This place superb!!
Its real, real Turkey and absolutely ancient Istambul (Constantinople)!
You can stay in any place in the city and couldn’t even feel a difference with couple dozens modern parts of cities all over the world, but here in the heart of Fatih, Balat is the most Turkish part of it. With narrow streets, very old houses, hundreds of cafe, shops , cobblestone roads and what is the most impressive local peoples.
1. First apartment is great - in Balat it should be that size. You see that everything new and done not cheap from floor to celling. On the first floor room with coach and cocktail table, windows new, wooden and works properly. Even if this floor doesn’t have air-condition opposed windows when open create almost “sea breeze” . Than its small kitchen with good size table and four antic chairs. Than is small hallway with sunroof which makes every morning full of joy. And finally bathroom with good size shower. Never had problems with cold/hot water or any pipes clog in. Little unusual for us bide thing inside the toilet but …
2. Internet fast even if we run thee iPads and three iPhones and TV adapter!! Its good upstair in street bedroom, but bad in the bedroom with balcony.
3. Curved stairs with comfortable hight steps bring you upstairs with two bedrooms clean, modern, loft style, with new hotel quality beds and linen. Both have air condition, bedroom with two beds has big balcony and very quiet, opposite one “street master” you can close windows and heard only mufti, but if you open it you can hear people, cats, seagulls and smell fresh made bread in the morning ( baker lives across the street ) and voices of merchants selling fresh fruits, vegetables, fish and meat every morning from their carts.
4. Most impressive in apartment are brick walls - they make it!
5. You can call for taxi its good applications - iTaxi, Bitaxi for long ride for Malls, but you must explore Fatih, Balat and Sultanahmet - walking!
6. Its healthy, increase your appetite and improve sleep. This apartment gives you best opportunity to do so.
7. You can open the door, passing 20-30 cafe on the streets where tourist coming from all over Istambul and you live here! You can have breakfast or seat with coffee or dinner watch locals and tourists, antic stores or talk with someone who you love.
8. In 10-15 minutes walk and you are in the park on the banks of Golden Horn with amazing view especially on evening - great picnic on the grass under the stars! But you can do few more steps and there are couple restaurants on the water (from trip adviser). Also its a metro stop if you like it.. We are walking along the river which is fantastic one hour walk to all Sultanahmet attractions, with one stop right at the middle for small Starbucks in University which is for unknown reasons “only for students”, but…. So we are walking family and made up to 10 miles per day. Its only way to look, feel and explore Istambul!