If you want to get a real feel for this extraordinarily vibrant part of Istanbul--only seconds from Galata Tower--Birol's apartment is the place to be.
There's an excellent tea shop directly out the front door on one side, and an equally great cafe on the other. There is also a fresh fruit and vegetable shop a few doors down and a Migros Supermarket within a minute's walk. We stayed for the entire month of June and really got a great feel for the area, which has a really old school sense of community, despite being a busy tourist hotspot.
The apartment has windows on two sides, opening to street level on one side (with the cafe and tea shop). The other side of the building is on the second floor with a view down the street to the tower. Sitting in the armchairs in the master bedroom, we were able to watch the street theatre in front of the Galata Tower: wedding proposals, tourists having their picture taken, locals going about their day, all while curled up, enjoying our morning coffee.
The inside of the apartment is well designed for guests. It's a huge space with three bedrooms, a dining area and a living room. The kitchen has a large fridge, dishwasher, washer and dryer as well. The beds are comfortable and there is a great selection of pillows, duvets and rugs.
Birol was excellent for keeping in contact and even made us a wonderful dinner one night. He's a genuinely interesting and nice guy and it was a pleasure to stay. We'll definitely be back again.