L'Agora Old Town Hotel & Bazaar

The staff were very helpful. They offered a small upgrade for a fee and even put together breakfast to take away when I had an early departure. My room was clean and beautifully decorated, with a traditional, grand look that didn’t feel tacky. The hotel is tucked away in the heart of the Izmir bazaar. Once you find it, there’s a little square inside with a restaurant, shops, and even a tattoo studio. It stays lively with sounds and smells until late. That might not suit everyone, but I loved feeling so close to city life, almost like having a room right on the street. I had dinner there too, traditional food with live music from a small jazz-like group. The singer moved from international standards to Turkish songs that really touched me. A memorable stay.

The place is beautiful, well located, and the staff were friendly, but my stay went from feeling like five stars to two. We had booked two rooms for five people, and our last night was miserable. Nobody told us when booking that there would be a DJ playing until 4 a.m. We weren’t invited either, and the noise made sleep impossible. The no-smoking signs didn’t stop cigarette smoke from filling the rooms. There was a fight in the lobby, and I woke up to people next door vomiting. The breakfast we’d paid for still wasn’t ready by 8. We got no discount, despite the lack of sleep, and it was far too expensive for that experience. This hotel seems aimed at young partygoers. If that’s not your thing, avoid it. It’s a shame they didn’t tell us about the all-night party when we booked, and they shouldn’t have opened to guests if that was planned. I have lung issues, so the smoke was especially bad for me.

My wife and I had lunch at the hotel restaurant, and everything came to EUR 35, which felt like a very fair price. I had grilled fish, while she chose lentil soup and a pizza. We shared a cake and had two coffees to finish. The food was delicious, the service was good, and the place was pleasant, full but not overcrowded. There was live music too. Recommended!

We ended up leaving and booking somewhere else because we just couldn’t settle in. The music was very loud and continued until 23:00, and the smoke smell was strong. We tried to cancel the rest of our trip, but were told that wasn’t possible. Getting there was unpleasant too. You’re dropped on the main road, then have to haul your luggage at least 100 metres through a packed fish and poultry market with wet floors. On arrival, there was loud music and a heavy smoke smell. Instead of a free upgrade, we were offered a paid one and told to look at the rooms before deciding. The economy room we’d booked had no windows and was right beside the music and smoke, so we took the upgrade, hoping it would be better. If fish smells, smoking, and loud music are your thing, maybe this place will suit you. Otherwise, avoid it.