This is a good value, characterful stay in a central, lively, creative neighbourhood. Don't expect boring Ikea furniture: the flat feels more as if characters in an Orhan Pamuk novel set in the 70s have just stepped out for çay. It also fulfils two essentials in travel accommodation for me: a strong, hot shower and quiet surrounds.
And, speaking of çay, Murat is a very convivial host: he invited me to tea from a traditional brewer in a nearby office basement and showed me his own flat down the street. The neighbourhood – Beyoglu – is also one of my favourites in Istanbul: bohemian, with plenty of places to eat, bric-a-brac shops galore and the main historical sites of Istanbul a healthy walk away over Galata bridge.
The flat is a little frayed around the edges in parts and probably won't be featuring in Wallpaper any time soon but I think that's reflected in the price.