Everyone knows that a trip to New Orleans is not complete without beignets. Deep-fried, pillowy doughnuts served underneath an avalanche of powdered sugar, beignets are as essential to New Orleans cuisine as gumbo and po-boys or red beans and rice. Although there’s confusion over when and how they became referred to as beignets, everyone has an opinion on where to find the best ones. I like to consider myself a beignet connoisseur because we eat them so much. I rounded up my favorite and what I think are the best of the best in the Big Easy.
Café Du Monde
Café du Monde is the granddaddy of all beignet places and my personal favorite in all of New Orleans. First opening its doors in 1862, the spot is still at the same corner of Decatur and St. Ann streets. Open 24 hours a day, the café doesn’t try to do anything but what it does best: make beignets. Served in a paper tray of three, these fluffy square puffs of fried dough are smothered in powdered sugar and served with coffee or hot chocolate. That’s it. A word of advice to newbies visiting: don’t wear black and don’t put your elbows on the table (they will stick to it). 800 Decatur St.
Café Beignet
Should Café du Monde be absolutely packed (and it probably will be), Café Beignet is a just-as-delicious and arguably quainter alternative. Tucked into a small façade off Royal Street, Café Beignet has a modest courtyard to enjoy your traditional, powdered sugar beignets. They also serve wine and bubbly. Beignets and champagne might be the best combination ever! 334 Royal St.
The Vintage
The Vintage on Magazine Street serves beignets (and pastries, too) all day long, with a much-appreciated suggestion to pair them with some bubbly. All day long, it’s coffee, champagne, and “fancy” beignets, which can mean s’mores beignets on one visit, king cake or matcha beignets during another. Basically, go get yourself a different one each day. 3121 Magazine St.
Morning Call
You’ll be happy to have slid under the radar at Morning Call located in City Park. Sure, this location isn’t swimming in history—despite the old-timey soda fountain look, its doors have only been open for about five years—but its smaller crowds are part of the appeal, and it offers solid takes on the beignet and other bayou classics. A word of advice: be ready to order when it’s your turn, and don’t expect to linger once you’re ready for the bill (lolligagging is frowned on here). It’s a great place to grab them on the go and then explore City Park to walk off all the calories! 56 Dreyfous Dr.
Loretta’s Authentic Pralines
With two locations just a couple blocks away from each other in the French Quarter, Loretta’s is a must-have on your beignet tour. Miss. Loretta takes her world-famous pralines to the next level with her praline beignets. Ooey gooey caramel and pecans hiding inside a fluffy square of fried dough? Yes, please! 1100 N. Peters St. and 2101 N. Rampart St.
Luca Eats
Chocolate lovers rejoice, because Luca Eats has given us the gift of Oreo beignets. Paired with locally roasted French Truck coffee, these delicious desserts are hard to beat. Luca is also known for their sandwiches, but note they are only open from 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m. every day of the week. You won’t be disappointed with the warm, powdery goodness that awaits you. 7329 Cohn St.
New Orleans Coffee & Beignet Co.
Along lovely St. Charles Avenue sits New Orleans Coffee & Beignet Co., a little bakery café that fries up not only traditional beignets, but also chocolate ones. Choose your favorite and pair it with one of the many coffee choices, or go for extreme decadence and enjoy a frozen creme caramel coffee (just pretend there are no calories in it): a sugary, slushy beverage perfect for those hot NOLA summer days. 4141 St. Charles Ave.
Where are your favorite places to get beignets?
[…] Beignets: Deep-fried dough covered in sugar, need we say more? We’ve included 2 famous beignet stops in our 3 day New Orleans itinerary, but if you need more, here’s a fabulous beignet guide to NoLa. […]