It is as advertised, the staff are friendly and helpful, I chose to have breakfast there (muesli, assorted breads and pastries with jams, yoghurt, puréed fruit, but no fresh fruit) but there are a number of cafés and restaurants within a short distance should you choose otherwise. Place d'Italie is close enough to the city to be accessible but far enough away from the bustle to be quiet so I found it ideal. I think there's even a Printemps there so you can do some last minute shopping. If you are a very light sleeper you may find yourself relying on the manners of your neighbors a lot (the walls seem thin). No a/c but I found it cool at night even in late July. I personally had no problems and had a great time.