Best French Bakery in French Quarter

"While there’s only one dish available at this restaurant, it’s a famous one. Cafe du Monde’s beignets are a beloved local treat, an affordable indulgence available at any hour. The brand is known around the world, and many a celeb and influencer have posted a powdered sugar-covered selfie."

"Its menu consists of dark roasted Coffee and Chicory, Beignets, White and Chocolate Milk, and fresh squeezed Orange Juice. The coffee is served Black or Au Lait. Au Lait means that it is mixed half and half with hot milk."

"Heralded as serving the best po’ boy in America, Parkway Tavern has been a New Orleans cheap eats institution for over 100 years. Must-try po’ boys include wild caught Louisiana shrimp, fried to crispy perfection; and surf and turf, layering shrimp, slow-cooked roast beef and gravy. For between $12 and $15, you have a feast for two."

"Parkway has been around for over a century, since 1911 to be exact. Legend has it that the name poor boy, also referred to as po’ boy, comes from the Great Depression era when a sandwich was created to be given free of charge to transit strikers. Folks have been clamoring for Parkway’s poor boys ever since."

"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."

"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."

"I’ve only been to Cafe Du Monde, but that Willa Jean warm chocolate chip cookie looks right up my alley!. I would love to do a swamp tour and a cemetery tour!. This is a very well-done New Orleans guide!"

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

"After venturing out into the Central Business District, I had a hard time focusing at Pulp and Grind. With its limited seating options, I was lucky enough to cop a bar stool and order myself and iced vanilla latte and a cheddar, ham, and sriracha bagel bomb. Even though the food and drinks were unreal (not to mention, they have a huge fridge stocked with fresh and energizing juices), it was a little too loud and crammed for my liking."

"A solid spot for Cajun and southern dishes, Eat serves chef Jarred Zeringue’s take on hogs head cheese with andouille chips, crawfish pie, gumbo, blackened catfish, deviled eggs, and barbecue shrimp. Open for lunch and dinner most weekdays, with brunch served on Saturdays and Sundays."

"Smoked chicken salad is made with spring greens, boiled egg, avocado, Wayne Jacob’s Smokehouse bacon, blue cheese and blue cheese dressing. Reservations recommended. Dinner Tue.-Sat., brunch Fri-Sun."

"At this Uptown neighborhood bakery, you can get a taste of king cake year-round. Their light, fluffy, and sweet cake is offered with a variety of fillings and doused with purple, green, and gold sugar."

"This 250-square foot multi-roaster operation on St. Peter Street, just behind the cathedral, brings the revolution to the heart of the still largely traditionalist French Quarter. (This one's a godsend for visitors sleeping one off in the Quarter's many hotels.) Practically a veteran on the scene now, having opened in 2013, they do a terrific toddy cold brew for summer days and a potent Cuban for those times you can't wake up fast enough."

"This tiny joint with a sleek modern vibe and pour-over bar is now delivering coffee and breakfast, and get this, coffee and breakfast sandwich subscriptions are available. Order ahead of time for delivery the next morning, available between 8 and 11 a.m. Tuesday or Thursday, and Sunday between 7 and 9 a.m."

"Spitfire opened in 2013 as one of the first specialty coffee shops in New Orleans. With friendly staff and delicious coffee beans, Spitfire is a great contender when trying to find the perfect cup of Joe for you in NOLA."

"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. Are you looking for a mall with fewer crowds?. Cypress Plaza Shopping Center is relatively smaller and only houses a few shops, making the shopping experience here more relaxed."

"This soft serve chain started five years ago in Sydney, with franchises now in Texas, Virginia and here in New Orleans, the second U.S. location. Aqua S dishes Instagrammable soft serve in flavors like cappuccino, Arnold Palmer, and cotton candy that look and taste just like how they sound. This location is owned by sisters Loan Le and Yen Truong, who fell in love with the place in Houston."

"This outpost of the Australian brand is famed for its creamy, bright-blue, sea-salt soft serve and Instagramable décor begging for selfies. With a library of more than 100 flavors, only a few are offered at a time, and they change every two weeks. A recent favorite—pancake swirled with sea salt—was cool, salty-sweet hominess."

"Even if you’re not planning a trip out to the Chalmette Battlefield for a morning of history, you’d do yourself a service by planning a stop on the way for a morning pick-me-up at Gerald’s, an old-school bakery that sells new school donuts. Their melt-in-your-mouth sweet dough is the perfect base for giant apple fritters, classic glazed donuts, cinnamon twists, and even more fanciful options like the ones that come covered in M&Ms."

"While home to some of the best burgers in Greater New Orleans, locals love heading to Gerald’s Donuts for a quality sugar rush any time of day. They’re open 24 hours, so you’re never too far from one of their sweet, sugary treats. They also once took fifth place in the New Orleans King Cake Contest."

"With two locations in St. Bernard Parish — in Arabi and in Chalmette — there's no excuse for not stopping by for a doughnut when out in da’ Parish. Do it any time: Gerald’s is open 24 hours and have a drive-thru window. (The burgers are great, too.)"

"About Pralines: New Orleans isn’t known for many sweets, but we love Pralines (praw-leens). These pecan-filled caramels are melted down and worked over until they almost look like chocolates. They are a refreshing twisting on the standard chocolate pecans found elsewhere in the United States."

"Southern Candymakers specializes in a praline with a less gritty feel (a common peril, given just how much sugar is packed into the candy) and a sweet potato variation that's just killer."

"Smoothie King Center is where you’ll catch many top indoor sporting events and concerts coming through New Orleans. The multi-purpose indoor arena sits adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. It’s also the home of the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans."

"Tours run twice every evening (5pm and 8pm) and include visits to the Lalaurie Mansion (where American Horror Story Coven was filmed), LaFitte’s Blacksmith Shop, and more. Our guide had plenty of creepy tales to share and clearly believed a lot of the ghost stories herself, which made it all the more fun. Our tour group was a little on the larger side, but otherwise, the experience was entertaining."

"Wander down to Governor Nicholls Street to see Lalaurie Mansion, once the home of actor Nicholas Cage, and one of the homes used for American Horror Story Coven. There are also other fancy homes like the New Orleans home of Angelina Jolie down this beautiful street."

"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."

"I learned about Preservation Hall from a couple of locals while enjoying a drink at Jewel of the South, a bar in the French Quarter. Dating back to the 1950s, Preservation Hall has to be the most unassuming jazz club in the world. Every night, a line of hopefuls forms outside this venerable institution for the chance to spend an hour listening to the house band, The Preservation All Stars, perform traditional New Orleans jazz."

"If you’re a fan of live jazz performances, then you must make plans to attend an upcoming show at Preservation Hall. Situated in the heart of the French Quarter on St. Peter Street, the venue presents intimate, acoustic New Orleans Jazz concerts featuring ensembles from a collective of more than 50 local master practitioners."