This Bywater jewel is just spectacular! Hosts Alissa and Mike couldn’t have been any more accommodating. They have put together the most complete welcome packet I’ve ever seen, filled with info about the house, but more importantly, things to see and do around New Orleans. We also received an e-mail with even more suggestions customized for our time here from the hosts. The photos in the listing are 100% accurate!
The house itself is welcoming and warm, nicely appointed with a lot of N’awlins artwork, big screen TV (where we watched endless reruns of the Dick Van Dyke Show when not wandering about the city). It’s a comfy open floor plan on a single floor with three bedrooms and two and a half baths, perfect for me, my two brothers, sister-in-law, and husband. We were in NOLA for a fun, funky wedding at the House of Blues complete with a Second Line. The house has a great kitchen with a huge center island and plenty of counter space, should you want to channel your inner Emeril Lagasse. A big mission-style dining room table for six is great if you want to eat in.
I personally LOVED the Bywater neighborhood. It’s so Bohemian, with some homes starting the gentrification of the neighborhood. Like any big city, though, take caution and know your surroundings. We brunched at Elizabeth’s, which is a gotta-go-to place if you’re in the Bywater, went to a great vinyl record store called Euclid’s, a funky restaurant called Galaxie with great apps. We didn’t spend any time in the bars in Bywater, but there are plenty to choose from, including the Saturn Bar, where Alec Baldwin and Nicolas Cage hang out when in town, or Dominoes, a cute little neighborhood gay bar.
We Ubered everywhere, and with five people sharing the expense, it was a bargain, and so much easier than renting a car. Ubering to the French Quarter was under $20 (depending on location you are heading to and surge pricing, sometimes as low as $12), and Frenchman’s District is even closer.
This was a magical family getaway, and Alissa & Mike’s home is Bywater’s best option for a place that will help you maintain the vibe of a fun and funky vacation.