Cafe Du Monde

Cafe Du Monde is the most iconic food experience in New Orleans and possibly the most famous cafe in America. Operating continuously since 1862, the original French Quarter location serves one thing exceptionally well: beignets.

Beignets are square French doughnuts, fried until golden and puffed, then buried under a mountain of powdered sugar. They arrive at your table three to an order ($4), hot from the fryer, with so much powdered sugar that breathing near them creates a white cloud. They are simultaneously crispy on the outside, soft and airy inside, and impossibly sweet from the sugar coating.

The menu is famously limited: beignets, cafe au lait (half chicory coffee, half hot milk), hot chocolate, orange juice, milk, and iced coffee. The simplicity is deliberate and part of the charm. A family of four eats for under $20.

The original location occupies an open-air space under green-and-white striped awnings at the edge of the French Quarter, adjacent to Jackson Square and the Mississippi River levee. Street musicians play jazz from the sidewalk. Horse-drawn carriages pass on Decatur Street.

Practical considerations: the original location is cash only (ATM available inside). Lines during mid-morning and afternoon can stretch 30-45 minutes, though they move quickly. The best strategy is visiting early (7-8 AM) or late (after 9 PM). The takeout window has no wait.

The City Park location serves the same beignets with significantly shorter waits and accepts credit cards. It lacks the French Quarter atmosphere but delivers the same product.