Best Bakery and Cake Shops in Garden District

"Parkway has been a master of pivots throughout the pandemic, from quickly establishing an efficient curbside service model to adding tenting to let seating spill outside. This patio isn’t the most open-air of the bunch — it’s more of an extension of the restaurant — but it is one of the most protected from the elements; no need to fear a storm spoiling your po’ boys and gumbo here."

"Parkway Bakery & Tavern, a spot to score sandwiches, seafood and desserts in Bayou St. John, is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 1,731 Yelp reviews. Head over to 538 Hagan Ave. to see for yourself."

"Longtime (since 1911) neighborhood hangout with a patio known for classic-style po' boys. Open for lunch and dinnerDress code: CasualPhone: +1 504-482-3047"

"Breakfast service done well is a cheerful, life-affirming start to the day, and Willa Jean does it with aplomb. Coffees (New Orleans is a great coffee city) are topped, even water is delivered with gusto. There's a range of decadence happening across the main food menu."

"With an elegant approach to classic Southern food, Willa Jean takes that same “elegant fusion” approach to their breakfast food, which includes a griddled banana bread, an artichok..."

"Willa Jean, a charming bakery and café in the CBD, is the brainchild of award-winning pastry chef and proprietor Kelly Fields. Her celebrated baked goods feature on breakfast, lunc..."

"The fact that Gracious now has three locations plus a cafe in NOCHI, the fancy new culinary school, speaks for itself. Word of this upbeat, modern, and light-filled breakfast and lunch spot from pastry chef Megan Forman quickly spread and with good reason: Gracious serves up satisfying sandwiches on homemade bread that won’t leave one in a food coma. The chicken tarragon and meatloaf options are good bets."

"What you're getting: A Pretzel Croissant Pastries, pastries, and more pastries are what you’ll find at Gracious, as well as a load of sandwiches and elegant desserts. Bonus points for its creative approach to baking, which brings with it the Hazelnut “Kermit” Cruffin, as well as Pretzel Croissants."

"Butternut Squash Sandwich, Gracious Bakery & Cafe|© Bart Everson/Flickr. Gracious Bakery is foremost a bakery dedicated to using locally sourced ingredients to produce the most delicious breads and sweets. They specialize in bread, and this includes their massive list of sandwiches."

"Dorgenois Street, Dwight Henry’s Buttermilk Drop Bakery and Cafe is a place where you can get warm, melt-in-your-mouth glazed donuts, golden brown apple fritters the size of baseball gloves, and his award-winning fried buttermilk drops with a delicious sugar glaze. Crunchy on the outside and cake-like in the center, buttermilk drops are a unique local favorite. Dwight’s bakery sells them every day beginning at 6 a.m."

"The eponymous buttermilk drop is a Southern staple and lacks the doughnut's usual hole in the middle. It's dense and delish. The Buttermilk Drop in the Seventh Ward makes a great one, of course, and also takes it a step further in creating the red velvet buttermilk drop (pictured)."

"I've been going to the buttermilk drop since my son was in kindergarten, now he has graduated from high school. Every Friday I'll stop in at hi..."

"Bagels can make just about anything better, and Laurel Street is offering curbside takeout and delivery of its sweets and bagels. Don’t forget to get a tub of their special cream cheese, like the date and honey or olive pimento, while you’re at it. Cost: Bagels are $1.75 each or $18 for a dozen; spreads are $1.75 for a single serving or $4 for a half-pint; order online through Seamless or Grubhub"

"This bakery and cafe has found a sweet spot (sorry!) in a pocket of Broad (at one time, it was actually on Laurel Street) that for years was in desperate need of one. Step inside sunny and hip Laurel Street Bakery, and it’s hard not to feel an uptick in good vibes. More than anything, it’s bagels that rule the day with a solid selection including spreads, all made in-house."

"This bakery started out on Laurel St Uptown, but moved to S. Broad St. Once you get past that confusion, get down to business with house-made bagels and a schmear, or as part of a breakfast sandwich. Laurel’s sandwiches are made with house-baked bread, and sweets like turnovers, coffee cake, muffins, and croissants are not to be missed."

"It’s not surprising that many bakeries draw from European influences; however Maple Street Patisserie’s charming master baker and pastry chef Ziggy Chichowski, is, in fact, European. The dedication to craft and traditional Viennese and French goods are evident in Maple Street’s beautifully rendered cakes, pastries, and repertoire of classic breads. A low key but warm spot to grab and cup of coffee and a breakfast treat (sausage biscuits are divine) or a sandwich on house-baked bread."

"European baker extraordinaire Ziggy Cichowski is the mastermind behind this small bakery on Maple Street, cranking out some of the best baked goods in the city. The chocolate chip cookies are amazing, as are the tarts, éclairs, and Napoleons. But the best in show are the glazed donut twists: soft, yeasty donuts fried golden brown and covered in a decadent, sugary glaze."

"A little more than a year old, Wishing Town Bakery Cafe took over the former Morning Call on Severn Avenue, neighbors to the complimentary Sharetea Nola. While also a bakery, Guangzhou-born couple Vivi and Kevin Zheng version of Chinese specialties are some of the best in town. An extensive array of dim sum and cold noodle salads round out a menu of beautiful cakes and pastries, perfect for a celebration."

"If you need to take a break in between exploring some of the historic architecture in Algiers Point, this unique community-centered playground is perfect for kids between two to five years old. A post shared by Sarah Kelly Adams (@iwearmyheartonmyback) on Nov 9, 2016 at 8:17am PST"

"The Mississippi River is a very prominent part of New Orleans, so you have to get a picture along its banks. My favorite spot is just south of Jackson Square where you can get a nice shot of the Crescent City Connection Bridge in the background. This shot below was late in the day we arrived after a long flight."

"Until 2014, the banks of the Mississippi River bordering the city's downtown Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods were essentially unwalkable. The city invested in a large renovation program that's transformed unsightly, post-industrial wasteland into a lovely riverside park. Crescent Park is a mile-and-a-half long and feels very much like a local spot; you're unlikely to find Mardi Gras-beaded tourists here."

"Finally, head to Crescent Park for a beautiful sunset view of the city, and after the sun goes down venture over to Frenchmen Street for some live jazz and blues. While tourists tend to visit Bourbon Street, you’ll see more locals on Frenchmen. For tonight’s live music, check out this listing by the local radio station."

"Crescent Park is one of the city’s newest parks, but its landscape design is steeped in New Orleans’ past. This riverfront stretch of green space memorializes the robust history of New Orleans’ wharves. Plant-lined paths and breathtaking views run alongside the grand remnants of the industrial-age."

"Part of New Orleans’s summer of major hotel openings, Virgin Hotels New Orleans opened in August 2021, with an exciting restaurant to boot — Alex Harrell, who’s previously led the kitchens at Sylvian, Angeline, and the Elysian Bar, runs the food program for the hotel and its restaurant, Commons Club. The Bar at Commons Club is equally appealling — cocktails include the Dragon Smoke with Montelobos Mezcal Joven, Cinzano 1757 Rosso, rosemary-infused Campari, and Benedictine; and a Saturn’s Son: Termana Blanco, Grand Marnier, Cabernet Sauvignon, and lime."

"A Black Jack chicken club sandwich features a blackened chicken breast topped with bacon, pepper Jack cheese and fried onion rings."

"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. Mid-City Market is an urban infill shopping center located at the northwest corner of North Carrollton Avenue and Bienville Street. This market has great things to offer, from groceries to trendy clothes."

"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. If you’re a self-confessed shopaholic, a trip to McArthur Shopping Center on MacArthur Blvd is something you shouldn’t miss. This shopping destination seems to have everything: bakeries, restaurants, clothing stores, and salons."

"We live in an unapologetically weird city, and places like Tresor, devoted to showcasing the best of New Orleans contemporary art, have always been idiosyncratic outposts against creeping normality. While it’s hard to pin down any one kind of art at this spot, you can always expect something, well, unexpected. Eclectic at the least – we’ve seen darkly decorated baby dolls, folk art-style wall panels, fantastical mixed media sculptures, graphic novelesque illustrations and work that feels graffiti-ish in origin."