We were in Istanbul right during a historical snowstorm and spent part of our stay a bit isolated in the area, which was actually a great experience since we could see the city in a different and original way. The heating system in the apartment worked perfectly and we were really enjoying all the comfort accessories to heat tea and cook.
The neighborhood is the perfect place to be if you are looking to shop for shoes: streets and streets of shoe shops! At night the streets were very quiet and we appreciated being away from the tourist zone even though it was at walking distance from all the main visiting attractions of downtown.
The snow didn't allow us to enjoy Hikmet's famous rooftop breakfast, so I guess we will have to go back soon to try it!