New Orleans is famous for its po’boys, but the city’s beignets deserve just as much attention. These puffy, powdered sugar-coated pastries have been a staple of the Big Easy for generations. While tourists flock to the famous spots, locals know there are hidden gems all over town where beignets take center stage on the menu.
1. Café du Monde: The Original Beignet Experience
Standing in the French Quarter since 1862, Café du Monde remains the undisputed king of beignets in New Orleans. The menu is wonderfully simple – coffee and beignets, that’s it!
Served in orders of three, these square pillows of fried dough come buried under mountains of powdered sugar. Locals recommend visiting during off-hours to avoid the tourist crowds. The 24-hour schedule makes it perfect for late-night sugar cravings after exploring Bourbon Street.
2. Morning Call Coffee Stand: A Local’s Favorite
Morning Call might have moved locations throughout its history, but the quality of its beignets has never wavered. Founded in 1870, this NOLA institution serves up golden-brown beignets that many locals swear taste better than the more famous competition.
The charm lies in their perfectly crisp exterior that gives way to a cloud-like interior. What makes Morning Call special is their approach to powdered sugar – they let you add it yourself, meaning you control just how messy your beignet experience gets!
3. Café Beignet: The Charming Alternative
Tucked away on Royal Street, Café Beignet offers a more relaxed alternative to the city’s busier beignet spots. Live jazz often fills the air as customers bite into beignets that are slightly smaller but equally delicious as their famous counterparts.
The café’s cozy courtyard provides a perfect setting for savoring these golden treats. What sets these beignets apart is their slightly crispier texture and the café’s commitment to making each batch fresh to order, ensuring you always get that perfect warm, pillowy bite.
4. Restaurant R’evolution: Gourmet Beignet Innovation
Breaking all traditional beignet rules, Restaurant R’evolution serves savory beer-battered crab beignets that will make you forget about dessert altogether. These golden puffs come filled with creamy crab and served with four remoulade sauces.
Located in the Royal Sonesta Hotel, this upscale restaurant reimagines the humble beignet as a sophisticated appetizer. The contrast between the crispy exterior and the warm, rich crabmeat inside creates a taste experience that perfectly represents New Orleans’ innovative culinary spirit.
5. La Petite Grocery: Crawfish Beignets Worth Celebrating
Housed in a historic building on Magazine Street, La Petite Grocery transformed the beignet concept with their famous crawfish version. These savory treats combine two New Orleans favorites into one irresistible package.
Chef Justin Devillier’s creation features a light, airy dough stuffed with crawfish and served with a zesty malt vinegar aioli. The contrast between the crisp exterior and the tender crawfish filling has made these beignets a standout menu item that regulars can’t stop ordering. Even po’boy purists find themselves converted after one bite!
6. The Vintage: Coffee Shop Beignets With A Twist
The Vintage on Magazine Street has perfected something special – beignet fingers! Instead of the traditional square shape, these long, thin beignets are perfect for dipping into your coffee or hot chocolate.
The texture hits that sweet spot between crispy and fluffy, with just the right amount of powdered sugar. What makes The Vintage unique is their rotating selection of dipping sauces – from classic chocolate to seasonal options like praline or bananas foster.
7. Loretta’s Authentic Pralinés: Praline-Stuffed Beignet Heaven
Loretta’s in the French Market created something revolutionary: the praline-filled beignet. This genius combination stuffs New Orleans’ famous praline candy inside a fresh, hot beignet for an explosion of flavors.
The crispy exterior gives way to a soft interior hiding a melty praline center. The contrast between the warm dough and the sweet, nutty filling creates a truly memorable treat. Owner Loretta Harrison has perfected this creation over decades, earning her spot as a must-visit destination for anyone with a sweet tooth exploring the French Quarter.
8. Stuph’d Beignets & Burgers: Savory Stuffed Sensations
True to its name, Stuph’d specializes in beignets filled with savory ingredients that transform them from dessert to meal. Their crawfish, shrimp, and crabmeat stuffed varieties have developed a cult following among locals.
Each beignet puffs up beautifully during frying, creating a pocket that holds generous portions of seafood filling. The accompanying sauces – from spicy remoulade to sweet chili – complement these savory pastries perfectly. Despite also serving excellent burgers, it’s the stuffed beignets that keep customers coming back repeatedly.
9. SoBou: Butterscotch Pudding Beignets For Grown-Ups
SoBou takes beignets into sophisticated territory with their butterscotch pudding-filled version, served with a Pappy Van Winkle bourbon sauce. These elegant treats appear on their dessert menu and pair wonderfully with their craft cocktails.
The contrast between the warm, crisp exterior and the cool, creamy butterscotch filling creates a memorable dessert experience. Chef Juan Carlos Gonzalez developed these unique beignets to showcase how traditional New Orleans foods can be elevated with modern techniques. The bourbon sauce adds a grown-up twist to this childhood favorite.
10. Miss River at Four Seasons Hotel: Honey-Butter Beignets
Celebrity chef Alon Shaya brings his magic touch to beignets at Miss River in the Four Seasons Hotel. His honey-butter beignets arrive at the table hot, with a pot of honey-infused butter for drizzling or dipping.
The beignets themselves have a more bread-like texture than the traditional version, with a satisfying chew that perfectly complements the sweet honey butter. The upscale presentation in a cast-iron serving dish makes this a standout dessert experience. Many visitors admit they book a table just to try these famous sweet treats!
11. Creo: Creative Beignet Variations In Mid-City
This Mid-City gem offers both traditional and innovative beignets that locals line up for on weekend mornings. Their menu rotates seasonally, featuring creative options like bananas foster beignets or savory breakfast versions stuffed with eggs and bacon.
The dough itself has a distinctive lightness achieved through a 24-hour fermentation process. Owner James Reeves developed his recipe through years of experimentation, resulting in beignets with an almost brioche-like quality. The neighborhood location away from tourist areas makes this a true local favorite for authentic New Orleans flavors.
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