Even though we (my wife and two grown sons) saw photos of the place, the impact of walking in was stunning! The neighborhood of Cihangir was great for wandering around and finding coffee shops and restaurants. (Be forewarned, however, that there are lots of stairs and hills to navigate to get where you want to go.) It was also conveniently located near transportation to get to other parts of the city.
Evren was a perfect host. Very friendly, and with good communication. He made sure the logistics were smooth, and was all too willing to offer tips.