Caglar was a super-hospitable guy and his place is great value (a spacious living room, excellent location, fully equipped), has its own soul thanks to which it gives a great experience of **LIVING LIKE A LOCAL**, which is what the original Airbnb experience used to be, but is so rare these days.
Just to set expectations, at the time of writing the apartment is essentially somebody's home, so it naturally will not be quite like a hotel, i.e. the furniture has only some unused space, the flat's décor is only as refreshed as it is needed for essential living by a local (not without the good taste of original design :) ) and likewise the appliances are not brand new. But by no means Caglar has let anything beyond these superficials slip, and he took good care to prepare the flat for his guests.
The location is also excellent, with many coveted places in a stone's throw - the Istiklal mall is one small block away and its a very nice section of it as the surrounding streets offer plenty of cafes and bars rich in musical concerts and all frequented by locals. Convenience stores are 5 minutes away in many directions.
Regarding hospitality and attention, Caglar's were second to none. He kept a close (but not overbearing) eye (or rather 'written word', to be exact) on whether we were enjoying our stay, responded to all questions and requests very promptly (with 'random acts of extra kindness' :) ) and, most importantly, made sure that we do live like a local by sharing all the knowledge he possesses about the area - from museums (with insight into free days :) ), places to chill, places to eat, other districts to go to, or places to see the best views from an uncrowded rooftop.
I wholeheartedly recommend Cagar's place for a truly authentic experience.