If you don't want to read a long review, just read this: we LOVE this place!

A friend and I had the most enjoyable experience at Lauren's place. It was a "stay-cation," as I live only a few stops south, but it would be the perfect retreat for anyone, whether new to the city or a long-time resident. Lauren is a wonderful host, flexible, timely with respect to making and firming up arrangements, and available as needed (though not at all intrusive). The place itself is a dream come true: clean and unexpectedly spacious with excellent amenities (including a dishwasher and washer/dryer), which honestly became secondary to the enduring imprint of its charm: exposed brick, huge tub an vintage bathroom sink, beautiful hardwood floors, unique pieces throughout, and one of the cutest outdoor areas I've seen in the city! The place gets surprising sunlight for a garden apartment (far more than I get in my own second-floor apartment), and it was such a treat to sit on the back patio at all times of the day to read, drink tea, and play games (the patio gets sunlight almost all day).

The apartment is very safe, with double front and back doors, and is very quiet for relaxing and sleeping since it's situated in the middle of the block. We loved exploring the neighborhood, though, and the place is very close to some great spots: Tanto Dulce Cafe was perfect for coffee, pastries, and delicious oversized breakfast sandwiches, Solace Bar & Grill offered some great happy hour deals, Harlem Public had a bustling late-night bar crowd, and the Grange was a nice spot for a glass of wine and dessert. If you're not sure what to do in the area, Laura has a whole notebook of information on the house and the area, and there's a Zagat guide available on the bookshelf. In short, I wish we could have stayed longer! This was our first Airbnb experience, and quite possibly the best I could ever have imagined. I can't wait to make some time this summer for another stay-cation at Lauren's!