New Orleans is like the comfort food city of America, and what’s more comforting than a hefty breakfast to get the day started? The best breakfasts in New Orleans explores the most satisfactory dishes and flavors of Louisiana, all while keeping the breakfast and brunch culture of creamy avocado toast, sunny-side-up eggs, and syrup-drenched pancakes.
Start your day with authentic New Orleans cuisine and understand why the city is so famous for its food. Order chicken and waffles, beignets with coffee, and piles of Cajun food. Get ready to discover amazing places that have perfected the art of breakfast in New Orleans.
Café du Monde
Have you seen the movie Chef? It is one of the greatest movies about food ever made. There’s one scene where the main character, Carl, takes his son to New Orleans so that they can try the beignets from Café du Monde. After a couple of bites, the father says, “they don’t taste like this anywhere else in the world.”
A classic and unpretentious venue in the heart of the French Quarter, Café du Monde makes the most authentic beignets in New Orleans. Beignets are deep-fried, square-shaped piece of dough topped with powdered sugar. Add a cup of coffee – that’s all you need to enjoy the most traditional breakfast in New Orleans.
Toast
Toast is a rustic place that serves home-cooked meals, specializing in sweet and savory crepes and comforting coffee drinks. With a simple decoration and menu, the restaurant highlights classic local recipes, focusing on fresh ingredients and fantastic flavor.
Don’t miss the fried chicken and waffles, which come crowned with maple syrup and cayenne butter. Another savory favorite is the Crepe Florentine with spinach, onions, gruyere, prosciutto, and Mornay sauce. Prefer to start your morning with something sweeter? Try the lemon curd and cream crepe, or go for the king cake French toast stuffed with cinnamon cream cheese and topped with Mardi Gras sprinkles. Jams, biscuits, and curds are all made daily in the kitchen.
Biscuits & Buns on Banks
Biscuits & Buns on Banks is a small restaurant serving classic American and Creole breakfast dishes. Everything is seasonal and sourced from local producers, so freshness is always a part of the menu. Here you have the opportunity to mix your favorite morning dishes with authentic Creole flavors to discover something new and exciting.
A favorite dish is the Louisiana Crawfish Boudin Balls. Order that right before you enjoy warm and fluffy waffles with a scoop of ice cream on top. And the best part? Bottomless hot brewed coffee.
Stanley Restaurant
Stanley Restaurant serves one of the best and most popular breakfasts in New Orleans. This is a must for morning eaters, with contemporary southern dishes, homemade ice cream, and an all-day breakfast. Find mouth-watering Louisiana adaptations of classic brunch dishes, like the seared crab cakes with poached eggs and Creole hollandaise— a creative twist on our beloved benedicts.
For the sweet tooths, don’t miss out on the Banana Foster French Toast. It comes with French bread, sliced bananas, vanilla ice cream, toasted walnuts, and a decadent Bananas Foster sauce.
Elizabeth’s
Elizabeth’s is one of those places that attracts customers through its colors and design. A small and comfortable restaurant with art-filled walls and humble furnishing, it’s known by locals as the best place to get made-from-scratch food. The menu is straightforward, exploring simple and creative dishes like the French toast burrito and jalapeño pineapple margaritas.
Try the duck waffle, made with sweet potato and duck hash, on top of a cornbread waffle with pepper jelly. Brunch is served only on weekends, so make sure you’re around for a New Orleans breakfast experience of a lifetime.
The Ruby Slipper Café
The Ruby Slipper Café is famous for its all-day brunch, and what’s better than eggs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Here, the menu is extensive, covering everything from classic brunch dishes like pancakes and avocado toast to southern masterpieces like biscuits and gravy.
The cocktails are also creative, so get ready for a complete experience with some of the best examples of that warm southern hospitality. During the summer, order the seasonal beignets— you won’t be disappointed.
Surrey’s Café & Juice Bar
Surrey’s Café & Juice Bar (1418 Magazine St) blends American breakfast classics with Latin flavors. The result is simply one of the best breakfasts you’ll find in New Orleans. Order the famous crab meat omelette stuffed with avocado and brie cheese and topped with a creamy crab sauce. Aside from the innovative dishes, the restaurant is also renowned for its organic and fresh fruit juices.
There are many vegetarian and vegan options for those with dietary restrictions, so everyone is welcome here. Get the orange, pineapple, and mango juice to freshen your day.
The Camellia Grill
The Camellia Grill (626 S Carrollton Ave) is a down-to-earth, diner-style establishment. They have classic comfort breakfast foods like burgers, omelets, and pancakes. They have an open kitchen where you can watch the action of dishes being prepared left and right. For those looking for something familiar and delicious, this is the place to go.
Pink picnic tables allow you to sit outside on those sunny days. What could be better than catching the summer breeze while digging into omelets with a side of hashbrowns or grits?
Wakin Bakin
Wakin Bakin has three locations in New Orleans: French Quarter, Uptown, and Midcity. This restaurant blends the best of Cajun food and brunch meals, so you have biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, but also pancakes and scrambled eggs. This makes it easy for you to stop by for their famous Cajun smash hash, no matter where you’re staying.
The Chef’s Choice menu is where you will find the most imaginative creations of the season, with dishes exploring fresh ingredients paired with authentic New Orleans cuisine. One dish we love is the Tofu Momma Bowl, which comes with black beans, Cajun-smashed hash, sauteed spinach, tomatoes, onions, jalapeno, and chili-lemongrass tofu.
Brennan’s
Brennan’s is a cultural blend where authentic Creole cuisine pairs with French and Spanish influences to create unique and incredibly delicious New Orleans breakfasts. The aesthetics of its pink walls and the colorful interior are already reason enough to walk in. However, once you’re seated and the Milk & Honey Blitz plate – with goat cheese, pickled peaches, chamomile granola, and honey – start to arrive, you’ll never want to leave. And this is only one of the many extravagant dishes on the breakfast menu.
Slim Goodies Diner
Slim Goodies Diner is a straightforward breakfast restaurant offering Creole and classic American dishes. They also have an extensive beer and cocktail list, perfect for those who want to start the day with a little extra buzz. This is where travelers come to eat local foods and socialize, enjoying fresh flavors and ingredients prepared by a welcoming staff.
Their slogan is “food for every mood,” which is reflected in their extensive menu. Omelets, waffles, pancakes, sandwiches all blend the best of American and Creole breakfast staples.
District Donuts. Sliders. Brew.
District Donuts. Sliders. Brew only serves salads.
Yes, of course we’re joking.
The restaurant specializes in serving some of the best donut flavors in New Orleans, aside from their freshly baked biscuits, artisan coffee, and morning sandwiches. It is the ideal spot for a quick morning bite, where it may take you a while to pick from the excellent choices they offer.
Get a hot chicken, honey butter French toast biscuit, or maybe a simple but astonishing cinnamon sugar donut. Remember to order a cup of hot coffee, and your meal will be even more memorable.
Willa Jean
Willa Jean works with freshly baked pastries, bread, and locally sourced southern dishes. The restaurant’s laid-back vibe allows you to sit at the bar, work on your computer, or have an extensive brunch with friends. Breakfast plates include classics like huevos rancheros and avocado toast. House twists go as far as the Hangover Bowl or the Shrimp + Grits plate.
The banana pudding cup is an excellent dessert (yes, breakfast in New Orleans also calls for dessert), with whipped cream, bananas, and nilla wafers. Order lots of coffee and maybe even a cocktail!
Gracious Bakery + Café
Gracious Bakery + Café is perfect for those who want a quick, grab-and-go breakfast. This small and casual venue offers some of the best light morning meals in New Orleans, with pastries, yogurt bowls, sandwiches, bread, cakes, and pies made from scratch.
They only work with high-quality ingredients and make French-based creative foods. Come early in the morning to get the freshest croissants and hot coffee. Then, take your breakfast on the road while you explore New Orleans.
Camila has lived in New York for over six years. Writing about food, drinks, and travel, she has moved around the city gathering tales, flavors, and restaurant recommendations for her fellow explorers. A lover of bars and baos, Camila can introduce you to the most famous and best-kept secrets of New York!