Best Bakery and Cake Shops in French Quarter

"Heralded as serving the best po’ boy in America, Parkway Tavern has been a New Orleans cheap eats institution for over 100 years. Must-try po’ boys include wild caught Louisiana shrimp, fried to crispy perfection; and surf and turf, layering shrimp, slow-cooked roast beef and gravy. For between $12 and $15, you have a feast for two."

"Parkway has been around for over a century, since 1911 to be exact. Legend has it that the name poor boy, also referred to as po’ boy, comes from the Great Depression era when a sandwich was created to be given free of charge to transit strikers. Folks have been clamoring for Parkway’s poor boys ever since."

"Parkway Bakery & Tavern, a spot to score sandwiches, seafood and desserts in Bayou St. John, is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 1,731 Yelp reviews. Head over to 538 Hagan Ave. to see for yourself."

"Breakfast service done well is a cheerful, life-affirming start to the day, and Willa Jean does it with aplomb. Coffees (New Orleans is a great coffee city) are topped, even water is delivered with gusto. There's a range of decadence happening across the main food menu."

"I’ve only been to Cafe Du Monde, but that Willa Jean warm chocolate chip cookie looks right up my alley!. I would love to do a swamp tour and a cemetery tour!. This is a very well-done New Orleans guide!"

"With three locations, Executive Pastry Chef Megan Forman has put together a wonderful holiday menu for us this year that satisfies the need for sweet and savory. Sweet options include cakes, chocolate bark, truffles, and more. The dessert that has everyone talking about Willa Jean, and yes, it’s okay to lick the beater: Cookies and Milk — ooey-gooey barely set and still warm chocolate chip cookies, cookie dough batter, and vanilla-infused milk."

"This locally owned bakery and cafe has multiple locations around town, all good go-tos for baked goods, breads, breakfast and lunch goodies. Last year they added doughnuts into the mix, all made inhouse, from fillings to dough to toppings - no mixes here. A few to try include spiced sugar twist, honey cornmeal and classic blueberry glazed."

"The pastry cases at Gracious never disappoint, and neither do their donuts. When you make a stop here, pick from options like blueberry glazed, mango cream-filled with coconut or honey cornmeal—then grab a couple of baguettes to make sandwiches for later."

"Buttermilk Drop Bakery is famous for its king cakes, buttermilk drops, and melt-in-your-mouth donuts. Every year Buttermilk Drop celebrates National Donut Day with a special: buy a dozen glazed donuts and get a second dozen free!. You'll need to invite over a few of your fully vaccinated friends to help you finish 24 donuts."

"TremeWhat you’re getting: Buttermilk drops, of courseThese sweet, glazed cakey drops of goodness are New Orleans’ other favorite donut, and their popularity (at least for visitors) is usually eclipsed by beignets (see above). Well, they shouldn’t be, especially at $4 for half a dozen."

"Soul food and tasty king cakes are just two of the mouthwatering options you can indulge in at The Buttermilk Drop. While their breakfast and lunch food is truly superb, they serve some of the best donuts in New Orleans, too. Their speciality is, of course, the buttermilk drop."

"Bittersweet Confections is a chocoholics dream, with owner and local chocolatier Cheryl Scripter steering the ship. The signature Bittersweet cake combines moist chocolate cake with creamy chocolate mousse, topping it all with dark chocolate ganache and handcrafted truffles. Vanilla, strawberry shortcake, and red velvet are a few other options."

"They continue to make it to the top of the list for their rich chocolate cake, German chocolate cake, and chocolate mousse cake, which all come in a variety of sizes."

"Thanks to Debbie Does Doberge founders Charlotte McGehee and Charles Mary IV, the wait is over. Bakery Bar’s location in the shadow of the Crescent City Connection may be off the beaten path for some, but consider a detour. Until 3 p.m., Bakery Bar functions mostly as a serious eggs and grits brunch spot; come 5, it’s dessert and drinks that rule the roost, including key lime pie, vanilla doberge brûlée, or the ultimate chocolate three-way Grasshopper Pie Bombe."

"Cake Café began as a one-man cake bakery and has evolved into a café that serves breakfast, lunch, and, of course, customized cakes. Although the menu doesn’t include brunch cocktails, the signature dishes are sure to satisfy brunch cravings. Popular items include boudin and eggs, a crab omelet and the extensive vegetarian menu."

"This fun LGD bar and eatery boasts the best lineup of doberge cake in town. The masterminds behind Debbie Does Doberge offer a good selection of flavors, from red velvet to pistachio, by the slice or even by the do-bite."

"(1201 Royal St.) Verti Marte is open 7 days a week, 24 hours, and delivery is available. Like Quartermaster a couple blocks away, it’s strictly a to-go operation, serving a heavily local clientele and offering a mind-bogglingly extensive menu of breakfast specialties, sandwiches and po-boys, entrees, and even desserts. You’ll see the Quarter workers stopping in for fried shrimp po-boys, BLTs, and Verti Marte’s Philly Cheese Steak."

"But any effort the owners have failed to expend on stocking the shelves or sprucing up the decor they’ve put into making excellent food. Head to the small counter in the back and make your..."

"It looks like a convenience store inside, but in the back is a group of the finest sandwich craftsmen New Orleans has ever known. Their masterpiece: the shrimp and oyster po-boy."

"There may be no more reliable, perfect place to eat seafood in New Orleans than Pêche. The sourcing comes from local waters — to the extent that we’ve heard that the restaurant has its own battery of fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico. Order raw oysters, yes."

"Visitors seeking the best malls in Greater New Orleans must only venture slightly north of the city to find Lakeside Shopping Center. This expansive retail hub is one of the area's most popular malls with more than 120 well-known stores including M.A.C., Dillard's, Lane Bryant, Gap, Old Navy and Eddie Bauer, as well as boutiques such as Ann Taylor Loft and Talbot's. Lakeside Shopping Center offers seemingly endless shopping opportunities for men and women (and enough distractions for kids)."

"There’s no sign outside Gautreau’s, just the number 1728 discreetly marking a nondescript house in a residential neighborhood. Cross the threshold to find a refined but welcoming dining room, where savvy diners,... Top ChoiceLouisianan in Uptown & Riverbend"

"1728 Soniat St., (504) 899-7397; www.gautreausrestaurant.com. Roasted duck breast is served with mole reduction, corn truffle, cipollini onions and English pea risotto. Reservations recommended."

"500 9th St., Gretna, (504) 500-0997; www.bananablossom504.com. Larb gai is a salad with ground chicken, onion, cilantro, mint and toasted rice-lime dressing. Reservations accepted."

"A solid spot for Cajun and southern dishes, Eat serves chef Jarred Zeringue’s take on hogs head cheese with andouille chips, crawfish pie, gumbo, blackened catfish, deviled eggs, and barbecue shrimp. Open for lunch and dinner most weekdays, with brunch served on Saturdays and Sundays."

"Smoked chicken salad is made with spring greens, boiled egg, avocado, Wayne Jacob’s Smokehouse bacon, blue cheese and blue cheese dressing. Reservations recommended. Dinner Tue.-Sat., brunch Fri-Sun."

"The Bearcat Cafe in Uptown lets you decide by indicating healthy or less healthy items on the menu. This modern sit-down cafe offers an array of fresh breakfast and lunch options. There are also selections of coffees from Equator Coffee Co, a wide variety of loose-leaf teas, and house-made bottled beverages."

"The quintessential museum of Louisiana, the permanent collection includes nearly 40,000 world-class works of regional, national and international art, such as Picasso, Braque, Dufy and Miró, and drawings by Degas, who worked just blocks from the museum when he visited maternal relatives in the early 1870s. Lectures, book clubs, film presentations, art classes and musical performances are all presented with aplomb – and you can even take yoga classes in the sublimely beautiful Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, where works of the 20th century's master sculptors reside in a sub-tropical sanctuary. 1 Collins C Diboll Circle, noma.org."

"New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, (504) 482-1264; www.cafenoma.com. An Americana grain bowl includes chicken breast over wild rice, sweet potatoes, cranberries and baby spinach with warm bacon vinaigrette."