There is plenty to explore by foot in New Orleans, which means you’ll have plenty of room for NOLA Beignets. Here’s my recommendations. 

Doughnuts: A Sweet Track to My Heart

Before I could form a full sentence, I was tagging along with my dad to the local doughnut shop. In the small, midwestern town where I was born, the doughnut shop was the center of activity. It was a place to meet for the latest farming news, perhaps some gossip, a styrofoam cup of coffee or two, and obviously, a sweet treat.

In later years, my sisters used to bring me day-old doughnuts from their grocery-store shifts. A classic ring doughnut with chocolate glaze was my love language. I cringe a little bit thinking about just how many doughnuts they brought me, but seemingly, my backyard activities balanced the excess sugar.

All this is to say that doughnuts hold a sweet spot in my heart (pun intended), and I’m always on the lookout for doughnut spots when traveling, and New Orleans had a lot to offer on this front. Fortunately, New Orleans also has a lot of neighborhoods to explore by foot, so hopefully, the walking balanced our very zealous doughnut sampling.

NOLA Beignets: Cafe Du Monde (Because You Have To)

What the cheesesteak is to Philly, and the french-fry sandwich is to Pittsburgh, the Cafe du Monde experience is to New Orleans. It’s the classic first stop. In the words of a realtor/foodie we met, “Get the Cafe du Monde beignets because you have to, but THEN…” (More on that enthusiastic recommendation below.)

For recommendations beyond beignets, check out my post, A Local’s Guide to New Orleans.

NOLA Beignets & Doughnuts: District Donuts

This is the type of doughnut place that fits perfectly into my self-described “Portlandia diet.” There’s a lot of intention behind the fry. They even roast their own coffee, so the coffee and doughnut pairing is as good as it gets. In their own words, District says,

“We do everything from scratch, down to our sprinkles! We use real food made with integrity; we don’t use pre-made mixes or artificial flavors and we use all-natural ingredients wherever possible.  We are 100% scratch and 100% fresh. We offer six rotating donuts every week, our catalog is now well over 100 options. In addition to these creative options, you can always count on us to have our staples: glazed, cinnamon sugar, and chocolate glazed.  These will never change.”

Please, someone, find me that stacked doughnut mug to add to my collection. Thanks!

Now, for that really enthusiastic, very well deserved NOLA beignet recommendation…

NOLA Beignets & Doughnuts: The Vintage

This place… be still my heart…was…BEAUTIFUL!

In their own words,

We are serious about coffee but way more serious about service. A hot beignet is a pillow of goodness, and who doesn’t love their pillow? We love a great glass of champagne… or two… or a bottle… but the friends we share it with will always outlast the bubbles. We savor on wine and sour on whining. A bite is really all you need unless you have another three or four, but that’s called dinner.

That button is the best, right? I want this button in my home, but I also want it to function.

The Vintage’s Beignet Flight

Pistachio + S’mores + Raspberry = A Powdered-Sugar Snow Storm

 

There ya have it! Stay tuned for my ice cream recommendations because somehow, we still had room for ice cream.