I stayed at Pinar's apartment three plus weeks for what amounted to a very comfortable stay. The apartment itself is excellent value -- spacious, cozy, & with everything you should need. I loved spending hours reading on the cushions in the bay windows overlooking the street. It's very well located less than a ten minute walk from Beyoglu and Taksim. The neighbourhood's somewhat rough character could be an issue for some people, but really, they shouldn't be put off -- everyone I came across was friendly and I never felt unsafe. Tarlabasi is a lively, fascinating area, with one of Istanbul's more interesting stories. One night I was invited to join in the dancing at a Kurdish wedding celebration just down the street. The shopkeeper with the food stall across the way was unfailingly helpful. And Sunday mornings are a nice surprise when the entire street is given over to a market, which is when I did most of my grocery shopping. (You step out the front door and there's a guy selling olives or cheese or spices for the day.) When I eventually return to Istanbul I would definitely consider staying here again.