Emporium Hotel Istanbul

We had a great three-day stay at Emporium Hotel. It was clean and comfortable, and the location was perfect. The staff were friendly and helpful the whole time, and breakfast was really good too. We enjoyed being there and would recommend it to anyone visiting Istanbul.

The main reason to stay here is the location. Booking online is quite a bit cheaper than booking at the hotel, and breakfast isn’t included, so check that before you reserve. The building doesn’t seem to have been made entirely for the hotel: there are market-like shops on the first floor, where the lobby is too. I expected more room space, and cleanliness was a real letdown. It wasn’t the cleaning staff’s fault, but the old furnishings in the room and bathroom need replacing. Breakfast was another disappointment. I visited during Ramadan and ate suhur, but there wasn’t enough food and what was there was very dry. This place isn’t suitable for wheelchair users.

I stayed a few days ago and found the hotel very dirty. The towels had large stains or were torn, and looked as if they’d been used, dried, and put back in my room. The carpet didn’t look cleaned, and the curtains were gray. Breakfast was missing a lot of food whenever I went. One morning, while breakfast was still being served, I saw employees taking food for themselves, which seemed to explain the shortages. They also sat in the restaurant and ate with us. I was shocked, since I’ve never seen that elsewhere and don’t know whether that’s the hotel’s policy. Don’t spend your money here; there are much better places.

The bathroom smell was awful throughout my five-day stay, and if I left its door open the odor spread through the room. Being in there was miserable. It wasn’t just my room either, a friend’s room had the same problem. That’s why I can’t give more than three stars. Otherwise, my room was nice and clean, though a bit small. The hotel is beautiful and well located by a tram stop, shops, and tourist spots, and it has a nice view. Breakfast was tasty with a decent variety. I would have given it five stars if not for that smell.