Cartoon Hotel

Breakfast had almost no variety, and there were very few room amenities. Most of the staff and the manager were rude and unhelpful, though one woman at reception really did try to help us. We arrived around 7 PM on 22 May and were first put in a very dated room with broken furniture, an ancient mattress, and yellowed pillows. I asked to switch rooms, but it took staff a long time to find another one. That room looked a bit better, though it was still old and poorly maintained. After we went out to Istiklal and came back to sleep, we found that the air conditioning didn't work. Staff said we should spend the night without ventilation while they figured out what to do in the morning. I wouldn't accept that, so they looked again and moved us to yet another room around midnight. On the final night, I asked for a late checkout. They rudely refused even a two-hour extension unless I paid another $50. My Booking.com reservation listed checkout at 1 PM, but they called at 11:30 AM and insisted we leave right at 12 PM. This was the worst hotel stay I've ever had, and it doesn't deserve even a 3-star rating.

The triple room had more space than I expected, with two separate areas, a large bed in one and another bed in the other. We also had two TVs and a balcony/veranda with a lovely view. The view from the hotel was beautiful too, and the location is hard to beat, right by Istiklal/Taksim and just outside Taksim Square. The room was always spotless, and housekeeping was trustworthy, nothing ever went missing. The reception team was respectful and friendly, and both check-in and checkout went smoothly. The furniture and paint are a bit old, but it didn't affect my comfort. Breakfast was fresh, tasty, and satisfying, if a little basic, and service was quick and excellent. I had a really lovely, comfortable, calm stay, with good value for the money. I'd definitely recommend it.

The breakfast room has a lovely view over Taxim square, and breakfast itself had the usual hot and cold choices. My room and the sheets were clean and white, and the staff did a very good job. It's only a few minutes' walk from Taxim square. I found it good value and would happily stay here again.

At breakfast I found brown bread with mold. When I told the staff member, she just took the basket away without apologizing, and after that I didn't feel safe eating from the buffet. The room was dirty, with dust, stained sheets, damaged wooden flooring that looked moldy, and a strong sewage smell. Cleanliness was below even basic standards. Late at night, reception called about a supposed “reservation issue,” then came to the room without clearly explaining why. The booking had been made through a travel agency, but I was still asked to come downstairs without a proper explanation. That felt unprofessional and inappropriate at that hour. A very negative stay, and I wouldn't choose this hotel again.