Don't be fooled by the exterior of this place. I was skeptical as I took my first step into the apartment late at night and the floors creaked. I expected cobwebs and bugs, but the closer I looked, the more I realized that it was the cleanest space I'd ever seen. Places where you'd at least expect some dust was absolutely immaculate. I don't know how it was possible to clean so well.
The apartment is also set up extremely mindfully. Any time I found myself wondering, "Well where is this?" or "How do I use this?" or "Isn't there a light in here?" I'd notice a label or note telling me exactly what I needed to know.
Although Lyn-Lake is not what it used to be, (most places close at 11pm) the location is still excellent. Plenty of restaurants, coffee, bars, and shopping within walking distance, and it's a perfect central location within the city, especially if you're not wanting to be downtown.
But the location is both a blessing and a curse. The host is upfront about this apartment being on a busy street, and she's done everything possible to mitigate the noise - brand new windows, thick curtains, a white noise machine. (And these DO help immensely.) The problem is, the source of the noise isn't just the street - it's the Speedway next door. Cars blaring their stereo don't just pass by, they sit in the parking lot right outside. I'm very familiar with this particular gas station, actually. Living in Minneapolis 2008-2015, I used to sit at Bryant Lake Bowl with friends and watch the strange goings-on at the Lyn-Lake SA (then Super America) across the street - always entertaining. It's mostly harmless, but not ideal to be next door. I was able to ignore the noise for the most part, but it did occasionally get nerve-wracking during my 10-day stay.
Having said that, I was very comfortable otherwise!