This neighborhood is great and getting better in terms of restaurants and parks all the time. Bon march is open late enough to give you an amazing selection until late. Laundry, banks, fine food specialists are all foot steps away. The neighborhood feels safe to travel in the evening walking and to return to the apartment late at night. I didn't notice a lot of traffic noise and the apartment itself was quite quiet. The cooing of pigeons was the loudest morning noise. Don't worry about sleeping on a pull out couch - this was the most amazing and firm pullout I've every slept on.