates and times

Hansen’s Sno-Bliz

4801 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, 504.891.9788. Open Tuesday thru Sunday, 1-7 pm. Closed Monday.
Arguably the most well-known of the city’s snoball stands, Hansen’s has stood the test of time, first opening its doors in 1939. And the legend lives on, as the James Beard Foundation has named Hansen’s an American Classic.

Imperial Woodpecker Sno-Balls

3511 Magazine St. and Riverwalk at Spanish Plaza, New Orleans, 251.366.7777. Open daily, noon-7:30 pm.
This relative newcomer to the city’s snoball scene offers a curated selection of classic flavors, plus several unique creations, such as Lemon-Basil, Earl Grey Cream and Watermelon-Jalapeno.

Pandora’s Snowballs

901 N. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, 504.289.0765. Open daily, noon-7 pm.
The closest snoball stand to New Orleans City Park and Bayou St. John, Pandora’s serves up more than 140 flavors daily, including the popular Tootsie Roll, Tiger’s Blood and Cream Soda, and offers alternative choices such as clear and sugar-free snoballs.

Plum Street Snoballs

1300 Burdette St., New Orleans, 504.866.7996. Open Sunday thru Friday, 2-7 pm; Saturday, noon-7 pm. 
One of the city’s classic snoball stands, Plum Street opened in 1945 and has kept the crowds lining its namesake corridor ever since.

Ro-Bear’s – Closed for the 2019 season.

6869 Jefferson Highway, Harahan, 504.737.5013. Open daily, noon-9 pm. 
A family-run business that has been a Harahan staple for more than 50 years, Ro-Bear’s makes all its syrups in-house, with the thick, rich Chocolate, Coffee and Strawberry Cheesecake among the most popular of the stand’s 60-plus flavors.

Sal’s Sno-Balls

1823 Metairie Road, Metairie, 504.666.1823. Open Monday thru Saturday, 11 am-11 pm; Sunday, 1-11 pm. 
Sal’s has stood sentry on Metairie Road for more than a half century, delighting fans young and old with perennial favorites such as the Pink Squirrel, Batman and Orchid Vanilla.

SnoWizard

4001 Magazine St., New Orleans, 504.899.8758. Open daily, noon-8 pm.
This snoball stand on the corner of Magazine and Constantinople streets started it all, as owner George Ortolano in 1936 invented the first snoball machine, capable of transforming huge blocks of ice into flakes akin to snow.

For our more comprehensive list of snoballs and ice cream in New Orleans, click here.