Ottoman Hotel Imperial - Special Class

It was a quiet, comfortable stay, and the staff were all friendly and dependable. I’d definitely like to return. One small thing to know: if you arrive on an airport shuttle, a taxi can’t stop right at the entrance, so ask reception for advice.

The food was fresh, delicious, and well prepared, with plenty of variety each day. The staff served everything with care. Ms. Sevgi and Ms. Simge were especially kind and attentive, and always ready to help with a smile. Mr. Erhan at reception was also very helpful and kind. We felt welcome from the start, and the whole team made us feel valued. The Ottoman Imperial Hotel is just steps from Hagia Sophia, a great spot for exploring central Istanbul. We had a wonderful stay and would happily return. Highly recommend it.

The hotel is close to the sights in the old town, with comfortable rooms, a plentiful breakfast, and a good restaurant on the premises. Staff can help arrange a guided day out, and our guide was pleasant and very informative. The walk to the Galotta and Chora church areas is a trek, though. From the hotel, staff can take you to the taxi area and negotiate with drivers for a good rate. We had lovely drivers, and some offered to come back for our return trip, which was especially useful near Chora Church. Since it was our first visit to Istanbul, we didn’t know the historic district or its pedestrian-only streets. We were dropped off and had to haul our luggage up the cobblestones. Call the hotel when you get dropped off, as they have a vehicle that can take you from the taxi drop-off to the hotel. Tap water isn’t drinkable. You can bathe in it, but use bottled water even to brush your teeth. We had a great trip and hope to visit again.

Sevgi, who mostly works in the kitchen, was the standout. She looked after every guest and helped with everything, giving us five-star service. Our rooms were spacious and cleaned daily, while the rest of the staff were okay. Staff also used the golf buggy to drop us off and pick us up a few times. The location didn’t work well for us because my parent had limited mobility. It’s just behind Hagia sofia mosque and handy if you enjoy walking or taking the tram, but the hotel is in a restricted area where regular taxis can’t come, and the taxi spot is quite a walk. Airport taxis can reach it, but charge a lot. Only during the last two days did another manager give us a number to call for the buggy. On our first night, when we asked the first manager, he gave us a restaurant address and leaflets instead. Dinner there for four cost about 9000 turkish lira. A hotel this good shouldn’t recommend restaurants like that, as it doesn’t reflect well on the hotel.