Hotel De Reve Galata - Special Class

The breakfast was easily my favorite part of the week, and the staff were warm, attentive, and mostly spoke English. They also shared useful tips on where to eat and what to see, including how to get there. I picked this hotel after reading good reviews before our week in Istanbul last year. It lived up to them: affordable, clean, right by the water, and close enough that we walked to most major sights. The view from our room was the one letdown, but everything else was great.

Mustaf at breakfast made us feel so welcome, and the meal was filling enough that we didn’t need lunch. The reception team were friendly and helpful too. We stayed four nights after a long cruise and were glad we chose this place. Its central location feels like a hidden gem. The boutique style and elegant design were a nice surprise, and our room was so beautifully put together it felt like home. The weather wasn’t ideal during our first visit to Instanbul, but we enjoyed our stay anyway and would come back again and again.

The neighborhood stays busy, and traffic is heavy, so keep that in mind. There’s an Irish pub and restaurants right below the hotel. For getting around, the location is hard to beat: it’s opposite the Peninsula Istanbul and right by the Kariköy ferry port, with shops and places to eat nearby. The Asian side is easy to reach, and a mall is about a 10-minute walk away. Prices are reasonable and the staff are friendly. We liked our room, though coming from Marriott, we’d expected a bit more.

The room was spotless, and the staff were kind. Breakfast was satisfying too, especially the fresh menemen. It was easy to get to Galata Port and the trams from the hotel. I had a lovely stay and would happily return.