The 7 Best Beignet Spots in New Orleans
Beignets at the iconic Cafe du Monde in New Orleans
Carnival season has commenced in NOLA—laissez les bons temps rouler! Along with king cake, gumbo, red beans and rice, muffulettas, jambalaya and shrimp creole, there's one more dish you'll see plenty of during Mardi Gras and that's beignets.
Originally brought to Louisiana by the Acadians in the 18th century, the little puffy fried pastries are dusted with a generous snowfall of powdered sugar. They're one of the greatest delicacies you can experience in The Big Easy and no trip is complete without one (or several) of them. The only problem? Figuring out which of the many beignet spots to go to in the city. The title of the best beignets in New Orleans remains one of the city's hottest debates, where locals will strongly defend their favorites and sing their praises from the bead-strewn rooftops.
There are the tried-and-true classics, chef-driven remixes and a lot of subpar beignets in between, but for the crème de la crème of French doughnuts—both savory and sweet—head to these spots for a supreme experience. When the powdered sugar has settled, let us know which one is your top spot.
Related: What is Chicory Coffee and What Does It Have to Do With New Orleans?
Where to Find the Best Beignets in New Orleans
1. Cafe Du Monde
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If you come to New Orleans and don't make Cafe Du Monde your first stop—you didn't understand the assignment. The original French Market coffee stand dates back to 1862 and arguably boasts the best beignets in NOLA. They're so good, that they sell 30,000 of them a day. The flash-fried pillows of heaven are piled with powdered sugar and served in trios alongside their signature cafe au lait or dark-roasted coffee with chicory. If you can't imagine your life without a Cafe Du Monde beignet, you're in luck. The famed fritters are so popular that the restaurant sells their beignet mix and canned coffee so you can bring a taste of NOLA home with you.
2. Cafe Beignet
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People like to say Cafe Du Monde is an institution, but Cafe Beignet is a whole vibe. Aside from having some of the best beignets in Crescent City, they have a lot more to offer: live jazz, frozen drinks, plenty of po'boys and four locations on Bourbon, Canal, Decatur and Royal Streets. They also have a massive breakfast menu featuring pecan waffles, Cajun hashbrowns and crawfish omelets—but back to those blissful beignets. $4.75 will get you an order of three and although they are similar in size to Cafe Du Monde's, many claim they are better. Plus, the place is super cute. With a courtyard shrouded by lush foliage, a cluster of picnic tables and statues of some of NOLA's greatest musicians, their Bourbon St. outpost is where you'll want to hang for a few hours between bites of beignets.
3. Miss River in the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans
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Beignet purists would argue you shouldn't mess with a good thing, but what's the fun in that? At Miss River, New Orleanian Chef Alon Shaya's "Love Letter to Louisiana," you'll find his flawless fritters prepared one of two ways: filled with thinly sliced prosciutto and creamy gorgonzola dolce cheese with a drizzle of honey (a flavor combination similar to the way he enjoyed Torta Fritta while apprenticing in Parma, Italy) and in the classic style with a mountain of powdered sugar and toasted vanilla cream sauce on the side. "What I like to think sets our beignets apart is the fresh stone-milled Sonoran wheat flour we use in the dough and, also, that we fill our deep fryer full of butter to fry them golden," explains Shaya. "We put those beauties on a silver pedestal and give them the respect they deserve.” Indeed they do, which is why Shaya's riffs on the original are not to be missed.
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Related: How to Make a Muffaletta Sandwich NOLA Style
4. La Petite Grocery
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The fried dough-powered sugar varietal is certainly the most beloved beignet in The Big Easy, but don't sleep on savory blue crab beignets. Specifically, the plump, airy, overflowing with crab meat beignet balls at La Petite Grocery. The grocery store-turned-restaurant on Magazine Street lures patrons far and wide for a taste of Chef Justin Devillier's savory beignets. Served with a side of malt vinegar aïoli, they are the quintessential starter at LPG. What you order next is your call, but we'd suggest the chicken and andouille gumbo, turtle bolognese or Gulf shrimp and grits.
5. Morning Call Coffee Stand
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Right up there with Cafe Du Monde and Cafe Beignet is Morning Call, another local-loved staple for beignets and creamy cafe au lait since 1870, when Joseph Jurisich established the 2nd oldest coffee stand in the French Quarter. Cafe Du Monde and Morning Call have been fierce competitors throughout the years, even going head to head over the coveted concession stand lease in the Casino Building in 2018 when MC lost out to CDM. Which one is superior depends on who you ask, but Morning Call prides itself on its French-drip coffee and secret recipe beignets that come with a shaker of powdered sugar on the side. Visit them at their new home, at the intersection of Canal Street and City Park Avenue.
6. The Vintage
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If your one qualm with beignets is they can be big and messy, hit up The Vintage on Magazine Street for their mini version. Expect the same classic flavors, just in beignet bites, which come powdered or with cinnamon sugar. Only in the mood for one? They have that too, for $1.75. If you're in the mood for something savory, there's a beignet smothered with bacon gravy. Feeling indecisive and/or adventurous? Try their beignet flight, where they get creative with different fillings, toppings, sprinkles and sauces. They won Beignet Fest this past year for their brie and pear beignet, but other seasonal specialties include apple pie beignets, king cake beignets and s'mores beignets.
7. The Lobby in The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans
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The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans understands that sometimes you don't want to leave your hotel room for beignets, which is why they introduced their lobby beignet cart in 2022. All guests are welcome to their free, classic beignets served with vanilla bean, caramel and dark chocolate dipping sauces. They're available every Thursday to Saturday from 5 PM to 6 PM, but if you miss the cart you can also order the tasty treat from their room service menu. And although coffee and beignets may be the signature NOLA pairing, don't discount the deliciousness that is a cup of Ritz-Carlton hot cocoa with a powdered sugar beignet.
More Great Places for Beignets in NOLA
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If you're up for a beignet crawl and looking for something beyond the traditional fried fritter, here are a few more spots to add to your NOLA bucket list: Luca Eats for out-of-this-world Oreo beignets, Loretta's for her unparalleled praline beignets (plus burger beignets!), Monty's on the Square for killer beignet fries and the Copper Monkey for beignets filled with banana puree, covered in "heaven dust"—trust us on this one.
