Tom Square Boutique Hotel

We stayed in July 2025 and had a fantastic time in Istanbul. Restaurants are less than two minutes away, and the city centre is about a ten-minute walk. The staff were friendly and very helpful. We'd happily recommend staying here and hope to come back in April 2026.

The main attractions are very close, which made the location a real plus. Our room was clean and pleasant, with a double bed, wardrobe and enough space for two. Air conditioning and Wi-Fi were available, and the reception staff were kind, cheerful and quick to help when we asked. It's a small, neat property. Rooms are reached by a spiral staircase, and suitable footwear is provided. Since the building isn't soundproof, we could hear other guests on the stairs and in their rooms. Even so, we had a very pleasant stay.

The owner was easy to reach throughout our ten-day Christmas and New Year's stay and had lots of useful suggestions for places to see. Our apartment was clean and worked really well for two adults and three kids, aged 9, 11 and 13. We felt it was the best location for us. At first the area seemed a little sketchy, but we soon came to think it was one of the safest places we've stayed in during our travels. Restaurants and shops stayed open late, with a bakery and supermarket just minutes away. The Grand Bazaar is a ten-minute uphill walk, while the Blue Mosque and Sophia Hague are 15-20 minutes away. Three minutes down the coast, we caught one of the best sunsets we'd seen in a while. The ferry port for the Asia side is a 30-minute walk and well worth it. Keep walking in any direction and you'll find things to see. We saw more on foot and didn't need the bus or tram.

The staff were lovely and friendly, and they provided plenty of bottled water. It's an old-school Turkish place, with fresh linen, clean bathrooms and really good air conditioning. The rooms are dark and very old-fashioned, though, and the floors creak. House shoes are required, and carrying heavy luggage up the flights of stairs is a hassle. Tom Square was still an enjoyable place to spend more than a week. Just know that reaching the main street means climbing a steep hill, about ten minutes uphill. In summer, that walk can feel debilitating.