Volkan was a great host. The flat is a small NEW flat on the second floor (no lift) of the building. Just the right size for one or two people. Just a few mins (5 mins) walking to the famous Istiklal street or Taksim square (where you can take the metro to Sultanahmet or any other area). There are two small supermarkets close to the flat and you can buy anything from there if you wish to cook in the flat. There is also a small bakery to buy fresh bread and baklawa :) The local restaurant just up the road is clean and serves great local food and it's pretty cheap :) Every Sunday there is a big local market down the street to buy veggies, fruits, and local cheese.