If you’re visiting New Orleans for the first time, you should indulge in the time-honored tradition of eating beignets. These special treats are served hot and are sometimes spiced with plantains or bananas. While beignets became an integral part of New Orleans in the 18th Century, some eateries have gotten more creative. Here are some restaurants that serve the best beignets in New Orleans.
The Vintage
The Vintage is always up to something startling. You can enjoy a beignet with a cup of coffee or wine. These treats are prepared to perfection – you just need a few bites. The Vintage opens from 7 am to 9 am during weekdays, and 8 am to 9 pm on weekends. The next time you find yourself on Magazine Street, you can treat yourself here.
Café du Monde
Café du Monde has a rich history that dates back to 1862. One food that has retained global credibility is the beignets. This eatery overlooks jazz street players and welcomes visitors from around the world. Originally, it was opened as a coffee stand but later started to serve other New Orleans favorites. As you enjoy their signature beignets, you can pair them with their chicory coffee. They can be slightly chocolaty when served with hot milk.
Here, beignets are sold by the plate and are best enjoyed while hot. The coffee stand has now opened to 15 new locations. If you want to put your taste buds to the test, you should visit from 7 am to 11 pm.
Café Beignet
The Cafe Beignets is located at 334 Royal Street. It was established by a small group of friends in 1990 and has now grown into a local chain. Today, the cafe offers the best beignets in New Orleans. They are topped with powdered sugar and served while hot. You can also pair them with a cup of milk or chicory coffee. If you prefer beignets that are cakey, this is the place to be. Apart from beignets, you can try their omelets, waffles, and cocktails.
Depending on your preference, you can dine at any of their three locations – Bourbon, Royal, and Decatur streets. The one at Bourbon Street plays jazz all day.
The average price for the beignets is $4.75. If you’re traveling on a budget, you can take advantage of their discounts. This cafe is open from 8 am to 8 pm.
La Petite Grocery
La Petite Grocery restaurant is known for savory beignets, thanks to its unique creations. In 2004, Justin Devillier and his wife took ownership of the restaurant. They also opened a sister restaurant to meet the huge demand. A few years later, Justin won an award for his creative spin. La Petite Grocery was also named one of the best restaurants in America.
No matter the time you visit, the lustrous combo of pastry, crab, and vinegar will leave you begging for more beignets.
Sobou
Sobou restaurant serves irresistible beignets that will leave you craving for more. This joint is known for the mouthwatering boozy brunch – it will be remiss not to try the next time you’re in New Orleans. You can pair their beignets with cocktails that are perfectly prepared by the culinary team.
Sobou offers a unique beignet that is normally served with fioe grass fondue and coffee ganache. However, if you want a mix of traditional and contemporary, you can order the beignets with powdered sugar and caramel sauce. Still, you can try their sweet potato and duck beignets.
Katie’s
Katie’s is a family-oriented restaurant known for tasty crawfish beignets. Although it’s bright and shiny from the outside, Katie’s still maintains the vision of the founder Mr. Leo Leininger. Even after he passed on in 1987, the family continued his undaunted spirit.
In 2005, this establishment was hit by Hurricane Katrina – it reopened in 2010.
Katie’s beignets are stuffed with Jalapenos, cheddar, crawfish, and caramelized onions. These special ingredients give their beignets the name Taeyo’s.
If you’re on a budget, you can try other versions. If you want a quiet space, you can sit upstairs.
Morning Call Coffee Stand
The Morning Coffee stand is located next to the French quarter and continues to expand its locations in New Orleans. Unlike other renowned restaurants, you don’t have to battle with other tourists to get a stack of beignets.
Here, beignets are sold in plates. You can pair them with milk, coffee, and soft drinks. One thing that makes the Morning Call unique is that its menu is slightly bigger (compared to the competitors). They also offer iconic dishes like crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, muffulettas, and gumbo.
Loretta’s Authentic Pralines
Loretta’s is the first praline company in New Orleans to be owed by a woman. To create their iconic beignets, Lorreta’s combines the flavors of praline and New Orleans. Even better, each beignet is topped with candied pecans and confectioner’s sugar. Depending on your needs, you can pair it with a burger, chicken, or crab meat. With new locations opening every day, Lorreta’s spirit lives on.
Bayona
Bayona is located at the heart of the French Quarter, New Orleans. One of the signature dishes on the menu is the smoked salmon beignets. They are prepared using the freshest ingredients and feature a broad spectrum of influence. Sometimes, they offer sweet banana beignets. Bayona defies simple classification to bring out the complex flavors in all their dishes. A visit to New Orleans is not complete without making a trip here.
Restaurant R’evolution
This modern restaurant is known for its unique beignets and seasonally inspired cocktails. They offer the best beignets in New Orleans with aromatic remoulade sauces. Some are powdered with sugar, others with velvety cream. Not to mention, you can switch between four distinct flavors to bring a spicy kick to every bite. While you won’t find the sweet beignets here, you can add a dark chocolate cremaux to the mix.
Located in the Royal sonata hotel, Restaurant R’evolution has been doing everything right since 2012. The dishes are prepared by chefs Rick and John Folse.
Luca Eats
Luca Eats is known for its amazing sandwiches and beignets. No matter the time you visit, you’ll always find some beignets.
Recently, the café was awarded for its Oreo beignets. They are like fried Oreo fused with beignets instead of batter. Currently, there are no savory beignets.
If you’re wondering what makes their beignets unique, you may want to stop by to find out. Keep in mind that the restaurant offers different types of soups and salads. This is the only place you can find breakfast sandwiches.
New Orleans Coffee & Beignet Co.
This restaurant is located on St. Charles Avenue. Whether you’re craving egg white or yogurt parfait, this can be the perfect spot in New Orleans. You can also go for the sugar-coated version of the beignets – it’s an out-of-the-park home run for most palates. Once you choose your favorite beignet, you can pair it with caramel coffee. The sugary taste is perfect during those hot summer days. The beignets are a bit denser so it’s possible to eat more.
As long as the Beignets are hot, you won’t get disappointed.
Bakery Bar
This is a full-service restaurant that features a creative menu for entrees and desserts. Since it was founded, the Bakery Bar features beignets with cinnamon-infused sugar. It’s located at Annunciation Street, New Orleans.
Criollo Restaurant
The Criollo restaurant features an innovative menu and offers a solid service. Beignets are the best breakfast option for those who want a sweet treat. They source ingredients that are inspired by culinary conversations.
As the name suggests, this restaurant has a menu that blends influences from Spanish and French cuisines. It offers corn and blue crab beignets, so you can choose the one that suits you best. The restaurant is open from 6.30 am to 3 pm.
Stuph’d Beignets & Burgers
When you get to stuph’d Beignets & Burgers restaurant, you’ll be blown away by the beignets options. If it’s your first time, you’ll have a hard time choosing between sweet and savory.
On the sweet menu, the beignets are sold in threes. Some are stuffed with pecan pie, apple, sweet potato pie, berries, Oreo cheesecake, brownies, and walnuts. You may want to bring a friend to try a few flavors.
Stuph’d menu also features extensive savory treat that includes hot sausage and cheese, grilled shrimp, creole fish, BBQ Beeph, and Philly Cheesesteak. You may have to make several trips to sample everything they have to offer.
Jimmy J’s
This cafe is located in French Quarter, New Orleans. It’s one of the few places that serve breakfast all day. Jimmy J’s offers beignet sticks accompanied by chocolate dipping and creole cream sauce. If you want to satiate your taste buds, you may want to order some beignets before you dig into crawfish benedict. If your intercontinental breakfast isn’t working for you, Jimmy J’s cafe; has you covered.
Cafe Normandie and Rosies
This cafe is located on the roof of the Higgins Hotel. If Bourbon Street isn’t your thing, this is the place to be. Whether you’re a guest at a hotel or just looking for locally-inspired dishes, the Rosies will help you enjoy some flavors. It serves crab beignets that dip with chocolate sauce at $14-16 per order. If you’re on a budget, you can try dessert beignets ($7 to $8 per order).
Cafe Normandie is located a few blocks from the National World War museum.