The bacon on one sandwich here is made from adzuki beans. Yes, beans. And the kitchen cooks with olive oil only, skipping seed oils and refined sugars entirely.
That would be bold anywhere. In Louisiana, where fried food is practically a love language, it feels downright rebellious. I like how this café makes healthy eating sound fun instead of strict.
The weekends bring gluten-free waffles to the table. The bakery case is fully gluten-free, and raw sweet treats show up daily. Most dishes can also be tweaked to be vegan or gluten-free.
I believe the best food finds are the ones that surprise you. This one lives inside a renovated 1920s raised basement house, right next door to a recording studio. So what happens when a West Coast-style kitchen meets a classic Southern city?
The Burger That Skips The Beef And Keeps The Flavor
Lentils and tempeh walk into a bun. It sounds like the start of a joke, but it’s actually the plant-based burger on the menu.
Lamara Coffee & Kitchen builds its burger around a house-made patty instead of beef. The lentil and tempeh combo brings protein and heartiness without any meat at all. It’s the kind of lunch that fills you up without weighing you down.
Toppings get the same thoughtful care. The cheeses and mayo here are plant-based, soy-free, and nut-free. That’s a rare trio, and it opens the door for people with several allergies at once.
Meat lovers shouldn’t run away, either. A good veggie burger doesn’t ask you to give anything up. It simply offers a different path to a satisfying lunch.
The kitchen asks guests to mention any allergies before ordering. That small step helps the team guide you to the right dish. With so many custom options, a quick chat goes a long way.
If burgers aren’t calling your name, the BLAT Sandwich is worth a look. It stars house-made adzuki bean bacon. Bean bacon may sound wild, but curiosity is a great reason to order lunch.
North Broad Street Hides A Garden Café
Lamara Coffee & Kitchen is at 1300 North Broad Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. Approach along North Broad Street through Mid-City toward the Esplanade Avenue neighborhood.
The café occupies the street-level space of a renovated older house, with an enclosed rear patio and outdoor seating. Look for the small café entrance on North Broad rather than a large shopping-center storefront.
Use lawful nearby street parking and enter the café from the street. Ask staff about the current gluten-free waffle, burger-bun substitutions, and dairy-free baked treats, as the menu and ingredient availability can change.
Save Room Because The Bakery Case Is Fully Gluten-Free
Every single baked good here is gluten-free. That alone makes the dessert case a happy place for anyone who usually just stares at pastries from a distance.
The café describes itself as a gluten-free bakery in addition to its vegetarian kitchen. Treats are made in-house, and raw sweet treats show up daily too. You can grab one with coffee or take a few home for later.
One helpful detail is worth knowing before you order. Not every baked item is vegan, since some recipes use eggs. The menu labels items clearly, so ask the staff if you follow a strict vegan diet.
That honesty is part of the charm. The team handles many food allergies and wants guests to speak up. A quick question at the counter helps you pick the perfect treat.
Raw desserts are a fun change from typical cakes and cookies. They skip the oven completely and lean on whole ingredients for sweetness. Think of them as dessert that went to yoga class.
Since refined sugars stay off the list, these sweets feel a little lighter. Still, they’re treats, so enjoy every bite. A small indulgence never hurt anybody’s afternoon.
Breakfast And Lunch Come With A West Coast Accent
California sunshine meets Louisiana charm on this menu. Lamara Coffee & Kitchen calls itself a West Coast-inspired café, and the dishes back that up.
Take the West Coast Toast, topped with smashed avocado. It’s simple, fresh, and exactly what you’d expect from a café with California dreams. Sweet and savory toasts round out the options for morning cravings.
Lunch gets colorful fast. The Spring Roll Bowls and Rainbow Tostadas look like someone raided a farmers market. Salads and small plates are there for lighter appetites, too.
Coconut yogurt parfaits make a cool start to a warm New Orleans morning. They’re layered, bright, and easy to enjoy on the go. That’s handy if you’re rushing to a busy day.
Most dishes can be modified to be vegan or gluten-free. So a group with different diets can all order from the same menu. No one gets stuck with a side salad and a frown.
Breakfast and lunch are the prime times to visit. The café closes in the afternoon, so plan your meal early. Showing up for dinner will only get you a closed door and regret.
Your Latte Comes With Oat Milk Unless You Say Otherwise
Oat milk is the default here, not the extra charge afterthought. That one detail tells you plenty about how this café thinks.
The drink menu covers organic coffee, espresso, tea, and matcha drinks. Superfood smoothies add a fruity option for anyone skipping caffeine. Local roasters are part of the coffee picture as well.
Milk choices go beyond oat, which is smart. House-made almond milk is available, and so is organic dairy milk. Guests with nut sensitivities can steer clear of almonds easily.
House-made almond milk is a nice touch you don’t see everywhere. Most cafés just pour from a carton. Making it in-house shows real effort behind the counter.
Smoothies work well as a quick breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up. Pair one with a toast for a balanced meal. Or just sip it on the patio and call it self-care.
Matcha fans will find plenty to love too. The bright green tea drink has a loyal following for its calm energy. Whatever you order, consider bringing a reusable cup. This café takes waste seriously, and your drink can help the cause.
Pick Your Patio, Then Bring The Dog Along
Three outdoor seating areas give you choices most cafés can’t match. There’s an enclosed back patio, an open garden with lounge chairs, and street-side seating.
The garden is the spot for slow sipping. Lounge chairs make it easy to relax with a smoothie and a book. It feels more like a friend’s backyard than a coffee shop.
The enclosed patio works great on breezier days. It offers a cozy middle ground between indoors and outdoors. Street-side tables suit people-watchers who like a little neighborhood action.
Dogs are welcome in all the outdoor areas. That’s great news for anyone whose pup gives sad eyes at every exit. Bring water and a leash, and your furry friend can tag along.
New Orleans weather can turn steamy, so timing matters. Morning visits usually make outdoor seating more comfortable in Louisiana summers. Inside seating is there when the heat wins.
Free Wi-Fi works throughout the space, which helps remote workers. Grab a table, plug in your plans, and enjoy the greenery. Getting work done feels easier with flowers nearby and a dog snoozing at your feet.
A 1920s House Next To A Recording Studio Makes A Great Backstory
A raised basement house built in the 1920s now holds this modern café. The renovation blends old New Orleans bones with a fresh, bright purpose.
The location has a fun twist. Lamara Coffee & Kitchen sits right next door to Esplanade Studios, a sound recording facility. The café was developed to serve studio clients and the surrounding neighborhood.
That means you might be sipping coffee near people making music. It’s a very New Orleans kind of neighbor to have. Few cafés can claim a soundtrack so close by.
You’ll find the café at 1300 North Broad Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70119. It sits in the Mid-City and Esplanade Ridge area. Both neighborhoods have their own easygoing personality away from the busiest tourist zones.
Diane Heying and Misha Kachkachishvili own and run the café locally. Local ownership often means decisions get made with the community in mind. You can feel that care in the menu and mission.
Dine-in is just one choice. Takeout, delivery, and curbside pickup make it easy to grab food on busy days. Catering is also available for gatherings that deserve better than a plain sandwich tray.
Bring A Tote Bag Because Single-Use Bags Are Gone
Forgot your tote bag? You might be juggling your takeout order in your arms.
Lamara Coffee & Kitchen runs as a low-waste, eco-friendly café. Single-use bags are no longer offered for takeout orders. Customers are encouraged to bring their own reusable totes instead.
It’s a small habit with a real impact. Plastic bags pile up quickly, and many end up as litter. Skipping them is one easy way to help the planet.
Reusable cups are available too. That cuts down on the paper and plastic cups that fill trash cans every morning. Your daily coffee can be a little greener with almost no effort.
A simple tip makes this stress-free. Keep a folded tote in your car or backpack. That way, a surprise snack run never turns into an awkward balancing act.
Sustainability shapes the whole operation, not just the bags. The cooking choices, organic ingredients, and scratch recipes all fit the same goal. Caring about food and caring about the earth go hand in hand here. Honestly, it’s nice when a café’s values show up in everyday details like this.
Leave With Ceramics, Aromatics, And A Warm Welcome
Shopping and snacking share space inside this café. A small retail area offers goodies that make great gifts or treats for yourself.
Handmade ceramics line the shelves alongside Japanese ceramics. A pretty mug or bowl can turn your home coffee routine into something special. Sandoval Aromatics products and specialty sweet items are also part of the mix.
It’s a handy stop for last-minute presents. Few people expect to find gifts while grabbing lunch. Yet here you can leave with a smoothie and a birthday present.
The welcome extends to everyone who comes through the door. The café is recognized as popular with the LGBTQ+ community and as a transgender safe space. It clearly stands against discrimination and intolerance.
That kind of stance helps people feel comfortable just being themselves. A café should be a place to relax, eat well, and connect. Lamara Coffee & Kitchen takes that idea to heart.
So if you find yourself in New Orleans, this Louisiana café deserves a stop. Come for the waffles, burgers, and sweets. Stay for the garden, the gifts, and the friendly spirit that makes the whole place shine.