Mimosa Place

Mimosa Place might sound like a hot new brunch spot, but it’s actually a primarily residential neighborhood centrally located in Lafayette, La. Densely populated, the area is technically mixed-use. The interior of the neighborhood contains all houses, while the surrounding major roadways feature a variety of restaurants, grocery stores and shopping centers. It’s also close to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Cajun Field and Cajundome, along with the Convention Center and Ochsner University Hospital & Clinics.

“Mimosa Place is in the middle of everything. You’re right down the road from the University, Moncus Park, the biggest health club in town, and the high school. There are tons of local restaurants, too,” says Kristen Blanchard with Keller Williams Realty Acadiana. “There are also very affordable homes compared to other areas in the city. The neighborhood has great starter homes that start at $130,000 and above.”

The neighborhood is made up of single- and multi-family housing in overwhelmingly traditional styles. You’ll find Creole-inspired homes here that seem to have been transported directly from New Orleans. There are also apartments, condos, cottages and ranch-style residences. Mature trees tower over rooftops and provide shade for children to play, while nicely manicured lawns invite you to sit on the porch and enjoy the evening. Prices range from $85,000 for a one-bedroom, one-bath condominium to $575,000 for a three-bedroom, three-bath, multi-story traditional home.

Students in Mimosa Place have their choice of private, parochial and public schools no matter their age range. Little ones can attend S.J. Montgomery Elementary, while slightly older children might enroll in Lafayette Middle School. The middle facility has an environmental science-focused program fueled by hands-on learning, community partnerships and the overarching goal of saving the Louisiana coastline. Lafayette High School, which abuts the Mimosa Place neighborhood, is the No. 6 standout high school in the state according to educational ranking website Niche. It’s home to the Academy of Health Careers, a magnet program designed to train students for employment in the health sciences, as well as a French Immersion Academy.

Nearby, Moncus Park is one of the most popular green spaces in the city. The 100-acre space welcomes visitors with lush live oak trees, native landscapes and swathes of open spaces. Designed to keep the entire family entertained for hours, the park features a four-acre stocked pond complete with a fishing pier. There is also a family treehouse made of reclaimed red cypress wood that features an ADA boardwalk ramp and overlook deck, as well as an all-inclusive playground with areas for both older and younger children. Part of the high ground in Lafayette Parish, the park is home to the highest point in the city and has walking and hiking trails, along with events like Food Truck Fridays and the Lafayette Farmers & Artisans Market.

If you find yourself not wanting to cook after a busy day, the Mimosa Place neighborhood has a plethora of eateries to make your evening a little more relaxed. Alesi Pizza House opened in 1957 as Lafayette’s first pizza parlor. Originally found outside the city limits, the restaurant now sits firmly within the town’s boundaries and is instantly recognizable with its neon pizza man sign, which by now has achieved local landmark status. Until 2003, the homemade sauces were created in the owner’s home kitchen. Today, they’re still made in-house, but that house is the business itself. Family-owned through several generations, the eatery serves standards like garlic bread sticks, Sicilian spaghetti, and a wide variety of pizza toppings alongside Italian classics like seafood manicotti and chicken cacciatore.

Another neighborhood favorite is Judice Inn, established by two brothers after serving in World War II. A loyal customer base is still stopping by for a bite more than 70 years later. In fact, the community gathering space is frequented by regulars who’ve been sitting in the same booth for 40 years. But it's also a hit with first-semester college students. The inn gained recognition for having one of the South’s Best Burgers, according to Southern Living magazine, and it's still serving the same secret sauce recipe that was perfected in 1947, alongside steak sandwiches, Zapp’s chips and milkshakes. Mimosa Place is a great community for residents who crave the comforts of suburban living while remaining firmly rooted in the city of Lafayette.

Written By

K.T. Phillips

Video By

Victoria Sharpe