Violin Boutique Hotel

We landed in Istanbul just before midnight and got to the Violin Hotel by taxi about 45 minutes later. It had looked lovely online, with beautiful photos and positive reviews. We were a little unsure because we couldn't pay ahead when booking, but the website's "check in and out anytime" wording reassured us. The driver kindly waited while we tried to get in, but after about 10 minutes I let him leave because it wasn't fair to keep him there. The hotel next door called the Violin Hotel concierge for us. He said he'd be there in 10 minutes. When he arrived, he told us check-in wasn't until 2:00 p.m. and we'd have to find somewhere else for the night. We explained it was our first time in Istanbul, it was late and our phones weren't fully set up, but he didn't offer help, Wi-Fi or suggestions. He just said "sorry" and went back inside, leaving us stranded in an unfamiliar area in the middle of the night. Luckily, the staff at a nearby 24-hour restaurant let us use their Wi-Fi, rest and charge our phones while we looked for somewhere else. We eventually found a much better hotel, where the compassionate staff let us wait in reception until our room was ready. I wouldn't recommend or trust the Violin Hotel. The experience felt unprofessional and inconsiderate, and nobody should be treated like that, especially after arriving late in a new city.