Beignets and Beginnings

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If there's one flavor that defines the French Quarter, it's the powdered sugar of a fresh beignet. Since 1862, Café du Monde has been a cornerstone of New Orleans tradition. It started as a simple coffee stand in the French Market, founded by Fred Koeniger.

For over a century and a half, it's served up the same core offerings: café au lait with chicory and those iconic beignets, which are now the official state doughnut of Louisiana. Whether it's a rainy morning or a humid afternoon on Decatur Street, the open-air shop remains a landmark where locals and visitors alike get dusted in white sugar. It's a place that almost never closes—only on Christmas Day and the occasional hurricane—making it a permanent fixture in the city's culinary rhythm.

Updated June 2026