Sibel is not only a wonderful host but also a great room mate. We had a great stay at her nice decorating house, we also made friends with cat Tio and dog Mia. Would definitely recommend a reservation with Sibel if you are interested in the Istiklal street and Taksim square. It is also convenient to take the subway (5-10 minutes walk to the subway station) to the old town for the main tourist attractions.