This was a great place to stay near Taksim! The flat is very close to Istiklal shopping street, but just far enough that the 24/7 noise and bustle of the popular tourist street are not a bother. The immediate area is full of locals, which gives an authentic Turkish experience and helps keep the prices affordable at the nearby markets (not tourist prices!!). There is a local street/farmers market on Sundays that was very fun to walk through and buy fresh fruits and vegetables.

The whole house is clean and very well designed. My room was modern and very comfortable. The house has super fast wifi, which is not common in Turkey :) Merve has great communication skills, and speaks English very well. She was flexible with meeting me to show me the location and give me the keys. Also, as her schedule permitted, we were able to have meals together, and she taught me how to make some local specialties. Thank you Merve for a great experience! I'd love to stay here again sometime, and I highly recommend this location to both short-term and long-term visitors.