The host(s?) seemed really nice and responded promptly to our messages. The actual living space was pretty terrific. It's something special. I was impressed with the masterful combination of beauty and function in such a small loft. The bed was very comfortable and the TV worked fine once we looked up the Amazon code (which you have to enter once or more every time you watch Netflix). There are no blinds, so expect full natural light at all times of the day and night (including a skylight directly above the bed), but the space is still very private because of frosted glass and the private outdoor space outside the glass front door. The heated floors were so comfortable. The shower was really cool-looking and the water pressure/temperature was great. I was expecting more than a mini-fridge, toaster oven, and stovetop burners when I saw “full kitchen” in the listing, but we mostly made do. The loft space was wonderful, and communication was clear and timely. For those things, I would give a five-star review. Unfortunately, other aspects of the stay lowered my overall rating to three stars.
There are some things I wish I had known in advance that I highlight as especially important for anyone with a physical limitation, anyone with no car, anyone with a small child, etc. First of all, “private gated alley” is a literally true description but its connotations didn’t reflect my experience there. “Padlocked bumpy alley with parked vehicles on both sides” is equally accurate.
Each time you enter or exit the loft, you must unlock a padlock with a key and rewrap the chain around the gates and relock it, then walk (or drive) about the length of a football field over an unpaved alley, a combination of sandy dirt and rocks. You cannot feasibly be dropped off at the loft by car because opening the gate requires a physical key (not a code to type in).
There is no practical way to have food delivered. We didn’t want to explain “meet us at the gate to this back alley” and have to stand around waiting there (or make the delivery person wait 3-4 minutes for us to walk to the gate).
If you plan to take your car out after arrival, be prepared for what feels like a video game of obstacles. Either you find the widest part of the alley you can and make a 16-point turn to face forward as you squeeze your car through tight gaps, or you avoid obstacle after obstacle as you back up the length of a football field over bumpy terrain. Examples: neighbor’s potted plants (on the ground, too low to easily see from the driver's seat), permanently parked motorcycle covered by tarp, big van, some kind of prickly plants that scraped at the car if we got too close, and worst of all, pickup trucks that actually blocked the alley. Multiple times, we had to ask strangers (sometimes we had to find them nearby first) to move their pickup trucks (different people on different days) and then have the truck driver as an audience, idling while watching us navigate our car through the still-tight gap in reverse.
Having to drive down that alley was consistently the worst part of our day. My husband and I traded off because we both dreaded it, and limited ourselves to one car trip per day. After making it all the way down the alley, we still had to have whoever was the passenger unlock the gate, then drive through and have the passenger relock it before getting back in the car.
Unfortunately, when we arrived we learned that the sliding front door had somehow broken. Maybe it had fallen off its track? It was extremely heavy and for my husband and I (medium-sized people), it required using one’s entire body weight to open or close. It also made a loud screeching noise.
Lastly, we stayed a week and the bins below the sink weren't enough room for our recycling and trash from going out to eat so often. We got a quick and polite reply when we asked if there was a dumpster we could use: there wasn't, but we could leave bags of trash in the alley. Maybe it was a miscommunication, but I did leave bags in the alley that day and then the trash seemed to have blown around all over the surrounding area and it rained really hard. My husband and I ended up picking up dirty/soggy trash. This arguably wasn't the host's fault, but it did not make for a five star experience.
I hope this thorough review helps someone plan ahead for their stay here!