Café Du Monde Riverwalk

Café Du Monde is an absolute New Orleans classic and for good reason! The beignets are warm, fluffy, and covered in the perfect layer of powdered sugar, and they pair perfectly with a cup of rich, smooth chicory coffee. It’s simple, delicious, and exactly what you hope for when visiting this iconic spot. The atmosphere is lively and full of that unique New Orleans energy, with people coming and going at all hours. Whether you’re sitting outside enjoying the music or grabbing a quick bite to go, it’s an experience that never gets old. If you’re in New Orleans, a stop at Café Du Monde is a must it’s a true taste of the city’s charm and tradition.

Café Du Monde is, without a doubt, a quintessential stop for any visitor to New Orleans. Our experience was generally pleasant and certainly provided the necessary atmosphere, making it worthwhile for a first-time visit. However, when focusing purely on the quality of the main offerings, the experience was mixed: • The Coffee: The coffee was unfortunately quite ordinary and unassuming. It lacked the depth of flavor one might expect from a legendary establishment. • The Beignets (Pastry): While hot and generously dusted with powdered sugar, the beignets were simply not a standout culinary item. They were fine, but nothing particularly memorable or special. In summary: This café is an absolute must-see for the New Orleans atmosphere and history, and for that alone, it's worth the visit. It's a classic stop that everyone should experience at least once. Just set your culinary expectations for the beignets and coffee to be more on the average side, and you won't be disappointed.

CASH ONLY! This is a staple of New Orleans that you have to visit each and every time! This was the best 👌 we'd ever had this time around! The taste of the beignets was excellent! We always visit due to the history and nostalgic attraction from seeing it in movies time after time! There's no better anywhere else! It's such an active busy area, close to the river walk, shopping all around, busy intersection, starving artists all around, and live music! Incredible! Don't wear your best clothes, as you may end up with powdered sugar all over you due to a breeze! The tables will be sticky, and the floors will be a bit dirty, but it won't affect the taste of you food! Enjoy, and return again and again!

I took a detour on my cross country road trip, went out of my way to stop in for some beignets swimming in powdered sugar. It was my 4th time to go here over the past decade. I'd almost bet money that the bathroom hasn't been cleaned since my first trip. Beyond nasty. My waiter was one of the few who actually hustled while others sat around (yes, sat) looking at their phones. The beignets were overcooked and almost tough. I only ate about half of one and gave up. If not for a great (overworked) waiter, this would have been a major disappointment. I enjoyed the street musicians. They drowned out my scream when I saw a huge rat just outside the tent area as I was leaving.

*Delayed post from Jan '25. NOTE: This is a cash only business! Delighted to visit this lesser known Cafe Du Monde as the original was super packed when we passed by. While it may not be the original, this place still has a charm and a wonderful view of the river right outside. We ordered the standard 3 piece Beignet with a French Roast Coffee and Hot Chocolate. The beignets weren't as fresh as we hoped, probably because they weren't keeping up with demand as often as the other spot, but it was still delicious. The hot chocolate was super sweet, so if you're not a fan of overly sweet, I'd recommend the coffee instead. The amount of powdered sugar was crazy, so you'll still get your sugar fix.

I ordered 3 beignets but got 3 flat pancakes with powdered sugar on them. They were not cooked fresh, tasted stale and were too tough to chew. I don't understand why you would serve a customer this, when you know they should be hot fluffy and fresh. This was my first stop off the plane and I should have gone to a different place because this one was not it - def not a true representation of a good beignet.

Very fresh, piping hot with lots of sugar. The service was really friendly and they took card. Restaurant was clean and there were plenty of seats.

The beverages were ok. The assortment of pastries seemed fresh. There was live music in the afternoon. There was only one person working the register and serving at the same time. This makes for a long wait including the lengthy socializing. While this interpersonal connection is good hospitality, it makes for a lengthy wait in line when staff appears to be limited.

Cafe du Monde is always great time and experience each time I go. You'll have no problem navigating the menu and, of course, their beignets are a great indulgence regardless when you go . . . breakfast, mid-day snack or in the afternoon. Just bring cash because they don't take cards. A small inconvenience, but always worth it.

Absolutely love it here! I always enjoy coming here. I've been to all of their locations and love them all. When I was here I ordered a frozen mocha, and it was just what I needed. They have indoor seating; this location is in the Riverwalk. If you need to cool down or want to be indoors, this is a great spot to go to. They have all of their drink options and have lots of beignets here too!

Glad we got to check out Cafe Du Monde while we were in New Orleans, especially this out of the way location that wasn't as packed as the OG location. The beignets are good! They're soft, pillowy, and sweet. Do I think they're better than of the other beignets spots around town? Not particularly. But I'm especially glad that I could try these without waiting in the long line and fighting for a table at the OG location. Overall, I'm glad I got to try these and see what the hype is all about; but I prefer some of the other beignets spots around town.

So, went here for the hype. Seemed a bit doughy. Cash only threw us for a loop / and it was hot and muggy with no AC so that probably hampered my experience (just a heads up!). I did like being part of the "history" and trying what everyone raved about. So many beautiful pictures to look at it, and ample amount of seating both inside and out. As I mentioned, food itself was okay, coffee was good. Worth a try for the sake of trying.

After all the talk about this place, as a tourist, I was pretty underwhelmed. The beignets weren't super hot and had a LOT of powdered sugar across the top. I had to shake some of it off because there was so much. The coffee is also pretty bland as you can't add any syrups so if you enjoy a sweetened coffee like I do this wouldn't be the place for you. As far as service don't expect people to be too personable as they were more focused on fast service as opposed offering customer service. The attendants that cleaned the tables were super nice though. The space is fairly tight and can get loud quickly, so grab and go would be the best method.

*Delayed post from Jan '25. NOTE: This is a cash only business! Delighted to visit this lesser known Cafe Du Monde as the original was super packed when we passed by. While it may not be the original, this place still has a charm and a wonderful view of the river right outside. We ordered the standard 3 piece Beignet with a French Roast Coffee and Hot Chocolate. The beignets weren't as fresh as we hoped, probably because they weren't keeping up with demand as often as the other spot, but it was still delicious. The hot chocolate was super sweet, so if you're not a fan of overly sweet, I'd recommend the coffee instead. The amount of powdered sugar was crazy, so you'll still get your sugar fix.

As a tourist visiting NOLA there's the big beignet dilemma of Cafe Du Monde or Loretta's: who's better? A couple other spots too but they didn't make the cut in comparison for me. Alright, let's get to it. The pricing on the amount you get is a much better deal and the sizing too. However, when eating these I was expecting a soft pillowy bite but instead it had a much denser chew which I wasn't too fond of. It did have a light crisp outer dough from being fried and the loads of powder sugar obviously give it a nice sweet taste given these are plain beignets. Value: 10/10 Taste: 8/10 Messy: 10/10 haha Customer Service: 10/10 These were good, not great. I know I will have many locals and tourists coming after me with pitchforks but whenever I come back in the future I'm totally trying them again! Could've been an off batch they had that day. Lol, wishful thinking. FYI - They only accept CASH.

We were here on a very clear mission to eat / taste test the best beignets in New Orleans. Cafe du Monde is famous for theirs, so it was our first stop. Wow, what a let-down. The line was atrocious, but we'd planned for a line and were fine waiting. Tables were hard to come by, and that's also fine. It's a popular spot - what can you expect? But the beignets themselves were disappointing. It's located in a mall and ambiance is nil. Okay, not ideal - but who cares, you're here for beignets. But it was all very meh. For reference, beignets are supposed to be puffy and pillowy, light and fluffy, with a generous dousing of powdered sugar. These were flat and dense, loaded with an atrocious amount of sugar that would cover any semblance of flavor other than sweet. I left thinking maybe I just didn't love beignets? But the rest of our New Orleans beignet taste testing tour proved that to not be the case. I just didn't like THESE. The other Cafe Du Monde location by the French Market was quite good. Solid C. And that's only because fried dough is just plain good.

The Baseline: For coffee and beignets the coffee must be rich and bold, the pastry must be hot, pillowy, and sweet, and the service atmosphere must provide the experience. Food: Cafe du Monde serve coffee and beignets. They also will serve OJ/soda too. I ordered a Cafe Au Lait with a plate of beignets. The beignets are a little doughier than others I have tried and I actually like the thicker beignets. Service: The staff are friendly, helpful, and efficient. This is more like a food court mall experience than the service at the main location next to Jackson Square. Ambiance: This is a mall location for Cafe du Monde and is accessible for the mall and convention center patrons. The cafe is decently busy at most times and hours.

Fried dough... enough said You can do the river walk after/before to assuage your guilt! Classic New Orleans

When visiting Nola, you have to try this place once. Cafe beignet is better, yes, but this was still really good. Food: we only ordered beignets and coffee. Coffee wasn't good, but the beignets we had were super fresh out of the fryer. So, crispy on the outside and hot and chewy on inside. See pictures and video. Service: it wasn't busy when went mid-morning weekday, so service was super pick. Ambience: the outdoor location is bustling busy, but this indoor mall location was much more chill. Just an unassuming mall spot with some tables that allow you to see the waters through windows. Worth a trip to try and decide for yourself!

The location in City Park is gorgeous and a wonderful place to sit outside. The beignets were not the best I've had in the world, but still good! A frozen Café au lait in the summer is perfect.

This is the second beignets restaurant I've been to since I've been in New Orleans. The original one we went to was in the French Quarter so I wanted to check out the mall version. The prices are slightly different, probably since it's in the mall, but for 3 beignets it was $5.45. But I could pay on a credit card in the French Quarter. You could get the exact same order for $3.24! Incredibly cheap!! The coffee was very dark and actually upset my stomach, but I have a weak stomach and favor mild coffee. The beignets themselves were simply delicious and hot and had mountains of powdered sugar on them! I was really excited to eat them, especially since I don't like powdered sugar, but on a beignet - it's just perfect!!

Visited this place back in December! Located in the Riverwalk outlets, this was super accessible from the Hilton hotel next door. Line moved pretty fast and my group ordered sooooo many beignets. Not too sweet and paired with the hot chocolate was HEAVEN. One tip for people getting beignets, when you eat them, try not to breathe from your nose, unless you want a huge mess haha.

Date of visit: December 20, 2024 I get that some folks find the beignets at Cafe du Monde, or just beignets in general to be overhyped, but it's hard to argue that they do not taste good, because they definitely do. This location--tucked into the Riverwalk Outlets--is unassuming, but we appreciated the location as it was close to our hotel and was accessible without even having to go outside. Staff were friendly and the line moved quickly--they even bus the tables for you so you don't have to try and avoid getting powdered sugar all over you while navigating to a trash can!

Avoided the rush hour at the original branch and came to the one next to the convention centre's it wasn't busy at all, no line, plenty of space and they accept credit cards! I got three beignets with cafe au lait. Best beignets I've had this trip. There is a reason they're top tier! Will grab some at the airport too!

We already hit the original stand (the experience was kinda "meh" as it was underwhelming) so I really didn't have an interest in trying another spot. Big Bro and I walked through the mall and he said the smell from this bakery kept haunting him and insisted to make a stop just to get it out of his system. Much smaller than the original (it's in the mall, after all) and not crowded, so putting in and getting our order was pretty swift. There are differences from the original spot, though: they take cards (vs cash only) and you have to get your order at the counter (vs them taking it to your table.) Beignets were served and tasted exactly like that original spot (tons of powdered sugar) and staff are a lot quicker with cleaning up tables (it is much easier since it is a much smaller scale.) FOOD: 4. SERVICE: 4. Staff was a lot friendlier. VALUE: 3. PARKING: Not sure about this, really... there might be a lot somewhere. Street parking may be a challenge. OVERALL: 3.75. Slightly better experience vs the original stand. If you need a sweet snack in the middle of walking through the mall, this may be your spot.

This place is a must when visiting the French quarter! If you want to place an order to go, stand in line. If you want to eat in the patio, have a seat and a waiter will come to you. We placed 3 orders of beignets. One order includes 3 large beignets. They are so delicious but messy! I also had a cold coffee. Everything was really good! The ambience was nice, there were a few musicians playing jazz on the sidewalk.

This location does not compare to the original! The beignets were not fresh and very dry. The staff is friendly and there are tables inside. There is the riverwalk nearby but might as well walk a few more minutes to get better. It is also in a mall so if you're looking for a quick bite and quiet ambiance, it's convenient.

We went to the original Cafe du Monde on this trip a couple times, and ran into this one while we were walking around the mall. Decided to come here and ended up grabbing a mug to bring home. This was a lot more quiet, a lot less chaotic than the original location, so that was nice.

I have always heard if I go to New Orleans I have to go to Café Du Monde for beignets. The line was really long, but it went by fairly quickly. The best part was watching the guy making the beignets. The beignets at Disneyland in California are better. Sorry Cafe Du Monde, I really wanted to love it.

Not the first time here but it's been a while. I went on a Sunday at 2100 & place was busy enough but not too too crowded and the beignets were served warm not piping hot & were very and I mean very dense. I don't remember them being that dense in the past. Service was very quick but maybe hence the warm not hot beignets. They can most definitely do better.

Busy, location inside a mall near the river walk. Pros, there is AC so your wait is nice and cool. Came in on Monday around 10 am and there was already a line. Seats available. Other mentioned the other locations maybe cash only. This accepts card but no Apple Pay ! Prices are unbelievably affordable or have I just been accustomed to paying $7.00 in San Francisco. Beignets are chewy and powdery. Big fan of the chicory coffee. No burnt taste like Starbucks.

Def a tourist spot to check. Pandemic has changed hours, but open to 12am during Thanksgiving weekend. Iced cafe au lait is my go-to with beignet.

When in NOLA, one must try beignets and where else than cafe du monde. Luckily there was one nearby our hotel by the convention center inside the river walk mall. Ppl were already lining up before they open. One order of 3 was about $5 after tax. Fresh , topped with tons of powdered sugar. Delicious as expected. They also have their signature chicory coffee as well. Gotta come back before I head home!

This mostly gets 3 stars for nostalgia and history, not for the food itself. This location is in an outlet mall so it's pretty touristy, but the service was quick and polite. I thought beignets were just ok and kinda dry. I don't know that I get the appeal.

If you like coffee and beignets Cafe de Monde is the place. Even though there are several places around the New Orleans area the original location is a must. The staff come around and take your order and then deliver the powdered goodness to your table.

This place is exactly how you've seen it on the internet. Very fast paced very busy and also very delicious. The uniforms worn by the staff and the decorations give a very nostalgic feel. We had a slight issue with our server but it may have been due to the fast paced environment.

If you're in NOLA, you gotta try a beignet. I ordered a bag of three (that's how much you get, no more, no less) with an iced cafe au lait. Service is cafeteria style prompt. You order, they take a green tray and someone plops down the beignet and drink on your tray. You pay and grab a seat. The sugar on my beignet was not evenly distributed. I had to tear open the bag and coat it myself. Beignet is yummy. Not greasy.

Have been to the original many times and I agree, it is something that you need to experience. But when you are on day five of your trip to NOLA and you haven't had time to wait in line and you don't have cash on you and you are walking the stores at the riverwalk and you pass by the Cafe du Monde located there....dude they are still pillowy soft, freshly made and screaming hot, covered in powdered sugar and you can pay with plastic to boot? The choice is easy.

I was in New Orleans for a conference at the Hilton which connects to the Riverwalk outlet mall. We walked out of the hotel lobby and down into the mall and cafe du monde was right there. This was super convenient ! Of course this location does not have the quaint nostalgia of the original location but they do have the river! The beignets are just as good as the original and hot and fluffy and yummy! The staff is quick and efficient and gets your order fast. I ate waaaayyyyy too many beignets over the weekend but I walked them off -I promise.

Try this location after a long day being out on the river walk. We went inside the mall to go try food at Mister Shrimp's and went here for dessert. It was not my first time eating at this establishment but it was my first time at eating at the satellite location within the mall. It was the first time that my husband got a chance to try actual beignets in New Orleans. Or all the coffee was still really good and hot and the beginets were okay. I have had them from the original location and so I just think here they were rushing because the mall was about to close. The first 2 beignets were just okay but the last one really tasted like the original. It was nice and fluffy and it was then that we knew that we had just gotten some older ones because they are rushing to close up the shop here.

First beignets we had on our trip. We went to the location by the river as we were in the area for a boat ride. Service for the customers wasn't bad but not terribly friendly either. You can definitely see there was friction between the workers too. Onto the food, out of cafe du monde, cafe beignet, and Loretta's, this was my partners favorite. This is tied with cafe beignet for me. Taste wise, it was fresh and nice and crispy on the outside and light on the inside. There was a boat load of sugar that was half wasted though.

We couldn't come to New Orleans and not come to the famous Cafe Du Monde. We went to the one in the Riverwalk outlets because they take credit cards. This place is hard to find AND we had to stand in line for over an hour. (Went Saturday mid morning.) But the staff were very kind and the beignets were so delicious! Gotta love square French doughnuts!! Hot and fresh with mounds of powdered sugar on top. My daughter loved her Cafe Au Lait (half chicory coffee and half hot milk) and I enjoyed my hot chocolate. You could eat inside the little cafe at a table or walk by the river and eat your treasures! (To go bags available!)

This location is conveniently located inside the mall. We stopped here for some coffee and beignets before hopping on our cruise. The service was very fast and friendly. Not a ton of seating, but tables turnover pretty quickly, so it shouldn't be hard to find a space to sit and eat. You can also take your food outside along the river walk.

Hands down the best beignets in town. I've tried three different places and certainly this comes out on top. Line is always long but certainly worth the wait. We went to two different Cafe Du Mondes and the beignets were consistently great. Wish they would open a store on the West coast. Until then, I cannot wait to go back. The beignets are crispy on the outside. Soft and chewy on the inside and the powdered sugar is not overwhelmingly sweet in my opinion.

Meandered around the mall u til we finally found the Cafe. Lovely hot beignets and Cafe au lait here with a view of the river.

All I can say is if you don't try this great pastry then you don't know! You have to check it out. Service was excellent and the ambiance was perfect for the setting.

Went to New Orleans recently and couldn't leave without getting a beignet! There's a bunch of Beignet options but Cafe Du Monde is historic and the best! The beignets are always fluffy! The line was super long (as always) but they moved fast! Definitely a must try if you're able to visit New Orleans

Great flavor but some of our dough was too thick and not cooked all the way through. Could only eat the entirety of one beignet.

The beignets are always delicious, our coffee was tasty. Service was quick and friendly.

A must with any French quarter / Nola visit, cafe du monde is quintessential! A beignet and au lait is all you need. The open area venue provides NOLA charm at its best given background noise/music and vibrant colors to fill the area. Make it a must on your trip...I know I will!!

Who doesn't beignet!? We ordered the 3 original powder sugar with ice au alite.. man, that coffee is everything to pair on the beignets! It was deliciously amazing experience on the palette... We went to the riverwalk store which located by the river attached to the riverwalk mall, so it's a little small but not busy at all compared to the original location.. so, if you want to beignet without the street performers, this is a good spot to go too! Service was good, very clean and friendly staff..

It's Cafe Du Monde so what's not to love. They do two things Coffee and Begneits. We took out guests from Japan after we found that there was a location in the Riverwalk Mall. We were there for the open. Everyone loved it. Service was quick as usual and the decor was just a smaller version of the original within the confines of a mall setting.

Really good beignets, but as a wise man once told me. "A beignets, a beignet, a beignet." I don't think there is much difference in any of them they were hot and fresh. Staff was friendly and the view of the river is nice. We came because of the short walk from our hotel. Coffee was good as well.

When I was in New Orleans I was ECSTATIC to get to try such an iconic restaurant (and fulfill my childhood Princess and The Frog dreams). The menu is short and sweet and shows they know what they're doing. The staff was incredibly helpful and sweet but definitely moved through the line pretty rapidly. The inside of the restaurant itself was super cute and cozy but nothing too crazy-very simple. I got the hot chocolate which was so full of flavor and richness as well as the beignets. This may be a controversial statement, but I thought the beignets were a bit too rich. I'm someone who typically likes rich foods but this (especially paired with the hot chocolate) was just too much. The beignets had great flavor and the powdered sugar was delicious but overall I just thought it was too rich of a food. I would recommend for when you're in the area but be weary that it is a HEAVY meal!!

We went early in the morning on a Friday around 8 am. There were plenty of seats and open tables. By 10 am there was a long line to get seated. The servers come down your row so speed is completely dependent on how fast that one server goes down and brings orders which took sometime for our row unfortunately. Coffee wasn't anything special in my opinion, beignets were great and a nice sweet combo with the coffee. Ambiance is great tho there was live music playing right outside and really made the experience complete. Is CASH ONLY!

Great place for a quick beignet and coffee, service friendly and on point. Indoor seating if too hot outside.

On a recent New Orleans Trip we decided to do a Beignet Challenge between Cafe Beignet & Cafe Du Monde. We are definitely Team Cafe Beignet. The Cafe Du Monde location we tried was in the Outlet Mall as the other locations had crazy long lines. The staff at this location all looked & acted like they hated their jobs to the point of being rude and not smiling. We found the beignets to be chewy and solid and the chicory coffee was very bitter. Definitely would not return.