Royal Blend is an excellent breakfast alternative to Cafe du Monde and the other crowded Quarter restaurants. Hidden away in a back courtyard on Royal Street in the Quarter between Toulouse and St. Peter, Royal Blend has homemade quiches (usually two a day), homemade bread, fresh bagels, muffins, freshly squeezed juices, and dozens and dozens of coffees from around the world. To find it, look for the overhanging sign on Royal and walk down the corridor (past the Gallerie Erotique), through the courtyard, and enter the door straight ahead of you. There you'll wait in line as they take your order at the counter. Once you've paid (our last time there we had one large coffee, one extra large chai, one bagel, one muffin, and apple walnut bread for less than $9), you can either sit inside at one of six or seven small tables, or outside in the courtyard.
The apple walnut bread and banana nut bread are perfect for a light breakfast, especially with a 20-ounce cup of Guatemalan French Roast coffee. The locally made blueberry and poppyseed muffins are also very good. My fiancee had a toasted whole wheat bagel that she enjoyed very much as well. The chai unfortunately was a little weak - stick to the coffee. "The Blend" also has a good selection of herbal teas, dessert coffees (including the delicious Bananas Foster), cookies, biscotti, and chocolate covered espresso beans (very dangerous). While you're eating/drinking, you can browse through the local music and events guides that are available by the inside tables. As much as I love Cafe du Monde, you'll definitely feel more like a local at Royal Blend.