Cafe Du Monde New Orleans French Quarter

Cafe Du Monde is world-famous for its Beignets and Chicory Coffee in the heart of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Cafe Du Monde

Cafe Du Monde Coffee Stand has been a New Orleans tradition since 1862, when the original French Market Coffee Stand opened.

I honestly feel like a trip to New Orleans is not complete until we have Cafe Du Monde beignets at least once. When we were flying into the New Orleans airport and driving to Gulf Shores, Alabama, to look at houses, we would pick up fresh beignets for our drive.

Yes, you can get beignets at the NOLA Airport now! Just head to Concourse B and grab a bag or three! No judgment for picking up multiple bags!

If you have never had a beignet, I want to offer a few tips that make the experience even better.... Don't breathe in when biting into beignets unless you want to inhale a large amount of powdered sugar and start coughing (I learned this from experience).

My 2nd tip is to wear light-colored clothes! No matter how hard you try to contain the powdered sugar it ends up getting on your clothes. If you wear a dark-colored shirt plan to have powdered sugar smears and spots afterwards.

My 3rd tip is to order three beignets for yourself. I know it sounds nice to share, but trust me, after enjoying your 1st beignet, all thoughts of sharing are going to go out the door.

Beignets are square French-style doughnuts, lavishly covered with powdered sugar.

The texture of beignets is light and fluffy. They are super easy to eat and trust me when I say 3 can disappear quickly.

The Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter is the original location in the historic French Market. It is located in close proximity to Bourbon Street, Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and other French Quarter attractions.

This historic French Market is America's oldest city market.

If you are looking to get an iconic photo of Cafe Du Monde without a ton of people in it we suggest arriving early in the morning or later in the evening.

This is one of the most iconic spots in New Orleans for locals and visitors to enjoy.

There may be a line, it may be crowded, but it is still worth it! The line will move quickly, the beignets will be served hot, and you will get to experience a New Orleans Bucket List destination!

Cafe Du Monde Menu

Menu Highlights - Beignets covered in Powdered Sugar served with 3 per order, Chicory coffee black or coffee au lait(Half hot milk).

They now have iced Cafe Au Lait and frozen Cafe Au Lait along with hot chocolate, coke, diet coke, sprite, orange juice, bottled spring water, and cold milk (white or chocolate).

Kids Menu - beignets, beignets, beignets

Gluten-Free - The beignets are not gluten-free

Vegan - The beignets contain milk.

Vegetarian - The beignets are vegetarian.

Nuts - There are no nuts in the beignets

Kosher - The Beignets and  Café du Monde Beignet Mix are certified Kosher.

Indoor Dining

There is indoor seating with tables and comfortable chairs. This is a great place to relax and get out of the rain.

This area is table service so you will have a server who comes and takes your order.

Outdoor Dining

The patio dining is incredibly popular! It is also table service so you want to grab a seat and a server will come and take your order.

One thing to know is there is an entrance to the outdoor patio on either end of the building. Don't be surprised if you see a long line and then see someone just walk in from the other side of the restaurant.

Take Out Orders

If you are don't want to sit and have table service you can head to the take out order window.

Head to the far side of the cafe and you will see a sign that says Cafe Du Monde only Take-Out Orders.

There may be a line but it moves quickly. If you want to wander around Jackson Square and the French Quarter this is a great easy way to grab a hot beignet and coffee.

Why you will love Cafe Du Monde

• Must try New Orleans Experience
• Beignets are Louisiana's state donut
• Hot beignets are a great late-night snack or any time of the day snack
• Enjoy live music most days from local musicians performing on the sidewalk
• Almost as famous as Mardi Gras in New Orleans
• Popular New Orleans Landmark

Things to know when planning a visit to Cafe Du Monde

CASH ONLY! Make sure to tip your server.

Address - French Market Location - 800 Decatur Street New Orleans, LA 70116

Located across the street from Jackson Square in the French Quarter.

There are a total of ten Cafe Du Monde Coffee Stands in the New Orleans Metropolitan area.

Phone - 504-587-0833

Hours - 7:15 AM-11 PM Sunday-Thursday

7:15 AM-12 AM Friday-Saturday

Please confirm with the restaurant to ensure that the hours have not changed. Many sites and info still list Cafe du Monde as being open 24 hours a day. I asked when I was at the store and they said the hours have changed.

Cafe Du Monde does close on Christmas Day and if an occasional hurricane happens to pass to close to New Orleans.

Accessibility - The restaurant is located on one level. There is accessible parking directly across the street from the French Quarter location on Decatur St.

Plus Size Seating - The seats are pretty comfortable. There is space most days between tables unless a large group tries to crowd together.

Dress Code/Suggestions - Casual. We suggest NOT wearing a black shirt or dark shirt when enjoying beignets. You will end up with powdered sugar on you no matter how hard you try to eat them carefully.

Pets - We suggest ordering at the to-go window and then enjoying your beignets and coffee on one of the benches near the restaurant. This will give you and your pet space to breathe and not be in a crowd.

Parking  - Parking can be interesting. There is street parking including accessible parking right on Decatur Street. A spot being open is going to depend on luck and more luck.

There are Premium Parking lots nearby including:

P407 Lot - 433 St. Peter Street - 109 feet away

P404 Lot - 400 St Peter St. - 784 feet walking distance

P249 Lot - 520 Chartres St - 934 Feet walking distance

P401 Lot - 500 Decatur St - 959 feet walking distance. This parking lot is pretty big and had space during our visit. It is next to the Jackson Brewery and Steamboat Natchez boarding area.

Cafe du Monde Beignet Mix and Coffee

If you want to share your experience at Cafe Du Monde with friends and family you can order beignet mix, coffee, or a gift box online and ship it home!

This is a great way to share a bit of NOLA with your favorite people.

Check out all of the great products online HERE.

Cafe Du Monde History

No trip to New Orleans is complete without a visit to Café du Monde, famous around the world for their beignets and cafés au lait's. What many people may not realize, is that the deep-fried, powdered sugar-coated confections have been a beloved part of New Orleans culture since Café du Monde was established in 1862.

Situated in the historic French Market overlooking the iconic Jackson Square, the open-air Café du Monde has been serving the iconic treats for over 160 years, making it a true culinary institution in the city. The menu at Café du Monde has hardly changed since the American Civil War (1861 -1864).

This world-famous coffee stand, which features on most foodies bucket lists, has a long history that intertwines with the rich cultural fabric of New Orleans, a city known for its vibrant blend of French, Spanish, Creole, and American influences.

The Founding of Café du Monde

Café du Monde, which is French for Cafe of the World or Peoples Cafe, was established in 1862 in the French Market. The French Market is an area that has served as a hub of commerce and culture in New Orleans since 1791. 

The building that originally housed the coffee stand was called The Butchers Hall and was established by the Spanish in 1791. The original building was damaged in 1812 by the worst hurricane to hit New Orleans and Louisiana at the time.

A new building was built in 1813 to replace the damaged Butchers Hall. In 1862, the coffee stand, named Café du Monde, was established at the upriver end of the French Market. Café du Monde was not the only coffee stand that sold coffee and beignets. Another stand, called Morning Call, opened in 1870.

One hundred years after Morning Call was established, the coffee stand moved to New Orleans City Park. Café du Monde eventually opened in more locations, including the location in New Orleans City Park that housed Morning Call, which Café du Monde replaced.

Café du Monde is owned by the Fernandez family. The coffee stand was bought by Hubert Fernandez in 1942 from Fred Koeniger. Today, Café du Monde has nine coffee stands throughout New Orleans, including the original stand in the French Market.

Café du Monde and the Rise of Chicory Coffee

Café du Monde is not only famous for its delectable square-shaped beignets but also for its coffee. The menu offers café au lait, which is a dark roasted coffee blended with chicory, served hot, with warm milk. The history of  Café du Monde's famous café au lait dates back to the American Civil War.

Coffee was introduced to the colonies in the early 1700s when the French settled along the Mississippi River. It was during the American Civil War that cutting coffee with chicory was introduced by the Creole residents of New Orleans. This was in response to a coffee shortage caused by the war.

Chicory is a leafy plant with blue or white flowers and is naturally caffeine free. The root of the chicory plant, known as endive root, is what was used (and still is) to mix with coffee during the coffee shortage. The root is roasted and ground and then blended with the coffee, giving the coffee a slightly bitter taste.  

Café du Monde continued to serve coffee blended with chicory after the coffee shortage ended and regular coffee became widely available again, solidifying the blend as a distinctive and enduring part of New Orleans's unique culinary tradition.

Chicory is less acidic than coffee and has an earthier, nuttier taste. When blended with coffee, it adds a chocolate-like flavor and a slight bitterness to the café au lait served at Café du Monde.

Beignets at Café du Monde: A Sweet Tradition

Beignets, the famous powdered sugar-coated fried dough squares, are the other hallmark of Café du Monde. In 1986, they were also named the official state doughnut of Louisiana.

Beignets were introduced to New Orleans in the 1800s by the Acadians, French settlers who moved from Nova Scotia and settled in New Orleans. However, variations of fried dough can be found throughout history, beginning in Ancient Rome.

The square-shaped doughnut, developed by the French, is usually made with a pâte à choux pastry dough and covered in powdered sugar. They are usually served in a potion of three and are best eaten hot.

Café du Monde: A Cultural Icon in New Orleans

Café du Monde has withstood the test of time, surviving natural disasters, economic downturns, and the evolving tastes of New Orleans residents and visitors. It's simple menu, which has remained virtually unchanged, offers visitors to Café du Monde a taste of New Orleans history.

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