Wholesale only; no retail counterPo-boy bread
Leidenheimer in New Orleans is the 1896 Central City wholesale bakery on Simon Bolivar Avenue that bakes the airy French loaf used at almost every po-boy shop in the city.
Tip: No retail; the bread is at Domilise's, Parkway, Mahony's and most po-boy shops in the city.
Worth the queue: Po-boy French loaf
Tue to Sun 07:00 to 17:00, closed MondayWalk-in onlyFrench and Polish pastry
Maple Street Patisserie in New Orleans is the Carrollton Polish-French pastry counter on Maple Street near Adams, with almond croissants, kremowka and a long Tulane queue at lunchtime.
Tip: The kremowka (Polish vanilla custard square) is the cult order; arrive before 11:00 weekends.
Worth the queue: Almond croissant
Mon to Sat 06:30 to 17:30, Sun 06:30 to 14:00Walk-in onlyKing cake and Mardi Gras pastry
Haydel's Bakery just outside New Orleans on Jefferson Highway is the family-run king cake institution since 1959, with traditional cinnamon-braided king cakes shipped nationwide.
Tip: Order online for nationwide shipping in Carnival season; the original Jefferson store also stocks daily.
Worth the queue: Traditional king cake
Tue to Sun 06:00 to 17:00, closed MondayWalk-in onlyVietnamese pastry and king cake
Dong Phuong in New Orleans is the James Beard America's Classics Vietnamese bakery on Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans East, with the city's most-demanded Mardi Gras king cake.
Tip: King cake sales run January 6 to Ash Wednesday only; lines form before opening on weekends.
Worth the queue: King cake (Mardi Gras season)
Daily 07:00 to 15:00 bakery; brunch and lunch run laterSouthern pastry and breads
Willa Jean in New Orleans is Kelly Fields's James Beard winning bakery cafe on O'Keefe Avenue in the CBD, with biscuits, sourdough loaves and a chocolate-chip cookie service in a glass.
Tip: The chocolate-chip cookie with milk is the cult dessert; order it at the bar even outside lunch.
Worth the queue: Chocolate chip cookie with milk
Wed to Sun 08:00 to 14:00, closed Mon and TueWalk-in onlyLevain breads and laminated pastries
Levee Baking Co in New Orleans is Christina Balzebre's Uptown levain bakery just off Magazine Street at 9th, with sourdough loaves, kouign-amann and a Cuban pastelito programme.
Tip: Bread sells out by 11:00 on Saturday; pastries hold longer. Cash discount at the register.
Worth the queue: Sourdough miche