This was really the perfect intro to New Orleans. It was urban in the sense that we had many great restaurants, shops, and some bars/music venues a short walk in either direction along Magazine. But the tree-lined streets were also somehow quiet and clean at the same time. It was the total opposite of the dirty, smelly French Quarter but still dense with things to do and not at all lacking for charm or history.

Check out the The Soul Rebels, who play monthly just 2 blocks away when they’re home from touring throughout the US & beyond. We had a great time seeing the Rebirth Brass Band our first night, a quick Uber ride further uptown at the Maple Leaf Bar. Spotty sidewalk coverage and some traffic/awkward right of way made walking away from Magazine not 100% ideal at times, but overall the area was totally walkable for a pair of Brooklynites. Destinations beyond were easily accessible by Uber/cabs (~10 mins) or the St. Charles streetcar (~30 mins) a few blocks away, running 24 hours and only $3/day.

Anastasia has an exhaustive list of all sorts of things to do in her guidebook and was super welcoming and always available to help point us to the right places. We were only lacking in time and appetites to eat! I would definitely like to return if not just to eat more. Magazine and the adjacent neighborhoods are host to the best restaurants in the city. We had some great brunch on a Friday at Atchafalaya — duck fat-infused sazeracs! — and got to scratch one of the po-boy meccas off the list at Domilise’s. Another local institution, Hansen’s Sno-bliz was also super close.

The apartment was exactly as pictured, just right for one or a couple. High ceilings and smart use of the space made it feel pretty roomy for it’s size. The bathroom was covered in this nicely textured volcanic material and well appointed with organic soaps and towels. Anastasia had the AC going for us when we got in, that along with a ceiling fan and some La Croix in the fridge helped us acclimate quickly. Overall we were really comfortable and hope to return another day!