I had a good experience at Artika. The hotel was just what I was looking for ... simple, clean, comfortable, centrally located, reasonably priced, with a friendly and helpful staff. I’d stay there again.
Artika is located in a steeply hilly section of the old city, on a street paved with large cobblestones. It was not an issue for me nor for the cab driver. However, if you have a mobility problem, I’d suggest you consider a flatter section of the city.
The breakfast buffets had plenty of options, and the hot items changed daily. I personally enjoyed most the cut fresh fruit choices. One morning when the hot items didn’t include an egg dish, the cook was happy to make us simple omelets.
If you walk down the hill from the hotel and go left, you walk several blocks directly to the Hippodrome / Blue Mosque / Hagia Sophia area. There is a tram stop on the other side of the Hippodrome where you can buy an IstanbulKard for the tram and ferry system.
If you walk up the hill from the hotel and sort of take a right and then a quick left, you will arrive at the next stop up on the tram line. This stop is much closer to the hotel than the one below. Here you can add money to your IstanbulKard, but cannot buy a new one.
Several good and reasonable restaurants are near the hotel, mainly up the hill. As usual, look for where the locals are eating.
A corner grocery store is just below the hotel and a few feet around the corner. It was convenient for buying bottled water, fresh fruit, snacks, bagged nuts, etc. (It sells more, but that’s what I bought).
(Tip: Anywhere in Istanbul, be sure to use bottled water for drinking, brushing your teeth, etc).
The Artika staff were consistently very friendly and helpful. I always felt safe in the hotel. The hotel has a rooftop terrace with a view of the water; I went up once but didn’t use it, as I was out exploring the city from 9 am to 10 pm most days.