Alvaro's place looks exactly like in the pictures and he is a great host. He was extremely accommodating with my check-in being delayed due to delayed flights, etc. The apartment was clean and basics like coffee, tea, sugar, milk and some chocolates were provided as well. The Kitchen is reasonably well-equipped.
The neighborhood itself is very lively with tons of bars and restaurants on and around Alameda de Hércules. What I liked most about the location was that it was close enough to walk to the center (15 mins) or remain there in the residential neighborhood with bars and restaurants. It's also a 3 min. walk to the bus stop to the bus station, train station or other places along the outer ring of the city where the busses run. All in all, a great stay and would highly recommend Alvaro's place.