Bywater Bakery in New Orleans is the Dauphine Street corner bakery cafe in Bywater, with king cakes, breakfast plates and the Chantilly cream cake from baker Maggie Scales.
Tip: King cakes are seasonal between Twelfth Night and Mardi Gras; the chantilly cream slice runs year-round.
Address: 3624 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70117
Croissant D'Or in New Orleans is the French Quarter patisserie on Ursulines Avenue, in a 1913 Brocato's ice cream shop space, with classic French pastry and an Old World courtyard.
Signature drink: Cafe au lait
Tip: The almond croissant is the cult order; the back courtyard is the Quarter's most-pleasant hidden cafe seat.
Spitfire Coffee in New Orleans is the small French Quarter pour-over counter on St Peter near Bourbon, a tiny standing-room cafe with single-origin filter and espresso.
Signature drink: Pour-over single origin
Tip: Standing room only; grab a coffee to take along on a Royal Street walk.
Congregation Coffee in New Orleans is the Algiers Point cafe and roaster on Pelican Avenue, ten minutes from Jackson Square via ferry, with single-origin filter and a quiet patio.
Signature drink: House espresso
Tip: Take the Algiers Ferry across the river for the morning; it costs around $2 and runs every 30 minutes.
Stumptown at the Ace Hotel in New Orleans is the Portland-roaster cafe inside the 1928 lobby on Carondelet Street, with a long pour-over bar and a CBD work crowd at the counter.
Signature drink: Cold brew
Tip: The Ace lobby itself is a workspace; order Stumptown and use the long communal table.
French Truck Coffee in New Orleans is the local roaster's Magazine Street flagship in the Lower Garden District, with single-origin pour-overs and a sunny window seat row.
Signature drink: House blend espresso
Tip: The roastery on Dryades Street offers cupping sessions on weekends; book ahead.
Revelator Coffee in New Orleans is the Birmingham roaster cafe on Tchoupitoulas Street in the Warehouse District, with single-origin filter and an airy minimalist concrete room.
Signature drink: Drip filter
Tip: The Tchoupitoulas store has the longest table in the city for laptop sessions; outlets at every seat.
