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Café du Monde

Writing about Café du Monde is about as easy as a review gets. It’s coffee and beignets—end of story. But please, indulge me as I wax poetic about how much I love this place and its finest, most dangerously addictive creation.

While recently in New Orleans with two friends, I had just one birthday wish: beignets at Café du Monde. Wish granted, first thing in the morning.

A Little History and a Lot of Powdered Sugar

Nestled in the heart of the French Quarter, Café du Monde has been slinging chicory coffee and beignets since 1862. That’s over 150 years of deep-fried, powdered-sugar-covered perfection. Think about it—how many places can survive that long on just one main dish? That’s the power of the beignet.

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Photo from Cafe du Monde’s official website

The Line, the Chaos, the Magic

The line snaked down the sidewalk, but I assured my friends it would move quickly. It did. Efficiency is key here—staff members zip around like powdered-sugar-covered hummingbirds, barely making eye contact as they wipe down tables (mostly onto the floor).

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Inside the Cafe

Let’s be honest—this isn’t the place for warm, leisurely hospitality. No one’s here to chit-chat or ask about your day. Café du Monde is a well-oiled beignet machine designed to move tourists in and out at record speed. It’s overhyped, a bit scruffy, always crowded, and borderline chaotic. And I absolutely love it.

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The simple menu

The Menu (or Lack Thereof)

A waiter gestured vaguely at a table, and we grabbed it like seasoned pros. The menu? A formality. It takes approximately 10 seconds to decide what kind of coffee you want, because the food decision is already made for you: beignets. We ordered two portions (three beignets per plate) and three coffees—hot and strong for Wendy and me, iced for Kerry, a surprisingly delightful addition to their lineup.

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Of course, THE Beignets

The Beignets: Little Pillows of Joy

After a fun (read: wine-filled) night before, my 40-something-year-old self woke up with a slight headache. But one bite of these warm, air-light, slightly crispy, powdered-sugar-dusted fried dough miracles, and all was right with the world. If I had more than two, I would have kept eating until someone physically stopped me. These beignets met my expectations and my memories. My birthday? Officially a success.

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A very happy Birthday morning for me with my friend Kerry

 

Final Thoughts (and a Powdered Sugar Warning)

I know it sounds ridiculous to be this devoted to a place that is basically a sugar-coated tourist trap—but I am. I will continue to return on every future trip, probably ordering a whole plate to myself.

A word of caution: Avoid wearing dark clothing unless you want to look like you lost a fight with a bag of powdered sugar. I forgot. I regret nothing.

Oh, and Café du Monde generously provides a recipe for their beignets. Given their calorie count, I won’t be making them at home—too risky. I’d never leave my apartment again. Instead, I’ll just sip my coffee from my trusty, decade-old Café du Monde mug and dream of my next visit.

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My Sunday morning coffee mug

Tracey