Enderun by Otantik Suites

We kept noticing a lovely scent in the room, almost like an aromatic candle, and it was just as pictured, clean and cosy. The little paved streets nearby, with romantic lights, felt like a movie set. We stayed five nights and had a wonderful time. The three gentlemen working there were kind and helped with reservations and information. Since we had an early flight and would miss breakfast on our last day, they made us homemade sandwiches. The historic sights were about a seven-minute walk away, and the Grand bazaar was our favourite spot. Thanks for everything, we'll be back soon.

Aziz made the stay especially easy. He was cordial, brought extra drinking water, and helped us find an airport taxi, while check-in itself was smooth. Breakfast comes from the adjacent Begonvilla restaurant, with traditional Turkish mezzo and coffee or tea. The suite is a quiet, private, old-style room with a large bed and a decent bathroom with hot water. The street is well lit, though the place sits a little deep in the lanes, and there can be road noise downstairs until about 11pm. Aksaray is the nearest stop if you're arriving by airport bus. Blue mosque, Ayasofia, and Topkapi are around 500m away. A rustic, unconventional option in Fatih if you don't want a plush hotel room.

The room turned out even prettier than the photos, and the location made it easy to reach both tourist sights and plenty of cafes and restaurants. The staff were so warm and helped us with everything, even our oddest questions. We had a wonderful time at Otantik Suite. Thanks again for all your help, we'll definitely return.

The exposed brick and wood give the place an authentic feel, and the staff were wonderful. It's in a handy part of Fatih if you want to be near most of Istanbul's main sights. The one thing to bear in mind is that older buildings don't block much sound, either between rooms or from the street. Bring a couple of earplugs and you'll be set.