We had an amazing 5-day stay at this cozy family run hotel. The location is excellent, all of the major sites in the Old City are within easy walking distance, while the hotel itself is situated on a quiet side street. (Ask the staff how to find Mustafa's cafe nearby for excellent light fare and good vibes.). But this is only part of the story. Everyone we encountered during our stay was charming and helpful, we almost felt like we were being invited into their own home. Ozlem's assistant Stasia was especially attentive with lots of excellent advice, interesting experiences, and reliable information.
One of the highlights of our stay in Istanbul were the varied and delicious breakfast buffets, prepared with imagination and wholesome ingredients by Leila (amazing cooking), and served on a wonderful rooftop aerie. Looking to the west you will see an amazing seaside panorama, and to the east a picturesque city silhouette featuring Sinan's amazing Blue Mosque.
As we left Ozlem's folks and the staff gathered to see us off and warm sentiments were sincerely exchanged. Driving down the Kennedy Parkway along the sea on our way to the Airport, a huge pod of dolphins was suddenly on hand, cresting in the waves as if to salute our departure. I'm not exactly sure how they managed it, but I am sure our hosts arranged this as well.
We fell in love with this place and the lovely people who made it a truly memorable visit to an amazing city.