A'la Sofia Hotel

The building has an elevator, so getting luggage to the upper floors is easy. It's a cozy place close to Sultanahmet square, with a supermarket and restaurant right across from the hotel. The staff were very good and accommodating. Breakfast was basic. They could improve it with a few changes, like not serving the fried potatoes cold and adding salad and a few sauces.

We booked three nights and found the rooms roomy enough, with a nice classic design. The hotel is near Sultan Ahmet Mosque, the Blue Mosque, and the staff were very friendly with good service. Everything was just perfect for us.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the location puts you close to Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazar, museums, and plenty of shops and restaurants. The room was dirty and much smaller than it looked in the pictures. The bed was hard, and so were the pillows. The covers were stained and dirty, the towels had holes and smelled bad, and the shower had mold and dirt that seemed easy to clean. The air-conditioning was filthy too, blowing black dirt onto the sheets every day. Breakfast was cramped, with only four tables in the reception area to share. The coffee machine wasn't looked after properly, and the coffee tasted more like water.

Emir Yildiz made a lasting impression on us. He was diligent, humble, and spoke well, and went out of his way to share useful information about local transport and places to visit. We're very grateful for his kindness and help. Our stay at the A'la Sofia Hotel in Istanbul was memorable. The rooms were decent and spacious, breakfast was included and satisfactory, and most popular tourist spots were close by. The staff were polite, kind, and responsive.