The Ultimate Beignet Bucket List: Must‑Try Spots in New Orleans
Beignets are a staple in New Orleans and are favored among visitors and locals alike. Essentially deep-fried pâte à choux — though it’s most often referred to as a hole-less, square donut — the beignet works for any meal and any occasion. Iterations span from sweet to savory, available at everything from cash-only joints in the French Quarter to fine dining establishments.
Where to Find Beignets in New Orleans
From sweet to savory, here nine spots to get the best beignets in NOLA – plus a recipe at the end on how to make them at home!
Sweet and Traditional Beignets
Café du Monde — Home of the original New Orleans beignet, Café du Monde has been serving customers since 1862. Now with locations in the French Quarter, City Park, and across the Greater New Orleans area (including the airport), you can experience the deliciousness no matter where you find yourself in the city. 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 at its Royal Street location, Café Beignet has a modest courtyard to enjoy your traditional, powdered sugar beignets al fresco. They also serve beer and wine. 334 Royal St., 600 Decatur St., 622 Canal St.
LUCA Eats — Open daily for breakfast and lunch, LUCA Eats is a local Uptown favorite. Switching up the traditional pastry, they serve Oreo Beignets for dessert. “Yum” is putting it lightly. 7329 Cohn St.
New Orleans Coffee & Beignet Co. — Located beside New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood Co. on St. Charles Avenue, this shop is the go-to place for anyone looking to grab a meal before their beignets. Be sure to order a specialty espresso drink or frozen coffee to round out your order. 4141 St. Charles Ave.
The Vintage — Beignets are the name of the game at this Uptown restaurant. Enjoy rotating “fancy beignets” in addition to the traditional beignet and their kiddie counterparts, beignet bites. The vintage-inspired ambiance has us coming back as much as the beignets do. 3121 Magazine St.
Loretta’s Authentic Pralines — With two locations just a couple blocks apart 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! 13 French Market Pl. and 2101 N. Rampart St.
Savory Beignets
SoBou — These Louisiana sweet potato beignets with a chicory coffee ganache and foie gras fondue are the perfect appetizer to any meal. 310 Chartres St.
Bouligny Tavern — Bouligny Tavern’s gougères aren’t technically beignets — they’re baked rather than deep fried — but the choux pastry base is the same. Add in creamy comté cheese, and you’ve got a small plate that’s just as decadent as the fried version and still served warm. 3641 Magazine St.
La Petite Grocery — Chef Justin Devillier’s blue crab beignets with malt aioli are a perfect appetizer. Heck, pair ’em with a side of charred cucumbers and you’ve got yourself a meal. 4238 Magazine St.
Restaurant R’evolution — These beer-battered crab beignets are all about the dipping sauce. Switch between four distinct rémoulades to add a creamy, spicy kick to each and every bite. 777 Bienville St. inside the Royal Sonesta Hotel
Homemade
Once you get a taste for beignets, the craving for more is hard to beat. Fortunately, you can purchase a box of Café du Monde’s beignet mix, which is sold at multiple major retailers and online. For those of you who want to put your culinary skills to the test, see our main beignet page has recipes for both classic sweet and savory potato beignets. Don’t forget the powdered sugar!
