Istanbul Place Apartments

Rooms

The 10 apartments, all in different buildings near Galata Tower, mix gleaming white walls, high ceilings and original tiled floors with contemporary fittings and comfy soft furnishings in neutral tones.

We stayed in third-floor Pasha Place, which sleeps 6-7 in three bedrooms (two doubles and a twin). Its heavy front door opens onto a hallway that doubles as a dining room, and its bright living room has two squishy sofas. The fabulous views over the Golden Horn almost render the flat-screen TV obsolete, and are best enjoyed with a glass of wine at the bar table nestling in the bay window. The bedrooms are simple and uncluttered, with wooden floors and walls dotted with artwork. One double and the twin room share the same striking view as the living room; the second double has an internal window with no view. The sparkling bathroom is small but perfectly formed, with white ceramic tiles and a rain shower, and there’s a separate toilet.

Large third-floor Aslan Place also sleeps 5-6 in two double bedrooms and a twin; it has a shower room and a second toilet. It looks out over Galata Tower, with a lively pedestrianised square below.

First-floor Petraki Place (sleeps 4-5) has frescoes and exposed brick walls, with two good-sized double bedrooms (one with an ensuite shower), a small single room suitable for a child, and a second shower room. On the floor above is Petraki Place II (sleeps 6-7), which we're yet to see, is the largest apartment with two doubles and a twin room. Both of these apartments have access to the building’s shared roof terrace, with sweeping views across the city. Since our visit, three-bedroom Petraki Place III has been added, offering the added bonus of a private hammam, as well as Petraki IV on the third floor (sleeps five in one double, one twin and a single).

In a nearby building are three apartments, each taking up their own floor: Shah Place I and Shah Place III (each sleep 4-5 in one double and one twin room) and Shah Place II (sleeps four adults and a child). Each has original frescoes, antiques and velvet headboards, as well as a shared roof terrace with views over the narrow streets below.

Since our visit, fifth-floor Pasha Penthouse has also joined the ranks. We are yet to personally view this property, but it looks as though it comes with breathtaking views.

All apartments come with WiFi, cable TVs, hairdryers, irons and ironing boards, washing machines, and plenty of maps, guidebooks and magazines to help you plan your stay.

Features include:

• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Iron
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

You can create anything from simple snacks to lavish meals in the apartments’ gleaming kitchens, which contain all the necessary equipment: microwaves, fridge/freezers, toasters, utensils, pots, pans, kettles, cafetières, teapots, even dishwashers. Shah Place and Aslan Place have no ovens, but all have hobs. There are dining tables in the tiled hallways or by the windows in the airy living rooms.

Tea, coffee and a large bottle of drinking water will be waiting for you on arrival, along with essentials such as dishwasher tabs, washing-up liquid and bin bags. Galata has plenty of small family-run grocery shops, mobile fruit and veg sellers, and supermarkets close by where you can stock up.

Dining out is equally easy, with a vast array of restaurants nearby. Adigüzel by Galata Tower is a reliable lokanta (mezze bar) with friendly staff and good home-cooking. In Beyoglu, Leb-i Derya is a sophisticated restaurant with incredible views over the Bosphorus. For even more stunning views splurge at NuPera, a bar/restaurant/club complex that houses 4 different venues. Dress to impress and book ahead, especially at weekends.

For contemporary Turkish cuisine, try the sleek Autoban-designed Münferit, or Cezayir, where you can dine alfresco in lovely gardens. Head to Nevizade Sokak or stunning Rococo arcade Cicek Pasaji (‘The Flower Passage’) for traditional eateries serving old-school mezze and raki, Turkey’s potent aniseed-flavoured tipple. Also worth trying is the trendy House Café on bustling Istiklal Caddesi. It's in the same historic apartment block as 360 Istanbul, a hip rooftop bar and restaurant with a view that lives up to its name.

Features include:

• Coffee maker
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Microwave
• Restaurants nearby
• Toaster

Activities

• Climb the spiral stairs up 14th-century Galata Tower (or choose the easy option and take the lift) for 360-degree views of the city and the Golden Horn. There’s a restaurant and nightclub at the top, too
  
• Take the tram or walk across the Galata Bridge to Sultanahmet, the heart of Old Istanbul, where you’ll find the city’s most iconic sights: the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern
  
• Walk down to Karaköy fish market and join the locals eating hamsi, deep-fried Black Sea anchovies served with a squeeze of lemon. You can also buy fresh fish to cook back at your apartment
  
• Tarkan and Julia can also arrange a two- to seven-hour orientation walk or foodie tour with one of their tried and trusted English-speaking guides - young Istanbul ladies with their fingers firmly on the city's pulse, who'll show you hidden eateries, artisans' workshops and practical info (tram stops etc)
  
• Taste some of the 370 varieties of wine available at Sensus, an underground cellar by Galata Tower
  
• Take a ferry up the Bosphorus, marvelling at the opulent palaces, lavish villas, traditional wooden houses and crumbling castles that line both sides of the strait
  
• Shop ‘til you drop in the up-and-coming Turkish boutiques along Serdari-I Erkem Street in Galata, the maze of stalls in the Grand Bazaar, the shopping malls of sophisticated Levant, and the international designer stores in Nisantasi
  
• Take a stroll - or an old-fashioned tram ride - down Istiklal Caddesi in Beyoglu, a pedestrian thoroughfare lined with shops, patisseries, galleries and bars
  
• Beyoglu is also Istanbul’s club central, where you can party until the small hours: try NuTeras (a swanky rooftop bar-cum-club) and Babylon (for world music)

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Boat trips
• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets
• Traditional cultures
• Wine tasting

Best Time to go

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Location

The apartments are located in several different buildings in Galata, a historic and bohemian district in central Istanbul. Galata is just above the Bosphorus, near Beyoglu, and linked to Sultanahmet by bridge and tram. They're all within a short distance of Istiklal Caddesi, tram stops, the metro and ferry piers.

> Google map showing all locations (new window)

By Air:
Istanbul has two airports - Istanbul Airport (40km away), which is served by many international flights, and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (45km away), which is mainly used by budget carriers. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving them.

From the Airport:
It's a 45-minute taxi ride from Istanbul Airport and about an hour from Sabiha Gökçen Airport, though the journey can take much longer during rush hour. The apartment owners can arrange transfers for you - enquire when booking. There are also shuttle buses from both airports to Taksim Square; from there it's a five-minute taxi ride to the apartments.

By Sea:
The nearest ferry services (for boats across the Bosphorus and further afield) are at Karaköy, Eminonu and Kabatas.

Detailed directions to your apartment will be sent when you book through i-escape.

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