Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in St. Charles Parish

"For a truly unique dining experience in a wonderfully lush French Quarter courtyard, the ever-romantic Cafe Amelie offers an ideal setting for dinner or a leisurely weekend brunch. The courtyard is currently open to reserve for brunch Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 a.m."

"Visit one of the Quarter’s most gorgeous courtyards at Cafe Amelie. Their lush garden is perfect for brunch, lunch, or dinner, and there’s some awesome cocktails on offer. You won’t regret ordering a Bloody Mary (or two)!"

"Exceptional food, drinks, and value in a gorgeous courtyard setting!. Ambience is just wonderful. Very romantic with the string lights and…”more"

"Though it's sometimes thought of as "that other beignet place," Cafe Beignet, with two French Quarter locations, actually offers an excellent menu of breakfast items, sandwiches, and New Orleans specialties like gumbo and jambalaya. And the beignets aren't bad, either!. Everything on the menu is usually under $10, and though the line to order at the counter can be long, it moves very quickly and is worth the wait.​"

"New Orleans’ Café provides excellent coffee and beignets all day long. Also on their menu are New Orleans Cajun specialties and fried seafood for when you want something more than breakfast. MoreCallReserveWebsiteCoupon"

"311 Bourbon St., (504) 525-2611; 334 Royal St., (504) 524-5530; Shops at Jax Brewery, 600 Decatur St.; www.cafebeignet.com. An andouille omelet includes white cheddar cheese and is served with grits and French bread."

"Innovative, vegan-friendly fare with tropical influences in a cozy spot with an open kitchen. Open for lunch and dinnerPhone: +1 504-875-4132"

"Just a short walk away (essentially on the opposite side of Jackson Square as the St. Louis Cathedral) sits the famous Cafe du Monde, home to French-style beignets (fried doughnuts topped with a literal inch of powdered sugar) and a cafe au lait. The menu is very small–beignets are the only food that they serve, though there are a few other drinks on the menu–and very reasonably priced, with a plate of three beignets and a drink coming out to $6.00 USD even (cash only, though there’s an ATM hidden in a tourism office across the street) as of the time of writing."

"Café du Monde is the most famous place to get ahold of some deep-fried sugary goodness, but the real MVP is actually Café Beignet. I know I’m likely going to get hate comments for this, but my friend and I both did side by side taste tests and agreed that Café Beignet’s version is lighter, fluffier and overall yummier."

"(Don’t worry you’ll be going to Cafe du Monde during your 3 days in New Orleans too!) Stand in line at Cafe Beignet and order your powdered sugary french donut goodness with a coffee. The local choice is always getting a cafe au lait, but we both prefer our coffee black."

"With three locations, Executive Pastry Chef Megan Forman has put together a wonderful holiday menu for us this year that satisfies the need for sweet and savory. Sweet options include cakes, chocolate bark, truffles, and more. The dessert that has everyone talking about Willa Jean, and yes, it’s okay to lick the beater: Cookies and Milk — ooey-gooey barely set and still warm chocolate chip cookies, cookie dough batter, and vanilla-infused milk."

"Gracious bakes all the breads for its delicious sandwiches, along with killer breakfast pastries, traditional French confections, and original creations like the hazelnut “Kermit” cruffin (we like a good pun almost as much as sweets) and the pretzel croissant. Swing by for brunch and try the biscuit breakfast sandwiches, bagels, and twice-baked French toast. And for lunch, the meatloaf sandwich is dangerously habit-forming."

"The pastry cases at Gracious never disappoint, and neither do their donuts. When you make a stop here, pick from options like blueberry glazed, mango cream-filled with coconut or honey cornmeal—then grab a couple of baguettes to make sandwiches for later."

"Stop for breakfast or lunch at the Pagoda Cafe, perfect for any coffee stop in the seventh ward. The breakfast and lunch meals are served Tuesday through Friday, though the shop is closed on Mondays. Try one of their breakfast tacos made refried beans, roasted potatoes, egg & cheese on a flour tortilla with “Villa Arcos” sauce."

"An Indian banh mi is served with mint coconut chutney on Dong Phoung French bread with roasted beets, pickled carrots, cucumbers and greens and comes with bacon, hard-boiled egg or fried lemon grass tofu."

"Pontchartrain Hotel, 2031 St. Charles Ave., (504) 323-1455; www.silverwhistlecafe.com. A pimiento cheese omelet is served with hash browns and hollandaise."

"On the block of Plum and Burdette Street in Uptown New Orleans sits Plum Street Snowballs, a colorful neighborhood stand first established in 1945. Serving over 50+ sno-balls from March through October, this vintage spot, which represents NOLA’s authentic culture, serves its house-made creations with real snow made from a generations-old patented ice machine, fruit-flavored syrups and delicious condensed milk. 1300 Burdette St, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, +1 (504) 866-7996"

"The shaved ice here is beloved for its smooth, soft texture (not an ice chunk in sight), and comes in a miles-long list of flavors, including options like plum (of course), strawberry, piña colada, mocha, and passionfruit. Remember to bring some bills, as this spot is cash-only. And put your phone away when you approach the counter (or else)."

"Before the Civil War, New Orleans was home to the largest and wealthiest population of free people of color (abbreviated to F.P.C. by the museum) in the South. To understand their journey, heritage, and achievements, schedule an hour-long tour of Treme’s Le Musée de F.P.C.—the only museum of its kind in the United States. The detailed lesson, both profoundly sobering and inspirational, begins with the founding of New Orleans in 1718 and continues to the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court decision, a case that started in New Orleans and that resulted in national segregation."

"Free People of Color (f.p.c.) is the term used to describe Blacks who were born free or freed before the Civil War. The presence of f.p.c. in New Orleans is recorded back to 1722 and New Orleans was home to one of the largest populations of f.p.c. Le Musée de f.p.c. honors those artists, artisans, entrepreneurs, educators, physicians, journalists, business owners and professionals who made New Orleans what it is today. This beautiful house displays artwork and history of f.p.c. in New Orleans and honors the contributions they made to the City."

"After voodoo (or vodou) came to New Orleans in the 1700s—first via West African slaves, then with Haitians after the Haitian Revolution—it entwined with the city’s identity. Which is why, since the 1970s, a French Quarter visit has been deemed incomplete without a stop at the tiny Historic Voodoo Museum. If it’s lore you seek, you’ll find it here."

"A must for lovers of the city and for history buffs, the Historic New Orleans Collection connects the dots in more than three centuries of New Orleans lore. A museum, research center and publisher, the collection was founded in 1966 to preserve the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South. Located in a historic complex of French Quarter buildings, the Historic New Orleans Collection also includes an impressive staffed research center â€" for doing some checking up on famous residents like voodoo queen Marie Laveau, should you get the urge. The research archives are especially focused on documents relating to the Battle of New Orleans and the War of 1812 in the South, including rare books, maps and plans that collectively tell the story of one of the greatest military upsets of all time. You can also tour the historic Williams home, which is full of gorgeous Louisiana antiques and a collection of Chinese porcelains."

"It’s also an excellent place to people watch and where a number of New Orleans’ historical landmarks like The St Louis Cathedral, The Cabildo, and The Presbytère are located (with Preservation Hall and The Historic New Orleans Collection nearby). Tons of artists, musicians, and fortune tellers hang out in Jackson Square and in the spirit of disclosure, I spent most of my time here people-watching and eating beignets. However, if you want to be a little more cultured than I was, visit one or several of the above-mentioned landmarks for even more NOLA history."

"Commemorating 300 years of New Orleans, the Historic New Orleans Collection houses multiple exhibits including two historic homes (from 1792 and 1890), a bookstore, and an art gallery. The THNOC includes 10 historic buildings that cover two campuses in The Quarter. Four exhibition spaces present permanent and rotating exhibitions showcasing New Orleans history and art."

"You can still feel the glamour that must have accompanied the opening of Saenger Theatre in 1927. Although the capacity has been cut from 4,000 to 2,600, the grand venue is still one of the biggest theaters in town, with a performance hall modeled on an Italian baroque courtyard and overhead lighting that resembles a starry constellation. The space hosts big events that still need a more intimate setting than a sports arena: touring Broadway shows, big-name comedians, and the occasional concert."

"With decorative moldings and ornate archways, the interior of the Saenger Theatre replicates that of a grand Italian courtyard, complete with a starry sky ceiling. Having been devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the theatre underwent a huge restoration project and reopened in 2013 to offer a bustling schedule of live music, lectures, comedy, and more."

"The historic Saenger Theatre in New Orleans is one of the Gulf Coast’s premier live entertainment venues. Heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina, the ‘Grand Dame of the South’ reopened its doors in September 2013 after an extensive restoration. The 1927 design lives on in this iconic live performance venue."

"Named for the beloved New Orleanean gospel singer, the jewel of Armstrong Park was decimated in Katrina and subsequently refurbished into a state-of-the-art facility. The inaugural performance of Giuseppe Verdi's Messa di Requiem established a roster a of stellar lineups, ranging from Broadway shows and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra to the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Orleans Ballet Association. Catch programmes such as Shostakovich, La Bohème and comedian Aziz Ansari this spring."

"The Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts is a theater located in Louis Armstrong Park and named after gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who was born in New Orleans. It originally opened in 1973 as the New Orleans Theater of the Performing Arts and then was renamed after Jackson in 1993. The theater was badly damaged during Hurricane Katrina but reopened in January 2009."

"Originally known as the 501 Club, this legendary music venue was renamed Tipitina’s in 1977 to honor New Orleans’ pianist and blues singer Professor Longhair. Nationally touring and local musicians play regularly at this revered music venue, and you can see some of these musical greats featured on the walk of fame just outside the venue. If you’re interested in learning about the history of Tipitina’s, you can book a behind-the-scenes tour of the venue."

"This renowned Uptown New Orleans establishment is home to some of the coolest shows you can find around. Often voted one of the best big rooms in the country they are typically only open Thursday- Saturday nights they draw some big name acts. Tip’s is know to sell out often, so check out their website for tickets before making your way Uptown."

"Tipitina’s, otherwise known as Tip’s, is a music venue nestled right at the corner of Napoleon Avenue and Tchoupitoulas Street in Uptown New Orleans."