I had a great time staying at José's apartment in Bairro Alto and would stay here again if I come back to Lisbon. The apartment is cheerful and the living room gets great light. It's a perfect size for one to two people. I stayed there alone, and while Lisbon is a safe city generally, I would say I felt exceptionally safe walking in the area of the apartment at basically any hour of the night. The location is excellent -- near heavily touristed areas but not right in them, and the immediate surroundings are local-feeling and pleasant, with lots of great places to hang out.
The building is on a relatively quiet street within Bairro Alto. If you are very sensitive to noise and do not want to wear earplugs, I would suggest you look in another neighborhood altogether. I am a light sleeper but always wear earplugs and was totally fine the whole month (and really liked the festive atmosphere).
José himself was responsive and a pleasure to deal with. Thanks for everything, José.