This apartment is as beautiful as it appears in the photos. It is completely comfortable and a real home away from home. It was very quiet, as it is on a quiet side street, yet very close to the Retiro Park. The only noises we heard were just the sounds of other residents in the building carrying out their daily lives: children playing after school, people coming home, etc., nothing at all offensive or obtrusive. There is a bit of noise from the elevator, but we got used to it very quickly and it was not bothersome.
This was an especially nice place to stay after a long international flight, as we could just be on any schedule we liked and cooked our own breakfasts and dinners most days. The location is very convenient to markets and the beautiful sights of Madrid. There is an excellent Indian restaurant right next door. We felt completely safe in the neighborhood.
And Dan, our host, was wonderful, very communicative, friendly, welcoming, and full of good advice and information.