If you’re anything like us, you’re already halfway through your second (or third) King Cake. Because here in New Orleans, we don’t just celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th—we kick off an entire season of powdered sugar highs and frosting-covered fingers. Let them eat cake? Oh, we do.
King’s Day, also known as the Feast of the Epiphany, marks the Three Kings’ visit to the baby Jesus. It’s steeped in Catholic tradition and New Orleans’ unique blend of culture and revelry. That’s why we eat King Cakes—a sweet, cinnamon-y, icing-laden symbol of unity and celebration. The tiny baby hidden inside? It’s a nod to the Christ child and also your ticket to hosting the next King Cake party. (Lucky you.)
But who really needs a reason to indulge? It’s cake! The real question is: where can you find the best one? We’ve made that “a piece of cake” with this list of top picks from Team Cool Murphy. From the classics to the creative, these are the spots that’ll make you the King (or Queen) of Carnival season.
The List
Ready to indulge? Whether you're gluten-free, vegan, or simply seeking the best traditional King Cake, we've got you covered. Each Realtor on Team Cool Murphy shares their favorites below—including junior agent and total foodie Kristen Ragus, and our amazing producer and community advocate Desiree McSwain.
Darcie Braai’s Picks: West Bank Favorites
Antoine’s Famous Cakes: A hidden treasure on the West Bank, known for its incredibly moist and rich cakes. A visit here promises a King Cake that perfectly captures the essence of New Orleans' Carnival season.
Haydel’s Bakery: A name synonymous with tradition in the New Orleans King Cake scene. Known for their perfect blend of sweetness and spice, Haydel’s King Cakes are a reliable and delicious choice.
Hi-Do Bakery: Famous for its unique twists on the classic King Cake, offering an exciting variety of flavors.
Dough Nguyener’s Bakery: An exciting addition to the West Bank’s bakery scene, known for its contemporary take on the traditional King Cake, including creative flavor infusions.
Brittany’s Picks: The Classics
Dong Phuong: A consistent favorite, known for its flaky pastry and rich fillings.
Randazzo’s: Perfect for large gatherings, their King Cake is a visual and taste sensation.
Gambino’s: Known for adding a touch of rum to their cakes, creating a unique and delightful flavor.
Tastee Donuts: Sticking to the basics and doing it brilliantly, rumored to be using the legendary McKenzie’s recipe.
Jess’s Picks: For the Foodie Explorer
Dong Phuong: It’s no surprise this bakery is a repeat on her list. Their cakes are a perfect blend of traditional and modern, leaving every bite memorable.
Third Wheel: Known for their out-of-the-box flavors, their turmeric King Cake is a must-try for those looking to spice up their King Cake experience.
Bywater Bakery: Known for its variety, Bywater’s savory boudin and crawfish King Cakes are perfect for the adventurous eater.
Nor Joe’s: Famous for its cannoli King Cake—a fusion of creamy, rich filling and soft, sweet King Cake dough.
Flour Moon: Their giant bagel King Cake with lox is a savory twist that Jess describes as “brunch and Mardi Gras rolled into one.”
Kristen Ragus’ Picks: For the Creative Sweet Tooth
Dong Phuong’s Cream Cheese King Cake: Renowned for its light, flaky brioche dough and signature cream cheese icing, this King Cake has become a New Orleans favorite.
Meril’s Tres Leches King Cake: Chef Emeril Lagasse’s restaurant, Meril, offers a decadent Tres Leches King Cake, combining the rich flavors of the classic Latin American dessert with the traditional King Cake, resulting in a moist and indulgent treat.
Zuppardo’s Berry Chantilly King Cake: Zuppardo’s Family Market presents a delightful Berry Chantilly King Cake, featuring fresh berries and a light Chantilly cream, offering a fruity twist on the traditional King Cake.
Gambino’s King Cake: A childhood favorite, Gambino’s offers an old-school King Cake with classic icing, available in traditional or cream cheese fillings, bringing back nostalgic flavors with every bite.
Kristen's New Picks to Try This Year:
Hubig’s Pies King Cakes: For the first time, the iconic Hubig’s Pies is offering King Cakes in flavors like traditional cinnamon, custard, Dutch apple, and cream cheese. Available in select stores and online, these King Cakes are a must-try for fans of the beloved pies.
Rouses’ New King Cake Flavors: Rouses Markets have expanded their King Cake offerings with exciting flavors including s'mores, churro, and cookie dough, providing adventurous options for those looking to try something new this Carnival season.
Sara’s Picks: Gluten-Free Goodness
Creme Confectionery: Their gluten-free King Cakes are so good that even gluten lovers enjoy them.
Van Friendly: Specializing in gluten-free baked goods, their King Cake is a testament to their skill.
Waffles on Maple: Perfect for those who want a smaller treat, their mini gluten-free King Cakes are full of flavor.
NOCCA Marketplace: Featuring Cake Cafe’s gluten-free King Cakes, with proceeds supporting young artists.
For vegan options, she recommends Bywater Bakery, Van Friendly, and Breads on Oak for their exceptional plant-based King Cakes.
Desiree McSwain’s Picks: A Blend of Fun and Flavor
Desiree McSwain isn’t just an amazing producer and community advocate—she’s also got impeccable taste in King Cakes. Here are her top picks:
King Cake Milkshake & Ice Cream from Lucy Boone: This creamy indulgence takes King Cake to the next level. Whether you’re sipping or scooping, it’s a guaranteed treat.
Hubig’s Pies King Cakes: Andrew Ramsey announced they’ll now have King Cakes in four flavors: traditional cinnamon, custard, Dutch apple, and cream cheese. The custard and Dutch apple pay homage to their iconic pie flavors, and you can find them at Breaux Mart and select local grocery stores.
All-Natural King Cake from Breads on Oak: Made with organic flours, plant-based colors, and non-GMO ingredients, this King Cake even swaps the plastic baby for an almond. Thoughtful and delicious!
Randazzo’s Cream Cheese and Pecan Praline King Cake: For purists, this is a must. The cream cheese and pecan praline combo is drool-worthy.
King Cake Earrings from Trends on Magazine Street: Mardi Gras is as much about fashion as it is about food, and these festive earrings are the perfect accessory for the season.
Bonus!
King Cake Hub at Zony Mash: Find a variety of King Cakes in one spot at the King Cake Hub. Perfect for exploring all your options in one visit.
King Cake 5K: Desiree also organizes this fun, family- and pet-friendly event with her workout group, Stone Foundation NOLA. The 5K run is followed by King Cake and coffee, of course. Follow @stone_foundation_nola for updates on this year’s date, place, and time.
Elisa’s Picks: Alternatives to Cake
“Let them eat cake; you don't have to.” For those of you who aren’t feeling the traditional King Cake, Elisa’s got your back:
King Cake Latte: Who Dat Cafe serves the best in town. Order it iced or hot, and for bonus points, add King Cake vodka.
Pelicans’ Mascot Photo Op: Out-cake your insta-friends by finding the Pelicans’ infamous King Cake Baby mascot.
Fringe & Co: Instead of eating King Cake, wear the spirit with MG fringe jackets and accessories.
Gris-Gris King Cake Cocktail: Made with Deep Eddy Vodka, Evangeline Praline Liqueur, dairy-free vanilla soft serve, cinnamon, and seasonal spices, this cocktail even made the NOLA Eat Fit menu!
Rock-n-Sake’s Sushi King Cake: Pressed sushi rice filled with snow crab and cream cheese, topped with assorted sashimi, bringing a savory spin to the King Cake tradition.
Bonus Event + Cakes!
This year, we’ll be serving up cake at our Parade of Homes: Marigny Bywater Home Tour Extravaganza! Join us on Saturday, January 18th, from 11 AM to 2 PM to tour over 20 homes across the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods. Many homes on the tour, including our listing at 2705 Burgundy, will feature King Cakes from local vendors for you to try. All homes on the tour are for sale, and everyone is welcome to attend—the perfect excuse to be nosey (ahem, neighborly), see beautiful homes, and eat up! More info here.
What’s your favorite King Cake spot? Let us know! We’re always excited to discover new favorites and share them with our community. Because when it comes to King Cake, there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing.
The King Cakes on this list come from every corner of the city, just like the homes we help our clients buy and sell. Whether you’re a fan of keeping it simple or exploring all your options, you’ve come to the right place. At Cool Murphy Real Estate, we keep things simple and stress-free for our clients while offering the expertise and reach to cover the entire metro area. Join us this Saturday in the Bywater to tour some amazing homes (and taste some great King Cake), or find us wherever you need us to be—we’ll make sure it’s all a piece of cake.
For more great content, New Orleans real estate updates, and all things King Cake, don’t forget to visit our homepage and subscribe to our weekly email. Need real estate advice in New Orleans? We’re just a call away—King Cake in hand!
Voted Neighborhood Favorite by Nextdoor, Team Cool Murphy is a top-producing, licensed real estate team based in New Orleans, brokered by Cool Murphy, LLC.
Celebrated for her next-level creative approach to real estate, Elisa Cool Murphy is an award-winning, top-performing real estate broker in New Orleans and the founder of Cool Murphy Real Estate.
Contact Her -
email: cool@coolmurphy.com
Facebook: @homeinneworleans
IG: @coolmurphynola
YouTube: @coolmurphynola
phone: 504-321-3194
