Garden House Istanbul

The staff were absolutely lovely, kind, and helpful. But the hotel felt quite old, and there was a lot of smoking in the corridors. It made our room smell as if someone had been smoking inside. The worst issue was the bathroom. The smell was unbearable, and we've since learned this can happen in older hotels, apparently because of the drains. We checked out, though we kept paying for the rest of the night, because we simply couldn't tolerate it. I don't think every room has this problem. We were on the first floor.

I had a delicious meal at Garden 1987 in a calm garden, with soft music in the background. The garden was peaceful, and Liza, the kind waitress, was always smiling and served me so well. The meat (kebap), lahmacun, katmer, a delicious sweet dessert, and Turkish tea were all excellent. I'll definitely come back.

We loved this place and would come back if we return to Istanbul. The restaurant in the garden was peaceful and lovely, and the food was so good we ate there most nights after sightseeing. It felt like a calm retreat from the big city. Breakfast was very good too, with scrambled eggs made from real eggs. The rooms are decorated in Turkish style and are really pretty. We had a balcony room, and it was lovely sitting out in the morning and evening watching people go by. The traditional lobby is gorgeous, and the staff were wonderful, always smiling and ready to help. The location is very walkable, with the square where the Blue Mosque is less than a 10-minute walk away. There's so much nearby to see and do.

After a long day of sightseeing, the hotel's restaurant feels like a hidden gem, with a wide choice of Turkish dishes cooked really well. The reception and restaurant teams provide a high level of service, too. The hotel has a warm, calming atmosphere and sits right in the heart of Sultanahmet, making it convenient to walk between the major sights. A cozy place to stay.