Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

BOUTIQUE HOTEL €€ o HOTEL IBRAHIM PASHA ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; % 0212-518 0394; www.ibrahimpasha.com; Terzihane Sokak 7, Sultanahmet; r standard/deluxe €125/175; naiW ; j Sultanahmet) Cultural tomes are piled in reception and throughout the 24 rooms of this exemplary design hotel, which also has a comfortable lounge with open fire, and a terrace bar with knockout views of the nearby Blue Mosque and Hippodrome. Rooms are gorgeous but some are small, with more space in the deluxe options and those in the new section. o HOTEL EMPRESS ZOE ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; % 0212-518 2504; www.emzoe.com; Akbıyık Caddesi 10, Cankurtaran; s €60 90, d €140-160, tr €150, ste €180-300; naW ; j Sultanahmet) Named after the feisty Byzantine empress, this is one of İstanbul’s most impressive boutique hotels. The four buildings house 26 diverse rooms. The garden suites overlook a 15th-century hamam and the gorgeous flower filled courtyard where breakfast is served in warm weather. You can enjoy an evening drink there, or while admiring the sea view from the terrace. o SIRKECI MANSION ( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; % 0212-528 4344; www.sirkecimansion.com; Taya Hatun Sokak 5, Sirkeci; s €110-247, d €149-247, tr €199, f €209-224; naiWs ; j Gülhane) Travellers love this terrific-value hotel overlooking Gülhane Park, with its impeccably clean, well-sized and amenity-laden rooms, some with balconies. It has a restaurant where a lavish breakfast is served, an indoor pool and hamam. Top marks go to the attention to detail, helpful staff and BOUTIQUE HOTEL €€ HOTEL€€ dorms (including a female-only en-suite option) have curtained bunks with good mattresses, reading lights and lockers; they can be hot in summer. Top marks go to the plentiful bathrooms, entertainment program and rooftop terrace bar.