Nika Otel & Cafe

The price felt far too high. We booked a five star hotel for the last day of our vacation at exactly the same price, and you can find good hotels for this amount if being within walking distance isn’t important. Yes, the Blue mosque is walkable, but there are other things to consider. This place has no lift, so from a room on the third or fourth floor you’re walking up all day. Our toilet flush didn’t work when we arrived. After arguing with the receptionist, we got a room on the fourth floor and had to carry all our luggage up. I’m not sure how this place has a 4.6 rating.

We stopped in for a coffee and got a smile and really good coffee at this friendly family run place.

My husband and I stayed six nights and loved it. The location was spot on, near the tram and right by the steps to the hippodrome. We booked through Air BnB and got a great price. The room was comfortable and clean, with a hot shower and bath and excellent water pressure. Staff were really friendly and accommodating, and a light, simple breakfast came with the stay. We’d happily return and recommend the hotel to everyone.

For the price of the accommodation, this was exceptional value. If you want to explore Istanbul right from your doorstep and don’t need a full hotel experience, I’d highly recommend it. I’d book again. The location couldn’t be beaten, close to the Blue Mosque, yet it wasn’t noisy, perhaps because the street outside is one way. Our airport taxi driver struggled to find the place. For the return, we took the hotel taxi for 45 euros. It was luxurious, and had I known, I’d have asked the hotel to pick us up too. The staff were friendly, and during the day the hotel also works as a juice and coffee bar, with reasonable prices. The air conditioning worked perfectly, the showers were good, and the place was clean with fairly comfortable beds. Breakfast was okay.