21 Rooms Hotel

The 36 square meter room was comfortable for two people, and the hotel on İstiklal Caddesi was convenient and easy to reach on my own. Breakfast was simple and moderate in size, with Turkish tea and coffee, omelets, salad, bread, cheese, and butter. The kitchen amenities were moderate, and the bathroom amenities in particular were a little low in quality.

We were given a free upgrade to a much bigger suite when we arrived. It had couches, chairs, and a small table, so we could invite friends over to hang out, and they were impressed by both the room and the location. The service was friendly and helpful, and breakfast was just right for getting us going for a day of sightseeing. Istiklal and the surrounding streets put you right in the middle of the action. I grew up around folk music and can fall asleep to it, especially after a long day of travel and sightseeing, so I actually loved the noise from the Kurdish bar next door. We went there one night and had a really fun time!

The staff were the best part of our stay, especially Asya, who was very helpful and always responsive. We spent 3 nights there, and the room was very spacious, with a kitchenette and the essentials. It’s about 20-30 meters from Istiklal street. The nearby bars and pubs can make the area a bit loud at night, though the rooms are well insulated. I’d love to stay here again on my next visit. All stars for the staff and location.

The neighborhood is lively, with shopping and activity almost 24/7. That’s probably great for tourists and puts you close to things, though it felt a bit overwhelming to me. It really comes down to preference. I’m from a very small, quiet European town and have also lived in bigger cities, but I didn’t feel unsafe at all. Some comments made me worry the area might be sketchy, but it was really just very touristy. The attentive staff were helpful and polite, and the hotel was clean and nice, with working air conditioning and a comfy bed. Breakfast was amazing, with generous portions of the same traditional Turkish breakfast each day and eggs made to order. I’d read the noise comments and figured I’d be fine since I’m not a light sleeper, but I still needed earplugs. They should hand them out to every visitor, haha.