Café du Monde

Café du Monde
Café du Monde is open 24 hours a day
Restaurant information
Established	1862
Current owner(s)	Fernandez family
Food type	Coffee & beignets
Dress code	Casual
Street address	800 Decatur Street
City	New Orleans
State	Louisiana
Postal code/ZIP	70116
Country	United States
Seating capacity	400
Reservations	No
Website	Cafedumonde.com

Café du Monde (French    ; French for "Café of the World" or "the People's Café"), is a renowned open-air coffee shop located on Decatur Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a New Orleans landmark and tourist destination, known for its café au lait and beignets.

The French brought coffee with them as they began to settle along the Gulf Coast and the Mississippi River, circa 1700. During the American Civil War, the New Orleans Creoles developed the chicory-blended coffee (as there was a coffee shortage) — which has continued to be served at Café du Monde and other New Orleans restaurants. Chicory adds a chocolate-like flavor to café au lait.

The Acadians (Cajuns) from Nova Scotia brought other French customs, such as the beignet, to Louisiana in the 18th century. Unlike most doughnuts, beignets are squared pieces of dough with no hole in the middle and are most often covered with powdered sugar. Sometimes they are seen served with fruit, jam, maple syrup, or even savory items. At Café du Monde, the beignets are served with a thick coating of powdered sugar and sold in orders of three.