Sirkeci Mansion Hotel

After our cruise, we stayed a few days at the Mansion to explore the city. The staff were the highlight, especially their help explaining how to use an IstanbulKart for local transit. It's cheap and efficient, and trams come often. They also arranged a local guide, which gave us a real feel for this huge, wonderful city. The location is ideal for walking around. The breakfast buffet featured local food, including fresh honey on fresh bread, and they also served afternoon tea. The hotel backs onto a lovely large park for walks, and at this time of year we enjoyed seeing the storks return.

Okay Alkan made us feel so welcome and shared lots about a city he clearly loves. When we needed something, he even went to the pharmacy for us. As we left, the whole staff came out onto the porch to see us off. The hotel is small, comfortable, and beautifully finished, with lovely coffered ceilings and views over the palace gardens. Service and attention to detail were outstanding. They also provided unlimited bottles of very cold water for free. Breakfast was very good, with plenty of variety and something different each day. Our balcony was just the right size for two, and we spent the start and end of each day looking out over the gardens and the changing street activity below. I highly recommend getting a room with a balcony. The food and cultural tours with Okay were great too. He showed us how to tell real restaurants from tourist places. I highly recommend them.

The staff really made the stay special, and the massage in their hamam was great. The location is very convenient. Room 1307 looks out over a pretty park, and the spice store across the street has the best deals in town.

Mr Okay was wonderfully hospitable, and the tours were excellent. Make sure you try the food tour. He even stopped at a football shop to get souvenirs for my boys. We loved the connecting family room, which was perfect for us, and the staff were thoughtful enough to pack sandwiches for our early flight. The place has a lovely old-world feel, with great Turkish breakfasts, afternoon tea, and a fantastic family-friendly hammam. It's in a great old-city location, and we've already recommended it to family and friends.