Sphendon Hotel

The bathroom ceiling had mold and water stains, and the whole room looked like it needed renovating. Our balcony was unusable too. It was dirty, hadn’t been cleaned, and smelled strongly of cat urine. We’d booked an 18 m² room, but the one we got was tiny, at least half that size. It had a bed and wardrobe, with no bedside tables or room for our belongings. After a day out exploring Istanbul, we returned to an uncleaned room. Reception said it would be cleaned the next day, and it was, but the following day it was left dirty again. When I asked, the receptionist said, “cleaning is not supposed to be done every day.” That’s unacceptable for a hotel. We were very disappointed. The room size was misleading, and the upkeep and service were poor. We won’t return or recommend it. The rooms are tiny and nothing like what’s advertised.

If you’re on a budget, it’s a good place to stay, especially for the location. The main attractions are all within walking distance, and the beds were comfortable. The hotel is a bit old and dated, but really, you mostly need somewhere to sleep. I’d have liked more power outlets, and the showers could use a proper bleach and fresh silicone. Apart from that, it worked well for us.

The room was so tiny it barely fit me and my one checked bag, and the air conditioner didn’t work. The bathroom was awful too. The shower was moldy, and the door was too small, so water splashed out and contributed to a terrible smell from the rotting bathroom door frame. There wasn’t even enough room to sit on the toilet properly, because the shower wall blocked one side. Dirty and disgusting. Worst hotel I’ve stayed in. I’d have been better off not taking a shower. Go somewhere else.

Breakfast had lots of choices and was really delicious. The staff were friendly, polite, and helpful, and they cleaned our room and left fresh water and towels each day while we were out exploring the city. Everything went smoothly from check-in to check-out. My girlfriend and I stayed for a weekend, and they treated us amazingly. The hotel is right in the Old Town, close to many attractions, which was perfect for tourists. We had a great stay and will definitely come back. 10/10.