Entry No. 5 — the New Orleans file — filed under: oddities
Boutique du Vampyre
Opened in 2003, this is billed as one of the world's first vampire-themed boutiques, tucked into a half-address slip of the French Quarter. Most stock is handmade and frequently one-of-a-kind, from stained-glass bats and gargoyles to capes, Gothic jewelry, and custom-fitted fangs. Its signature fortune candles are poured in-house with pewter charms hidden inside that emerge as the wax burns down.
The story
If you aren't paying attention, you'll walk right past 709 1/2 St. Ann Street. That fractional address isn't a typo—it's a narrow slip carved directly into the French Quarter brickwork, open since 2003 as one of the world's first boutiques explicitly dedicated to vampire culture. They bill themselves as a gift gallery for the nocturnal, skipping cheap party-store novelties in favor of real benchwork.
Instead of mass-produced plastic, the inventory leans heavily on handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces. You'll find custom capes, stained-glass gargoyles and bats, heavy Gothic jewelry, and a staff that can arrange custom-fitted fangs tailored to your teeth.
The shop's real signature move is its in-house poured fortune candles. Each one conceals pewter charms buried deep inside the wax; as you burn it down at home, the charms slowly emerge to reveal whatever fate you've pulled.
What it's like
You’re stepping into a dim, tightly squeezed nook where every inch of wall space is put to work. It’s small enough that three shoppers make it feel full, but the staff treat fang fittings and candle selections like a personal craft rather than a tourist rush. Keep your eyes on the street numbers along St. Ann—that half-address slip is remarkably easy to pass by.
The move: Get fitted for matching custom fangs, then pick out a fortune candle to burn at home and see which hidden charms surface.
- 📍 French Quarter
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 709 1/2 St. Ann St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Hours: Added 2026-06-22 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Dark Matter Oddities & Artisan Collective — Walk a single block to trade handcrafted vampire accessories for full-size taxidermy and articulated skeletons.
- New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum — Pair French Quarter vampire culture with a walk around the corner to the city's oldest dedicated voodoo museum.
- Muriel's Jackson Square (Séance Lounge) — Head one block south toward Jackson Square to grab a drink in an upstairs lounge permanently reserved for a ghost.
- New Orleans Pharmacy Museum — Pivot from nocturnal lore to 19th-century medical oddities just two blocks down Chartres.
Good to know
Where exactly is the shop located?
It sits at 709 1/2 St. Ann Street in the French Quarter, tucked into a fractional address between Royal and Bourbon streets.
How do the fortune candles work?
They are poured in-house with pewter charms concealed in the wax. As the candle burns down at home, the melted wax releases specific charms that reveal your fortune.
Can you actually get fitted for custom fangs here?
Yes, they offer custom-fitted fangs molded specifically to your teeth rather than slip-on plastic caps.
Are the items in the shop mass-produced?
No, most of the inventory is handcrafted and frequently one-of-a-kind, including stained glass, capes, and Gothic jewelry.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: feelthebite.com · Yelp · neworleans.com · Tripadvisor
last checked: 2026-06-22