New Orleans Coffee: 6 Must-Try Drinks and Famous Cafés

The best New Orleans coffee to try is chicory coffee or café au lait, especially with fresh beignets. Café du Monde and Café Beignet are two of the city’s best-known spots for both. If you’re visiting the French Quarter, you can easily fit them into a morning walk.

But what if you don’t like strong coffee? Or you’d rather skip the busy tourist spots? There are other places worth trying, too. At Tastebud Tours, we take visitors through the French Quarter to try local food and learn about the city. Here’s what to order, where to go, and what makes each stop worth your time.

What Makes New Orleans Coffee Different?

It’s chicory, a roasted root mixed with ground coffee. It gives the drink a dark, earthy taste that you won’t get from regular coffee alone. The habit came from France, where people used chicory when coffee was scarce or expensive. It eventually became a tradition in New Orleans. You’ll still find it on menus across the French Quarter.

Not sure where to start? Here’s a quick guide.

1. Try Traditional New Orleans Chicory Coffee

Never had chicory coffee? It tastes a little different from your usual cup. The roasted chicory gives it a deeper, earthy flavor. Some people love it straight away. Others prefer adding milk. Chicory itself doesn’t contain caffeine. But when it’s blended with regular coffee, the drink still has caffeine. So don’t assume it’s decaf.

You can try traditional coffee and chicory at Café du Monde or Café Beignet. If you usually drink black coffee, order it without milk first. That way, you’ll get a better idea of what chicory tastes like.

2. Order a Classic Café au Lait

If strong black coffee isn’t your thing, try café au lait. It’s made with brewed coffee and hot milk. In New Orleans, the traditional version often uses coffee blended with chicory. The milk makes the drink smoother and less bitter. You still taste the coffee, but it’s not as sharp. It’s a good first choice if you’re curious about chicory. And don’t confuse it with a latte. A latte is made with espresso and steamed milk. Traditional café au lait uses brewed coffee and hot milk.

What should you eat with it? Beignets. They’re warm pieces of fried dough covered in powdered sugar. Dip one into your coffee if you like. Just don’t expect to finish the plate without getting sugar on your clothes.

3. Visit Café du Monde Near Jackson Square

Café du Monde has been serving coffee in the French Market since 1862. The original café sits at 800 Decatur Street, just a short walk from Jackson Square. It’s one of the most famous places to try New Orleans coffee. The menu is small, and that’s part of its appeal. People come for coffee, chicory café au lait, and beignets. If you’re already visiting Jackson Square, stop here before walking through the French Market. You don’t need to plan a separate trip across town.

A few things to know:

• Order: Café au lait and a plate of three beignets.
• Location: 800 Decatur Street, near Jackson Square.
• Payment: The original French Market location is cash-only.
• Reservations: Not accepted.

The café can get busy, especially during peak travel times. If you’re short on time, check the line before deciding to wait. You can also order your coffee and beignets to go.

4. Stop at Café Beignet on Royal Street

Café Beignet is another well-known stop for coffee and beignets. Its Royal Street location is at 334 Royal Street, close to the antique shops, galleries, and historic buildings. Unlike Café du Monde, Café Beignet has a larger food menu. You can order breakfast, sandwiches, or something sweet with your coffee. That’s handy if you’re traveling with someone who wants a proper meal.

The café also serves traditional chicory coffee and café au lait. So you can try the local coffee without having to visit two places. If you’re exploring Bourbon Street, there’s another Café Beignet at 311 Bourbon Street. That location also features live jazz.

Which café should you choose?

• Café du Monde: Go for the famous French Market setting and simple coffee-and-beignet menu.
• Café Beignet: Go if you’d like more food choices or you’re already walking along Royal Street.
• Can’t decide? Read our Café Beignet vs. Café du Monde guide.

Café Beignet is also featured on our Flavors of the French Quarter food tour. It’s a good way to learn about the city’s food traditions while exploring the neighborhood with a guide. Check the current tour details for the stops and tastings included.

5. Cool Down With an Iced Café au Lait

Walking around New Orleans in summer? You may want something cold by the time you reach your next café. An iced café au lait is a good choice. It has the familiar taste of coffee and chicory with milk, but it’s served cold. You get the local coffee flavor without holding a hot cup in the heat.

Café du Monde serves iced café au lait, and Café Beignet has cold coffee options as well. If you’re trying chicory for the first time, a hot café au lait may give you a better sense of its roasted taste. But on a warm afternoon, the iced version can be much more appealing.

6. Try Freshly Roasted Coffee at French Truck Coffee

Not every good coffee shop in New Orleans serves traditional chicory coffee. If you prefer espresso or freshly roasted beans, French Truck Coffee is worth a visit. It’s a local coffee roaster with several locations around New Orleans. You’ll find espresso drinks, brewed coffee, and beans you can take home.

This is a different experience from Café du Monde. Instead of visiting a historic coffee stand for beignets, you’re stopping at a modern café where the coffee itself is the main focus. If you’ve already tried chicory coffee, French Truck gives you something else to compare it with. And if you don’t enjoy chicory, you can still find a good cup of coffee in the city.

French Truck is an independent café recommendation, not a listed stop on Tastebud Tours’ walking food tours.

Explore More Than Coffee on a New Orleans Food Tour

Coffee and beignets are a good start, but there’s much more to eat in the French Quarter. You might want to try gumbo, a shrimp po-boy, or a muffuletta while you’re here. The hard part is deciding where to go, especially if you only have a day or two.

At Tastebud Tours, our guides take you through the French Quarter, share local history, and introduce you to some of the city’s best-known foods. Our Flavors of the French Quarter tour lasts about three hours, with food tastings included in the ticket price. Café Beignet is among the listed possible stops, though the exact route can vary. 

If you’re mainly interested in coffee, visiting the cafés on your own makes sense. But if you want to try several New Orleans dishes without planning every stop, a walking food tour is worth considering. Coffee is a fine way to start your day here. Why not see what else New Orleans has on the menu?

FAQs About New Orleans Coffee

What is the most famous coffee in New Orleans?

Coffee with chicory is the city’s best-known traditional style. It’s often served as café au lait with hot milk. Café du Monde and Café Beignet are two popular places to try it.

Why do people in New Orleans put chicory in coffee?

The tradition has roots in France, where chicory was added to coffee when supplies were limited or expensive. Over time, the blend became part of New Orleans food culture. People still drink it for its rich, earthy taste.

Is New Orleans coffee stronger than regular coffee?

Not always. Chicory gives coffee a dark, roasted flavor, but that doesn’t mean it has more caffeine. The caffeine level depends on the coffee blend and how it’s brewed.

Where can I find the best New Orleans coffee in the French Quarter?

Try Café du Monde for traditional café au lait and beignets near Jackson Square. Café Beignet is another good choice, especially if you’d like breakfast or more food options. Both are easy to visit while exploring the French Quarter.

Is a New Orleans food walking tour worth booking?

Yes, if you want to try several local dishes and learn about the French Quarter along the way. Tastebud Tours offers guided walking food tours with food tastings included. They’re broader food experiences rather than coffee-only tours.