2 friends and I stayed in Miko's authentic Ottoman Mansion Istiklal in June 2013, a duplex in a 4-storeyed building situated within walking distance of the Sishane metro (5 mins) or Karakoy (20 mins) from which it is an easy tram ride into Sultanahmet and most of the sights.

The 2 bedrooms and kitchen / living areas were spacious. The only bugbear for us was that the flat was noisy. Conversations from the flat immediately below ours carried into our rooms; we sometimes felt that the speakers were in our rooms! We were kept awake until 12mn or 1am or woken up when the guests from this other flat returned from a late soirée.

However, contact with Miko was very pleasant and a total breeze; he was prompt in replying; answered all our questions, always contactable (although we never met him in person). His man Randi who opened the door to us and who saw us off was very cheerful and helpful.