Very good place for a long term stay. The neighborhood is populated by mostly locals, very authentic, but still very close to the city center (25 min walking to Istiklal), although the house is situated upon a steep hill so some legwork is required when returning home. Lots of shops nearby, some supermarkets, you'll get all you need, but there are not so much cafes, mostly doner spots. The place itself is nice and clean, not really small, with a balcony full of cats (at least 9 "frequent visitors") – in my case it's a huge plus, but you have to consider it, although there is no bad smell at all. This is Istanbul, and there's a mosque really close and that means early calls for prayers, but you get used to it and you'll probably be hearing them anywhere else. Overall a very good stay, perfect for its money.