Yes just like in an office. There may be something else in between, I'm not too sure, but when we laid a new floor (laminate over floor boards) they said that bits were dropping onto their cieling, thats the main reason I dont think theres any barrier.
The noise is pretty clear when they're open and the smell is present as soon as they start cooking. I don't think there's really any sort of barrier.
If they were to do a refurbishment would it be subject to modern building regs, so would they need to compartmentalize in those circumstances?