11 best bakeries in New Orleans
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New Orleans bakeries have created sweet treats for centuries, from king cakes to the invention of wedding cake flavor.
Why it matters: But most of these neighborhood institutions are also baking up day-to-day standards, which we love just as much.
The big picture: From perfectly crispy croissants to elegant loaves of sandwich bread, you can find a New Orleans bakery to serve your needs.
- These are some of our favorite New Orleans bakeries.
Leo's Bread
Leo's Bread started as a small-batch bakery with regular farmers market visits.
- It grew into a space in Bayou St. John, where now you can always find perfect bagels, croissants and vegetarian sandwich options.
- Our order: A sandwich with avocado, shaved carrots, cilantro, fresh dill and chili crunch ($9).
- Go deeper.
Lagniappe Bakehouse

Lagniappe Bakehouse, from chef Kaitlin Guerin, has been delighting New Orleans since the pandemic, when a visit home turned into a permanent return and she started selling pastry boxes.
- The New Orleans East-raised pastry chef formally trained as a dancer, but found her passion in baking. Now, she shares it from a permanent location just off O.C. Haley Boulevard.
- Our order: A grains of paradise Swedish bun ($5.50).
- Go deeper.
Ayu Bakehouse
Ayu Bakehouse on Frenchmen Street has achieved the near-impossible: Its out-of-town owners created a must-get king cake.
- But the bakery's day-to-day offerings are just as good, and they include fresh bread loaves, a mix of sweet and savory pastries, breakfast and lunch sandwiches and a full coffee bar.
- Our order: The Frenchmen sandwich ($13), with prosciutto, a mustardy caper sauce, thin slices of watermelon radish, green beans and mozzarella wrapped in a small baguette.
- Go deeper.
Celtica

Celtica is a Parisian-inspired cafe in New Orleans' Lakeview neighborhood, and you can't go wrong with anything you order here, writes Axios' Carlie Kollath Wells.
- Co-owner Dominique Rizzo originally opened La Boulangerie on Magazine Street, earning a loyal following for his croissants, baguettes and pastries.
- Now, at Celtica, the menu includes almond croissants, quiches, tarts, macarons, breads and sandwiches.
- Our order: quiche Lorraine ($6.80).
- Go deeper.
Willa Jean
Willa Jean is a perfect CBD spot regardless of what you're looking for, from a coffee bar to a boozy brunch or a loaf of bread for weekend sandwiches.
- Our order: A chopped green salad topped with crispy chicken ($18) and a cinnamon and honey-topped monkey bread ($10).
- Go deeper.
Levee Baking Co.
Levee Baking Co. started when Christina Balzebre hosted an Uptown pop-up even while she baked for the Link Restaurant Group, Willa Jean and Surrey's.
- The Uptown bakery also happily announced an expansion this fall, so we're excited to see what's next.
- Our order: A lemon cream cruffin ($5), with a crunchy, sugar-crusted outside.
- Go deeper.
Other bakeries we love:
- Dong Phuong in New Orleans East for banh mi sandwiches.
- Bywater Bakery, whose owner created the original Chantilly cake. But savory options are just as good.
- Angelo Brocato, which is known for its gelato and ices but you're missing out if you skip the bakery case.
- La Boulangerie, an Uptown staple with lots of loaves, which they'll slice to make at-home sandwich building easy.
- Bearcat Baked, a standalone extension of the popular breakfast and lunch with perfect sweet and savory pastries.
