These Restaurants Serve The Best Bread Pudding in New Orleans

People ask me what they should do in New Orleans. Two things I always tell them. If you do only these two things you will have a wonderful time:  1. Eat 2. Drink. That’s it! New Orleans is the ultimate foodie city! One of the best dishes in NOLA is New Orleans bread pudding. We sampled this luscious dish all over New Orleans and beyond. Here are the places for the best bread pudding in New Orleans.

If you’re in a rush and don’t want to read my entire article about New Orleans bread pudding my favorite is at the Peacock Room. It may not even be on the menu but ask for it. It is the best we ate! And the Peacock Room itself is a cocktail bar you must experience. Try the bread pudding with the espresso martini – Magnificent!

The ever-popular dish’s origins go back to old England, bread pudding started out as a great way to stretch a loaf of bread.

Bread Pudding – My New Fav

Take day-old (or older!) bread, add sugar, and cream, pour in a healthy portion of booze, top with raisins, and you have a fantastic dessert that’s easy on the budget. 

Bread pudding is a culinary thang in the South, and if you’re recognized for your unique sweet custardy creation you’re not just another cook in the kitchen but Da Cook! 

After all, real Southern cooks labor in the kitchen for hours to put just the right spin on this beloved dessert.  

This midwestern gal lives in a land where cattle is king and brownies are my usual dessert.

After hitting New Orleans and Southern LA a few times, I’ve changed my tune. 

Give me gumbo and bread pudding for the win!!

Read on for more restaurants that serve the best bread pudding in New Orleans. IYou can’t make a bad choice here – it’s all ooey-gooey delish New Orleans bread pudding.

1. Peacock Room –  Hotel Fontenot – Central Business District 

Bread pudding at the Peacock Room is served warm, with cream and topped with a delicious sugary-boozy sauce and luscious buttery crumble topping. The Peacock Room hits all the right notes with its incredible New Orleans bread pudding – the best of our trip! It begs the question: Peacock Room, where have you and your bread pudding been all my life??

2. Commander’s Palace – The Garden District

The Creole Bread pudding souffle is the stuff dreams are made of. Head over to the Garden District’s landmark dining establishment, the legendary Commander’s Palace, to get yours. This quintessential New Orleans restaurant has been around since the late 1800s – and is where the young Emeril Lagesse started out in NOLA.  You can’t miss Commander’s Palace – the iconic blue and white paint job is oh so festive – just like the bread pudding that’s finished with flair, tableside.  

3. Arnaud’s – The French Quarter

It’s elegant, it’s grand, and dining at Arnaud’s is an experience you won’t soon forget. Put on your best outfit (there is a dress code) and head to Bourbon Street. This classic  New Orleans restaurant serves a formal dinner with superb execution. Everything thing here feels so fancy and over the top! It’s not my usual type of place for sure, but after a couple of cocktails, I settle in!  The bread pudding for dessert is pure comfort food. Topped with rum-soaked raisins, it delivers all the exquisite goodness you’d expect.  Don’t miss it! This is one of my all-time favorite unique dining experiences!

4. Heard Dat Kitchen – The Garden District 

Go Big or go home. Heard Dat Kitchen takes this to heart by including exactly one dessert item on its menu. Simply described as bread pudding, it’s legendary. Heard Dat is THE place to go  in NOLA for real-deal soul food. The casual vibe and reasonable prices get people here. The classic grub at keep people coming back. 

5. Mr. B’s Bistro – The French Quarter 

Founded by the Brennan’s – New Orlean’s first family of food, Mr. B’s Bistro brings together all that is good in the world of authentic Creole food. While not traditionally Creole, the bread pudding at Mr. B’s is straight out of the Brennan family cookbook.  Topped with an Irish whiskey sauce, this is one for the books. 

Antoine’s Restaurant – The French Quarter

What’s so special about Antoine’s? For starters, it’s the oldest family-owned restaurant in town. This classic French-Creole NOLA restaurant oozes charm amid a refined ambiance. Complete with tuxedoed staff, Antonie’s is dripping with elegance.  It’s an inviting atmosphere to dig into a big batch of bread pudding. cans and golden raisins and is finished with a butter rum sauce. 

8. Brennen’s – The French Quarter 

Brennan’s may be your spot if you’re looking for a taste of history as you nosh on traditional NOLA cuisine. Many say Brennan’s is the best all-around restaurant in the city. After you’ve polished off the turtle soup and glazed royal reds shrimp, it’s dessert time! And while you may want to try bananas foster, since Brennan’s did invent the dish, we’re here to talk about bread pudding. Brennan’s knows what they’re doing in the sweets category. With buttermilk ice cream, pralines, and whiskey caramel sauce, it doesn’t get any better than this. 

9. Gumbo Shop – The French Quarter 

Come for the gumbo, stay for the bread pudding. At the Gumbo Shop in the heart of the French Quarter, you’ll find award-winning gumbo along with some of the best breading pudding in New Orleans. Served warm with a whiskey sauce this southern bread pudding is luscious and rich. 

10. Mambo’s – The French Quarter 

With so much good food in New Orleans, deciding where to eat is hard. If you’re looking for a killer atmosphere, and dynamite bread pudding, put Mambo’s on your list! Located directly on Bourbon Street, check out the views as you enjoy the rooftop bar. While Mambo’s is known for its crab cakes, make sure you order the praline and rum sauce-infused bread pudding.

11. Cafe Sbisa – The French Quarter

Cafe Sbisa knows what they’re doing. As one of the oldest fine-dining restaurants in the city, this is one stop that should be on your list for authentic New Orleans bread pudding. Cafe Sbisa fans rave about their version of the Southern delight.

Bread Pudding Up and Down the Bayou

Looking to get out of the city for a while?  We found tasty, authentic food on our Southern Louisiana road trip. Here are some of the best spots for more bread pudding.

Lockport, Louisiana

Tiny Lockport is home to Kajun Twist & Grill, a diner-type spot (with a great bar), that’s run by Chef Anthony Goldsmith.  When we met Anthony, we found out his grandmother was none other than Alzina Toups,  Louisiana culinary royalty down here.  She’s passed on now but the family is keeping her memory alive!!

Of course, we got to talking about all things food and I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of Alzina’s cookbooks!  

Cajun’s Joy Cookin’ N Eatin’ is chock full of ALL those special Southern recipes, including some of the best bread pudding. 

I made Alzina’s bread pudding with rum sauce and I’m quite sure I didn’t do it justice, but it was friggin good.

This book is such a coup. There are recipes in here that are just such authentic Cajun and Creole fare:  Turtle Soup, Red Boudin, Creole Jambalaya, Crawfish Stew and many more. 

And some recipes in the book I truly have no idea what they are:  La Bouille De Cajun, Strawberry Charlotte Russe.  But I can’t wait to find out!  

Thibodaux, Louisiana 

Quite a few restaurants in Thidobaux, Louisiana are worth checking out just for their bread pudding! You’ll probably find other excellent Cajun and Creole food like we did: red beans & rice, crawfish étouffée,  jambalaya, chicken fricasse, shrimp & grits…and the list goes on!

In Thibodaux, go to Spahr’s Downtown, or Fremin’s.

New Orleans Best Bread Pudding Wrap-Up

Next time you go to the Crescent City or parts nearby, remember just two things:  Eat and Drink. Indulge in New Orleans bread pudding and you can’t go wrong!