We enjoyed our stay in this New Orleans home in the Bywater. If you plan to spend most of your time in the Marigny neighborhood/Frenchmen St, you’ll find this a convenient location as it’s only about a mile away. The quarter and garden district are a 15-20 minute drive, which we didn’t mind but you’d probably be better off staying closer to the FQ if that’s where you plan to hang out more. That said, I’ve done the quarter enough times before and wanted a different experience.
I have stayed in the Bywater before so I knew what to expect. Those who’s only experience of Nola is the quarter or who aren’t adventurous types will probably need to manage expectations. The area is NOT the quarter and it’s definitely not the garden District. It’s a lot warn on the edges but with that hasn’t lost some of its charm & culture and certainly isn’t as overrun with tourists as is the quarter (although they’re coming).
Some have mentioned the neighborhood the house is located - driving into the neighborhood you may wonder if you’ve made a mistake. This charming home is located very near train yard and more than a few abandoned/condemned homes. It’s a little pricey IMO for the area but you can definitely see that someone has poured a lot of love into this Airbnb and one can hope the homes nearby will see some revitalization. Despite the appearance of the neighborhood, we felt safe during our stay. The neighbors were friendly and welcoming. Be prepared for early wake up calls if you’re a light sleeper- about 5am every morning the train cars get connected. It doesn’t last long (thankfully) but if you’re a light sleeper, you may find yourself up earlier than you planned.
Plenty to do nearby. Go check out Frenchman street. Catch a show at Snug Harbor if you can. St Roch Market is a great spot for lunch or dinner. N7 is $$/good but you want to get a table outside and don’t even think of going without a reservation. The Elysian Bar serves the best cappuccino I’ve ever had. Bacchanal is nearby and worth a visit but prepare to wait.
All in all we had a great visit and enjoyed our stay.