LOCATION: Merve's apartment is located in the most vibrant & hip neighborhood of Istanbul: Cihangir, while also being conveniently close to the T1 tram/metro station (about 8 min walk), Taksim square (about 15 min walk) and Galata (about 12 min walk).
AMENITIES: The amenities aren't the most stylish and modern but everything worked very well. The shower is large with good pressure and temperature. The kitchen is small but functional (and it didn't stop us from cooking Menemen for breakfast). The living room is very comfortable for lounging on the couch with music (my absolute fav: Büyük Ev Ablukada). The bed is extremely comfortable with a hard mattress, Tempurpedic pillow, and nice sheets. The balcony is a bit too narrow to put a chair and a table out but it is very nice for fresh air and light. Wifi is fast and reliable across the entire apartment. The building and street are extremely quiet for getting some nice sleep at night.
NEIGHBORHOOD: As you walk out of the building you have a nice cafe across the street (Khave 6), the best cafes and bars in the neighborhood at your first right (Smyrna, Journey, 21, etc..), two grocery stores within 2 mins walk and a number of great healthy shops. The adjacent neighborhood of Çukurcuma (5 mins walk) is great for browsing around antique shops.
CHECK-IN & HOST: Didn't meet Merve because I was a bit late to our appointment but she left the keys at Kahve 6 in front of the building (as previously agreed) so check in was quick and easy. Merve responded quickly to questions and it was always a nice exchange.
Thoroughly enjoyed the stay at Merve's apartment. Highly recommended for a real, local experience in Istanbul.