Where to Find the Best Donuts in New Orleans (You’ll Want to Try Them All!)

New Orleans may be famous for its beignets but the city also serves up some of the best traditional donuts in the country. While a stop at Café Du Monde is practically a rite of passage, donut lovers will be thrilled to discover that New Orleans is just as serious about its glazed rings, buttermilk drops, and creative, flavor-packed pastries.

Whether you’re craving a classic donut to dunk in your morning coffee, a bold creation to brighten your day, or a photo-worthy treat for Instagram, this list covers the city’s best. From old-school cake donuts to wild, over-the-top flavor bombs, New Orleans has a donut shop to match every craving.

Here’s where to find the best donuts in New Orleans—and why you’ll want to try them all.

Best Donut Shops in New Orleans You Need to Try

Hurts Donut Company

Hurts Donut Company is an award-winning donut shop that originally launched in New Orleans back in 2013. Since then, it’s expanded into a wildly popular franchise with locations across the U.S.—but there’s no better place to indulge than at their flagship store on Loyola Avenue.

Step inside and you’ll be greeted with a jaw-dropping selection of creative, over-the-top donuts in flavors like strawberry cheesecake, cotton candy, peanut butter cup, and brown sugar cinnamon latte. Expect bold combinations, fun toppings, and vibrant colors that make these donuts as fun to look at as they are to eat.

In addition to donuts, they also serve giant cinnamon rolls and apple fritters that are just as flavorful and satisfying. Everything here is fresh, light, and fluffy—the way a great donut should be.

And if you’re feeling extra indulgent, don’t miss their donut shakes! Each one is blended in the flavor of your chosen donut and topped with an actual donut for good measure. It’s sweet chaos in a cup—and totally worth it.

District Donuts Sliders and Brew

District Donuts is one of the most beloved donut shops in New Orleans—by both locals and visitors. Its popularity has led to multiple locations around the city, plus a few outposts in Mississippi and even Las Vegas.

What sets District apart? They make everything from scratch—yes, even the sprinkles! You won’t find pre-made mixes or artificial flavors here, just high-quality ingredients and serious creativity. It also helps that their donuts are totally Instagram-worthy.

You’ll always find three staple flavors on the menu; glazed, cinnamon sugar, and chocolate glazed. But the real fun is in the six rotating flavors offered each week, pulled from a catalog of over 100 inventive creations. Fan favorites include the Maple Bacon Sriracha (topped with candied thyme), Coconut Basil, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Horchata.

District Donuts doesn’t just serve donuts either. They also have a killer lunch menu. Their fried chicken sandwich—piled high with buttermilk garlic slaw, candied jalapeños, and spicy pimento cheese—is legendary. Don’t sleep on the pork belly slider or waffle cheese fries either.

Come hungry, stay happy. At District Donuts, you can have an unforgettable meal and a next-level donut dessert, all in one go.

City Donuts

City Donuts earns serious bragging rights as the only 24-hour donut shop in New Orleans—but that’s not the only reason you should stop by. This humble, no-frills spot serves up some of the tastiest (and most affordable) donuts in the city.

Fan favorites include the strawberry frosted, chocolate coconut, and a delicious selection of cream-filled donuts. The standout? The lemon-filled donut, which hits the perfect balance of sweet and tart.

One of the best things about City Donuts is the price. Two donuts will only set you back around $2.40, and a half dozen goes for just about $6. That’s practically unheard of—especially when you compare it to the $15+ you’d likely spend in cities like Portland, Los Angeles, or New York.

Need a sugar fix on the go? City Donuts also has a convenient drive-thru, making it easy to grab a box of donuts any time, day or night.

Blue Dot Donuts

Blue Dot Donuts is a beloved local spot in New Orleans known for putting a creative spin on traditional donut flavors. Owned by Zach Foster, a third-generation donut maker, this shop brings serious donut pedigree to the table—Zach started making donuts with his grandfather when he was just ten years old! His experience shows. The donuts here are perfectly fried—light, airy, and full of flavor.

So what should you try? The maple bacon bar is a must for fans of sweet-and-savory combos. The PB&J donut is another standout, and if you’re into fruity flavors, the lemon-filled is refreshingly tangy and sweet.

A quick heads-up, Blue Dot Donuts tends to sell out early, often by mid-morning. If you have your heart set on a specific flavor, it’s a good idea to call ahead and have your favorites set aside.

Buttermilk Drop Bakery

Tucked away in the Gentilly/Seventh Ward neighborhood, Buttermilk Drop Bakery may not look flashy from the outside—but trust us, the donuts here are worth the detour. This unassuming spot is famous for one thing; buttermilk drop donuts.

If you’ve never had one before, a buttermilk drop is essentially a rich, cake-style donut hole coated in sweet glaze—and it’s heavenly. These bite-sized treats are incredibly moist and perfectly tender. The classic buttermilk is the fan favorite, but the red velvet version has its own loyal following.

And there’s more! Buttermilk Drop Bakery also puts a fun twist on New Orleans’ iconic beignets. You can try them stuffed with strawberry, cream cheese, or dipped in chocolate—a sugary upgrade that locals love.

In addition to their specialty items, they offer other donut-shop staples like glazed rings, lemon curd-filled, jam-filled, and vanilla cream-filled donuts. It’s a great place to satisfy your sweet tooth with a truly local treat.

Bakers Dozen

Bakers Dozen has been a local favorite for donuts in New Orleans since 1993—and after just one visit, you’ll see why. With decades of experience under their belt, this shop has truly mastered the art of donut-making. The donuts here don’t just taste amazing—they look amazing too. You’ll be tempted to snap a photo before taking a bite!

The menu is stacked with delicious options. Start with their classic cake donuts, available in flavors like blueberry, cinnamon, chocolate-covered, and buttermilk. From there, move on to their rich filled donuts, featuring flavors like apple cinnamon, apple crumble, sugar jelly, and glazed blueberry.

But where Bakers Dozen really stands out is with their creative, over-the-top donut creations. Think Fruity Pebble, Color Splash, and Candy Bead—bright, bold, and absolutely fun to eat.

Just a heads-up, Bakers Dozen is only open until 11 a.m. and they’re closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so make sure to plan your donut run early. Trust us, it’s worth setting the alarm.

Daddy’s Donuts

Daddy’s Donuts is a small, clean shop in Gentilly known for serving up some of the freshest—and largest—donuts in New Orleans!

While Daddy’s might not offer the wild flavor combos found at other spots, their strength lies in classic, perfectly made donuts that taste fantastic every time. The traditional glazed and sprinkled donuts are must-tries, but don’t miss their popular maple bacon bars—a delicious sweet and savory treat.

What really stands out here is how light and fluffy their donuts are, plus the prices are super wallet-friendly. Daddy’s Donuts is open seven days a week, making it an easy stop any day you’re craving a fresh donut fix.