Two Chicks’ Picks for New Orleans’ Best Cozy Hideaways
New Orleans is a city where people live out loud. Few places on the planet can compete with the pageantry, culture, and sheer energy that goes into having a good time in the Crescent City. But even the merriest of revelers need to recharge from time to time. These cozy attractions offer the perfect laid-back alternative for people looking to relax in New Orleans.
1000 Figs/Swirl Wine Bar & Market
1000 Figs makes fresh, delicious Mediterranean cuisine in the leafy Faubourg St. John. Right next door, Swirl Wine Bar and Market features a wide selection of bottles as well as cheeses, beers, and regular tastings. On a nice day, these two make the perfect combination for an impromptu picnic. Grab some food to go (the chicken salad sandwich is highly recommended) and a bottle of wine and walk across the street to Fortier Park, or venture a little farther past St. Louis Cemetery # 3 to Bayou St. John or City Park. Eat, drink, and watch the sunlight stream through the stately oaks and sycamores in this beautiful New Orleans neighborhood.
Besthoff Sculpture Garden
A serene combination of visual art, water, and flora await at the Besthoff Sculpture Garden in City Park. Located directly adjacent to the New Orleans Museum of Art, the five-acre garden is one of City Park’s best outdoor attractions. The garden is free to enter every day of the week. Stroll along the tree-lined pathways around City Park’s lake while taking in works by artists like Auguste Renoir, Rene Magritte, and Isamu Noguchi.
The Fly
Officially known as Butterfly Riverview Park, but known affectionately by locals as “the fly,” this is one of a handful of parks in town along the banks of the mighty Mississippi. From downtown, go past the Garden District all the way to the riverbend, to the wide lawns and sports fields overlooking the slow-moving river. Mingle with college students from nearby Tulane and Loyola Universities, families, barbecuers, and others enjoying this relaxing green space.
Bacchanal
You can’t go wrong when you pair wine, snacks, and live music in one courtyard. Bacchanal is known for its extensive wine list, with hundreds of bottles available hailing from smaller producers from the best wine regions of the world. They specialize in Old World style wines at reasonable prices, perfect for those who are looking to explore the world of fine wine, but they also offer a great menu of craft cocktails and simply tasty foods they describe as “Mediterranean Minimalism.”
Enjoy these cozy hideaways in New Orleans where locals and tourists alike can unwind. For more recommendations on all things New Orleans, contact Two Chicks Walking Tours. Spend some time with us exploring the city and its attractions and see what makes it so unique.