Istanbul Sweet Home / Guestbook

I couldn't ask for a better place to be in my birthday. I went there with my partner and a friend and we had a great time. The Tea & Gossip apartment is located in a great area of Istanbul. The neighbourhood is full of original places to shop, eat, look (especially if you like antiques)or even enjoy a local hamam.
We spent most of our nights dining in a local bar just 50 metres away from the apartment. Great food and really cheap.There are other places next to each other and it's very local -forget the Tourist-likeness of Sultanahmet crowd.

The area is quite central with easy access to Taksim, Istiklal Caddesi (a pedestrianised street full of shops and places to eat or have a drink).

Discounted supermarket DIA and Carrefours are close by plus other local supermarkets open 24 hours.

In short, a great place, great location and Mete & Tarkan are great hosts.

Would I come back? DEFINITELY

I already convinced a friend to consider going there :)

Dear Metehan,

We arrived safely home on Sunday evening after the wonderful time spent in Istanbul.
We would like to thank you for everything, Galata View was such a nice place to stay at and Istanbul a very enjoyable city; we didn't even get the chance to see and do all the things we intended because 7 days are defenitely not enough for a wonderful place like Istanbul.

Best Regards,
Alex.

Cher Metehan OzKan,

ces quelques mots pour vous dire que nous avons passé un excellent séjour à Istanbul, ville de tous les superlatifs! L'appartement est idéalement situé et vraiment sympa.

Meilleures salutations
Joëlle et Christian Darioli

We stayed at Cihangir Terrace in January this year and would recommend it to anyone who wants a comfortable base from which to explore Istanbul. The apartment is well set up for cooking and is near shops to buy supplies. It has lovely views of the Galata Tower and Istanbul skyline from the lounge room and balcony. It is also very convenient for going out to the fantastic nightclubs and cafes in Taksim and Beyoglu. In the 2 weeks we stayed we went to all sorts of concerts ranging from classical to rock - and all within 15 minutes walk.

Se cerchi la tua casa a Istanbul questa è la tua casa, un'atmosfera tranquilla, serena ed accogliente, come del resto è il popolo turco. Unico punto negativo sono le ripide e continue salite o discese, ma del resto questa parte della città è in collina. Questo appartamento dispone di tutto quanto può esserti utile durante il tuo soggiorno, un comodo bagno, una sala da pranzo ottima e spaziosa che gode di una buona visuale oltre ad una cucina attrezzata.

We stayed at Istanbul Eye for a week (Feb 17th - Feb 24th). Boy! What a wonderfull week that was. We loved the apartment and the neighborhood. The apartment matched everything mentioned in the website and Metehan slapped on a microwave on request as well--ofcourse for a price! I will have to say our kids (aged 8 and 5) enjoyed very much. The Dia(the grocery store) a block away was a God sent for all our needs near the Galata Tower! At the Galata Tower, there is a taxi stand. In a few cases, we stood for a 4-5 minutes to take a cab. That was okay. The end of Istikalal Street (very nice shopping neighborhood) is also a block away. We took Funicular (train) to get down the hill to the waterfront below. (1 YTL / adult; children are always free). Turks love children I suppose. We even saw an elderly gentleman vacate his seat to provide seating for our kids and the passers-by pat their heads and smile occasionally as well. Metehan was a perfect host and a warm personality. We even had Kannan help us out / accompany us to show us all the neighborhood and a couple of times helped us out on babysitting as well. So trustworthy--without his help we couldn't have had a great vacation. He accompanied us to the Grand Bazaar / Topkapi Palace and generally very helpful. The apartment had all the amenities we ever wanted /wished for. Imagine the the first two days we landed were near zero, snow, blizzard etc and a day of raining and final 2 days of sun and clear days! Washer / Heating / towels / general supplies (plentyful) and all. By the way, don't forget to dine at the restaurant behind Hilton hotel--we don't remember the name--but was treated for a very nice dinner accompanied by the belly dancers (a couple of men & 1/2 a dozen women)!! It was a veritable close! The City mall was good for shopping experience. Visit the Grand Bazaar only if you are serious about buying anything. The carpets are EXPENSIVE--but Turkish though! Also, don't get yourself treated with Turkish Hamam. There is a place right off of the Istikalal Street (very very decent one--I don't remember the name easily). Charges run from $40 to $70 for bath and massage (full service). My wife loved it! FINALLY, do not forget to buy boxes of Turkish Delights, ceramic tiles or alladin's lamps!!!! Everyone loved it on out return! Thanks Metehan for arranging the airport pickup and drop back...I still remember very much the help you and Kannan provided carrying our suitcases all the way up the hill to our apartment. Your cheer is on our video!!

We travelled to Istanbul in February and it snowed! It was so nice to have a warm and clean apartment to come home to after a day sightseeing in the cold. We loved Silent Balcony apartment. It worked out beautifully for us. Iskitlal Street was just a short walk one way and the Tram was just a short walk down the hill. The grocery store, bakery, and ATM machines were very close. It was also nice that the landlord accepted payment in dollars. I would also recommend paying extra to have the airport shuttle bring you to the apartment from the airport and then take you back to the airport for your return flight. That was a wonderful service. I would highly recommend this aprtment to anyone travelling to Istanbul.

We stayed in Galata View for one week and the only thing we regretted about it was that one week was not enough! The apartment is spacious and full of light, with perfect views from all its windows. The Galata Tower is just around the corner, as well as groceries shops, a supermarket and everything else you may need, and Istiklal avenue with all its cafes, restaurants and shops is just two minutes walk.
We've become Istanbul maniacs during our stay, and we are certainly coming back soon. And during our next visit,the will be no such option as staying at a hotel - only Istanbul Sweet Home apartments!

Very lovely modern styled apartment with everything we needed. Close to everything we wanted to see Galata tower, Blue Mosque, Aya Sophia, Topkapi Palace, grand and egyptian bizarre's and cruises. A really lovely magicial city! I hope to return...I loveee Istanbul.*****

Stay was pleasant and looking forward for the coming trip .

Me and my friend stayed in the Tea & Gossip Balcony apartment for a week in february 2008. We enjoyed it very much. Outside it was raining and snowing, inside it was cosy, warm and comfortable. We made long walks every day and the apartment was a good place to come back to. It felt like home.
Marianne (the Netherlands)

The week that we stayed at Cihangir Terrace was unforgettable for the two of us for all its positive aspects. The place was all that was promised, and something more. Spacious, neat and clean, adequate kitchen, nice bathroom with tub; great location with nice coffee shop, supermarket, banks close by; Great landmarks within walking distance. A landlord who trusts, and who can be trusted. We would love to go back; we now have a home in Istanbul.

We loved living in this flat. The views were spectacular. We overlooked the Boshporous on one side of the apartment, The Golden Horn on the other side, and directly before me loomed Sulimanye Camii. We found the apartment very spacious with lots of places for two people to spread out. The location is wonderful. It was a short downhill walk to Galata Bridge, and the funicular going up the hill to Tunel Square was also very convenient. We could easily walk to Taksim Square along Ishtiklal Caddesi. And we had no trouble walking across the Galata Bridge and then up into Sultanahmet, and all the attractions there. The bathroom and kitchen are not large, but perfectly functional, and the shower in the bathroom was very good. We found Metehan very helpful, and he came right away if we had any problems. We lived in this apartment for 6 weeks and loved every minute of it. We highly recommend this apartment.

Myself and my partner stayed in Lights of Istanbul in February 2008. It is a lovely modern apartment with ample space and is in very good condition. We found Metehan very helpful for anything we needed. The shower is great so powerful. It is in a super location and is quiet also. The only issue would possibly be the stairs to the floor where apartment is located, this could be an issue for more elderly people as there is quite a few stairs up. It is super for dining in as lovely modern utensils etc are supplied, I couldnt fault anything. I plan to return to Istanbul in March and will stay in one of Istanbul Sweet Homes properties once again.

This is a lovely small flat in a quite neighborhood and is perfect for one or two people -- anytime of the year. The flat is warm, clean, cozy with interesting decorative touches here and there! I'll stay here again, maybe next year – inşallah. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Thanks Metehan for all the help and for being such a great facilitator. Don't hesitate to use the pickup/drop-off service to/from the airport – it's reasonably priced and it saves time.

My wife, Gillian, and I decided to spend the month of December (07) in Istanbul. Our plan was to try to find a flat in a central location and then explore the city using mass transit or walking. Our daughters, Emma and Kaola, joined us for a week.

Istanbul Eye was an incredible find.

The flat was perfect. The kitchen was well stocked with everything we needed, the bedrooms and beds were comfy, the living room is spacious and the bathroom was excellent (I want a towel warming rack in my house...).

But the real beaty of Istanbul Eye is not what is obvious on the website.

The flat has great light. The deck offers the best views in Istanbul. You can see the Topkapi Palace, the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn, and the all of the major mosques of the Sultanahmet. The view in the evening is breathtaking.

But the real charm of Istanbul Eye is the neighborhood. In a short walk of about a block, you are on İstiklal Avenue, one of the the central shopping and dining areas in Istanbul.

The restaurants and bookstores, and shops go on for blocks and blocks, and from dawn till the wee hours. It has to be one of the most pleasant, pedestrian-friendly shopping areas in the world.

And a short walk down the hill is first the Galata Tower, then the Galata Bridge, and then your are in
Sultanahmet. Ferries to the Asian side, or up the Bosphorus are right at the bottom of the hill.
It is an incredible location.

And finally, Metehan and his crew were fabulous. The cleaning crew was great and the drivers accomodated every one of our travel hickups and schedule changes.

We are already planning to go back.
I recommend Istanbul Eye anyone. We really had a wonderful stay.

Greg Swanson
www.itzpublishing.com
Portland, OR

We stayed in Bohemian Rhapsody last summer. It has been haunting me ever since to write a review, because we had such a wonderful time. The managers are great--friendly, knowledgeable, and on top of everything. The apartments are attractive, well-kept, and well-located. Do it!

Dear Mete & Tarkan

We had a wonderful stay in Istanbul. A gorgeous city, a great atmosphere, lovely people.

We hope to come back soon.

Thanks for everything!

Love

Olivier & Bram

I stayed for five nights and felt part of Beyoğlu - much more than if I had stayed at a hotel. All the comforts were available in the apartment including internet access. It was a delightful way to visit İstanbul.

Vielen Dank Metehan für Deine Flexibilität, Deine Hilfe und die schöne Wohnung die Du uns zur Verfügung gestellt hast. Bei "Istanbul Sweet Home" haben wir das bekommen was wir uns vorab versprochen haben. Wer sich nach Privatspähre in angenehmen Ambiente sehnt und nahe dem Stadtzentrum (auf der europäischen Seite) wohnen möchte ist bei Metehan richtig aufgehoben. See you next time again Mete :-)

My husband spent over two weeks in the Lights of Istanbul apartment. This apartment is very cozy and quite easily became our "sweet home" during our stay. We tremendously enjoyed being so close to the Istiklal Street. We were also able to choose from a variety of fresh produce vendors and even had a butcher just around the corner.
Having a washer at our disposal was a life-saver! Metehan was very easy to work with and we definitely look forward to working with him in the future.

The flat is very quiet, very intimate, with nice corners for working or for relaxing, and the neighborhood is great - one almost feels a local there. I would recommend the corner shops with fresh bread and pastries, or with fresh vegetables, and the cafe near the Firuzaga Mosque. Most of all, however, I would recommend having a chat with Metehan, he can really give you an insight into Istanbul's life and political situation. For anyone who loves Istanbul already or who wants to discover it, Istanbul Sweet Home can become a real home.

from here in the thai jungle (where the insect orchestra is currently playing) im gazing fondly in the direction of metehan's mural-wrapped apartment boheme with windows spilling views of golden horn and ships plying the bosphorus, and every day begins with the sounds of fog horns and the melodic call of the muezzin, this one being a total ham, i think he was trying to get a recording contract, i miss it so...

Middle Semptmber 2007 we had a wonderful stay in Silent Balcony. We were a couple and a single person. The flat functioned perfectly, and the terasse increases the value of being there. In addition the kind and helpful attitude from Metehan made our stay a very pleasant experience. Arne Thorsted. Denmark

I stayed in Silent Balcony for the month of July 2007 with my daughter who was doing a Turkish language course at Dilmer. The apartment is ideally located for the Taksim area and you can feel very like a resident of Istanbul, rather than just a holiday-maker. Lots of nice cafes and restaurants very close by. Also I must say how smoothly all the arrangements went for our stay. Metehan (the owner) responded to all e-mails very promptly, the money payments were straightforward and the pick-up from the airport worked perfectly - even though our plane was an hour late! Thanks for an enjoyable stay - I would certainly recommend Silent Balcony to other guests.

As frequent visitors to Istanbul,'Istanbul sweet homes'is a must for good accomodation. It is clean and everything works.
See you next year Metehan.
Thanks for everything.

I have spent ten days in the Silent Balcony Apartment and i have to recommend it warmly because the place is realy quiet and located in Cihangir, one of the most trendy place in Istanbul these days and just 10 minutes walk from Taksim place. You can have the feeling to leave really in the town, something impossible to feel if you are in a hotel in the touristic area in Sultanahmet.

To make it short, I'll just say that I fully agree with previous reviewers' remarks. The appartement is ample, confortable and calm; the location is simply excellent; and Metehan is extremely helpful. So, enjoy your stay there!

Best

José

Dear Paula and José,

Thanks for your suggestion about the plants in the apartment. I have immediately added more substance into the pots.

Hope to see you again!

Metehan

Dear Metehan

We took care of the plants, as they were ours. We think they (2 of them) need more substract and have been given too much water.

The accomodation is very compfortable and quiet, as a good base for exploring an "Always Awaken" city.

Best wishes and willing to see you again in Lisbon.

Paula and José

We stayed at my Turkish bath in August- staff were helpful and responded to queries- the position of the flat is great-friendly safe area and we could walk to most of the major sights, Blue mosque, Aya Sofia, Grand bazaaar- also central to public transport, trains & ferries. Everything was clean and comfortable- definitely recommend it to others wanting a convenient place to stay in the city

Dear Metehan,

Just to say that we really enjoyed our stay in your apartment, Lights of Istanbul. The aircon was a lifesaver in that hot weather, and we were very comfortable all round. We especially loved the neighborhood, which was warm and charming. Thanks too for getting the baby bath tub, and for booking the efficient taxi service to and from the airport.

Best,
Jennifer & Philippe Alcalay

A really great place to stay - the location is excellent, the view spectacular. Thanks a million for making our stay so comfortable and relaxing, Metehan!

J'ai passé un mois à Istanbul et mon choix de logement ne pouvait être mieux. Le "Galata View" est un appartement avec beaucoup de caractère, dans un quartier super sympa et des vues superbes sur la Corne d'Or et le Bosphore, sans oublier l'accueil et la gentillesse de Metehan, toujours disponible et attentif au bien-être de ses hôtes.

The apartment was excellent! Clean, spacious and very well equipped. The property manager (Metehan) is extremely helpful, friendly and professional. We highly recommend this apartment.

Karl & Steve
Toronto, Canada

Spacious and comfortable apartment with wonderful views. The location is excellent -- central but not noisy at all. A great experience! We really look forward to staying there again!

Istanbul Eyes flat is the one you must rent for your stay in Istanbul. Website pictures are really what it looks like. Having breakfast or diner on the roof terrace is wonderful with bosphore and main momunents view. Also good to know : Metehan, the property manager, is simply Great ! Thks a lot Mete, we enjoyed very much our stay.

Absolutely charming!A fantastic hideaway,Imagine all the comforts of home .the location :a special ambience in a village like atmosphere a picture of true istanbul life .at your door the delights of fresh fruit markets bread shops pastry shops ,supermarkets and cafe`s nearby.antique district and moroccan quarters.on the rear balcony the calm of a small fruit grove .doves and seagulls call along with the local mosque.all ten minutes walk from the thriving bustle of taxsim sq.i am a regular to istanbul.s persons equates to staying in the cheapest hotel.thank you again for the excellent no fuss service.why would i ever stay in a hotel again .tony & friends sydney australia

Every summer, I stay (alone) in "Istanbul Eye" for about 2 weeks. The large 2-bdrm flat is much bigger than I need for myself, but it's too gorgeous to resist! Every bit as nice as the pictures suggest, and the view from the terrace is spectacular. The flat also has all conveniences (except an elevator!), and the location is perfect.
Thanks again Metehan for being such a great host. I was especially surprised and appreciative of all your quick responses when I kept having problems with my arrival. See you next summer!

Galata Arms is a perfect choice for staying in Istanbul. To begin with, its location is great. If you want to live a real Istanbul experience, Galata arms is for you. In Galata Arms you are not only a few minutes away from the cultural heart of the city, the cosmopolitan Istiklal Caddesi, but also in the middle of a local neighbourhood surrounded by all kinds of sounds of Istanbul. The apartment itself is super cute, very nicely decorated and you can find all sorts of stuff, everything that you can possibly need, in it. Metehan is amazing and very helpful and nice. Thanks for this wonderful experience. I highly recommend this super sweet apartment!

At the past i was just accomodating at the hotels but 1st time i stayed at the Istanbul Balcony in Istanbul Sweet Homes and i saw traditional street culture in Istanbul,home comfortable and real satisfaction.If you are staying at the hotel during your visit in Istanbul,you assume that you didnt see real Istanbul life and comfortable...I m recommending to everybody to stay SweetHome.

A friend and I stayed in this unit in mid-May for a week and had a great time. The location is ideal, because it's a quiet, safe residential area that is still in walking distance to the best shopping and nightlife area of the city. Within hours of our arrival, we found all that we needed: great restaurants, grocery stores, Istiklal's shops, the nightlife district, even a gym around the corner. Metehan was a great help getting us situated!!

We didn't realize Istanbul was so hilly until we arrived. Be prepared to get your exercise climbing and descending hills! It was great to come back to a clean, air conditioned, quiet apartment after days out on the town. And the king-sized bed is the biggest I've seen in Europe...very comfy too!

Thanks to Metehan for being such a great host!

My husband and I just spent the month of May at Galata Arms. It was 100% better than any hotel where we've stayed on our previous 5 trips to Istanbul. We just hated to leave. The flat had everything we needed, plus things you can't get in hotels. Thanks, Metehan for all your help in making this wonderful experience. Looks like the flat is booked up through the rest of the year. I think maybe you should open some new flats. I'll add a link to our Istanbul travel tips site at TurkuMusic.com See you next trip. Carla and Ted Monnich.

Molti turisti che ho conosciuto ad Istanbul cercano un hotel perchè in genere si pensa non sia una città sicura, ma la zona di questo appartamento pur essendo centralissima è tranquilla e vitale al tempo stesso, e dopo aver speso in seguito più tempo ad Istanbul è ancora una delle mie preferite. La casa è davvero bella, anche troppo... veniva voglia di restare di più! Ringrazio Metehan e spero di tornare presto a passare le vacanze qui! Vanessa

We stayed in this wonderful apartment for five days and loved it so much we didnt want to go out,it was so comfortable with every convenience,to be thoroughly recommended.
Thank you Metehan for all your help and hope to see you in 2008.

A very pleasant comfortable flat with all conveniences,in a very good area.
Efficiently managed and to be highly recommended.
Thanks for everything Metehan.

the flat was very clean and tidy and the location was perfect for seeing all the sights.It was also a very quite location and there was no noise to disturb us. Older clients would need to know that there are alot of stairs to get to the apartment.i would definately recommend this to my friends and family for the perfect stay. thank you for everything

This flat is super cozy and close to everything, very strategic indeed. It's safe and clean, which is a consideration when looking for a place to stay. It's well-maintained, with facility /amenities to make your stay comfortable. It has a nice view of the Golden Horn, and the historic Galata Tower is just a few steps away, which could actually be seen from the balcony.

Lights of Istanbul is true to its description.

Staying in this flat feels like you are home...sweet home. I will have this flat again on my next visit to Istanbul.

It's highly recommended!

Salamat po!

Olivia Bianca Basco
Philippine

My husband and I stayed at Istanbul Eye and thoroughly enjoyed it. The neighborhood reminded me of my little french neighborhood in Lowell Massachusetts with the corner store, fresh vegetbles, chldren playing outside under their mother's watchful eye, etc. Very earthy and full of sights and sounds that brought new adventure every day. My husband was enamoured with the view of the harbor with non-stop passage of ships. Each evening we sat outside until the sun set. We especially enjoyed that just around the corner was the main shopping street. Access to the trolly, metro and ferry were all within 2-5 minutes walk. We especially want to thank Metehan for being so helpful and even giving us a neighborhood tour to give us our bearings. We so highly recommend this apartment.

My friends and I stayed at Silent Balcony in early April and were so happy with our choice to stay there. The apartment is spacious and the kitchen is well stocked with pots and pans and anything else you could need. Metehan was fantastic. When we arrived he took time to tell us where to eat and pointed out some places of interest. I will most definitely return here to stay if I visit Istanbul again!

What to say ? It was our first time in Istanbul and we got more than we deserved :-) We spent 10 exciting days in Bohemian Rhapsody and could not have wished for better accommodation . Apartment is a lovely and in a great location. There were all facilities anyone could need for a holiday..........the bath almost look like a swimming pool (compared to mine). We walked comfortably to many attractions.......truly just the first 3 days and then realized how Tunel (Underground train) is close, and the tram as well. We have read in earliest guests messages how Metehan is great but you will realized the power of his personality when you'll meet him. He has disclosed a lot of Istanbul ''secrets'' to us so we had opportunity to enjoyed in real life of town :-) The view from the flat is great, a church and a mosque just one to another, and that gives a special atmosphere to our staying in multicultural Istanbul.
It was lovely, relaxing and friendly holiday in Istanbul. Metehan thank you!
Croats

Silent Balcony....
Excellent location 10 minutes walk from Taksim, close to antiques district too.
Solid Bauhaus building, with efficient flat decoration. Ideal for longer stays where you get tired of small hotel rooms, and definitely more cost efficient. Here you feel at home! Especially given the friendliness of the owner.

I just spent a wonderful week at Galata Arms - a charming and comfortable apartment centrally located in the heart of the European side of Istanbul. Waking up to the neighborhood noises of the call to prayer over the speaker, ringing church bells, yelling vendors hawking their wares, while peaking at the Bosphorus through the trees gave me a taste of being a part of Istanbul - one of the main reasons why I prefer the Galata Arms over a standard hotel room. However, the best part was the landlord, Mete, who really took care of us with information and advice. When our driver was caught in the May Day traffic, which might have made us late for our return flight, Mete came to our rescue by managing the crisis. All turned out well with his help. I would definitely recommend others to rent the Galata Arms; it might be occupied because I've already rented it again.

Nam Nguyen
USA

I can warmly recommand "Istanbul Sweet Homes" as your host in Istanbul. They offer safe and very professional service from the paperwork like the contract and the confirmation form, to the service at the spot. The small flat "Lights of Istanbul" situated in the most central area of Istanbul is comfortable and totally modernished. The small shops in the neighbourghhood from the baker to the RAKI salesman. It is all in a few minutes walk from this flate. And you can reach the ferry fra Karaköy to Asia site within 5 minutes.

Enjoy your stay
I will book this flat again next time I am visiting Istanbul

Selamlar
Lene Denmark

We really enjoyed our week in the Silent Balcony apartment. It is very central located, near Taksim square and Istikcal Caddesi. The pictures of the apartment are exactly how the it looks. The only small point of critic is maybe that the 2 entrance doors of the building make some noice. For the those who are afraid of renting something via the internet, well don't. Everything was handled in a professional way including the deposit. The owner is a very friendly guy who speaks perfect english. We will recommend the apartment to anyone who wants to visit Istanbul.

Thanks Zoe! I underdand that every culture has its own must for the breakfast but I hope the lack of toaster in our flats might be a good reason for our next guests to try fresh, baked Turkish bread which can be easily obtained from the local shops. I will proviede a couple of more pans asap.

Thanks for reminding bed sizes:

Our raised double beds in each bedroom are 1,40m X 1,90m (double bed size in European convention)

This apartment is in a great location, with banks, restaurants and supermarkets nearby, and a short walk to the tram. It's also easy to get to pretty much anywhere you would want to go in Istanbul, with lots of transport choices locally.

It's also a lovely flat, really clean and with everything you need for a stay. The washing machine was particularly useful, as I always end up taking far too many clothes when I go away.

The only changes I would make is for Metehan to provide a toaster (I missed my toast for breakfast), and maybe a couple more pans. However, the lovely comfortable bed more than made up for the lack of a toaster.

I'll be booking to stay again, and would recommend it to anyone, it was a lovely and relaxing apartment.

An important part of an marvelous stay in a big town is the accomodation. Bohemian rapsody offered us cosiness, space, silence, the call of the muhezin and much more. May be if you dónt know your travell partners very well the beds are a bit small for two persons.
we felt very welcome and its sure that we we will return. martina, johanna, pauline , peter

My 14yr old daughter and I stayed at this wonderful little hideaway this Easter (2007). It is a little gem, very well situated for the Galata Tower (2 mins walk), Taksim Square (5 mins walk), tram (5 mins walk). Very well equipped, VERY CLEAN, brilliant shower!! You really feel that you are living in the true heart of the city with local noises all around you.A number of corner shops 1 minute away who provide all the basic things like milk, fresh bread etc. I have stayed in many apartments all round the world over the years and this really is a gem and I can HIGHLY RECOMMEND it to anyone visiting Istanbul who really wants to feel part of this amazing city, and be so central to so many important sites.

Dear Metehan
We had a fantastic time in the 'Istanbul Eye'. The flat was extremely comfortable, in a great location and had superb views. The choice of bars and restaurants around Istiklal Cadessi was brilliant, catering for meat eaters and vegetarians. It was great that Sultanahmet and the old city were only 40 - 50 minutes away by foot and could be reached by a variety of interesting routes. Getting onto the ferries and out to the Princes' Islands was easy and particularly rewarding after a couple of days in the city. We used the funicular to come home up the hill every day, which made it easier to revive ourselves on the terrace before going out in the evening. I would recommend this excellent holiday venue to anyone. Thank you for all your help and the efficiency of the drivers who picked us up and dropped us off at the airport.

Many thanks
Helen, Steve, Cathy & Pete (Manchester UK)

Dear Tarkan and Metehan,

Thank you for your hospitable service. We are both very pleased with the service and are sure to return. The Istanbul Eye experience was absolutely fantastic also. It is so easy getting used to living there that we were a bit upset to leave.

Many thanks.

Honostly, i have to say that the Person in charge is an incredible Person and just meeting him was a pleasure. Refering to the flat, it is very well located, clean and decorated with a very good taste.
I am already hoping to return very soon and stay once more at the Bohemian Rhapsody. I am convinced that this flat which Istanbul Sweet Home offers is a true alternative to a conventional Hotel. All the Best, Ürün&António (Barcelona, Spain)

Thanks so much. Your apartment was wonderful & we enjoyed Istanbul
The Springsteens

Thank You! We loved the place and the location is great!
Peter

We are back to Paris after this marvellous week in Istanbul.
Istanbul Eye is the ideal place for visiting Istanbul. The flat is located in a quite, central and nice area close to the main tourist places. It is spacious and light. We really felt as if we were at home thanks to Metehan welcome.
If you want to catch the magic of the city : at nightfall just go up to the roof terrace overlooking the enlightened city hear the Muezzin prayers. It is an unforgettable moment!!

Many thanks for everything Metehan.

Dear Tarkan,

So it looks that I'm the 2nd "dental tourist". What should I say - proper service. Had to "repair" just one cavity, so I'm happy! :)

Swiss regards.

Thank you so much for making us feel welcome and being so hospitable. We can't recommend istanbul sweet home highly enough - everything - the airport pick up and key drop (at 1am!), apartment, location and Istanbul itself were super. We're secretly hoping no-one finds out about "Bohemian Rhapsody", just so we can have it all to ourselves! Thanks again, we look forward to coming back. Best Ingrid & Kartini, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

In december 2006 I spent a wonderful week in a wonderful apartement surrounded by wonderful people. Metehan, thank you very much for all your help and the great service you provided. I want to recommend to everyone to spend holidays in istanbul with "istanbul sweet home".

Dear Rafaell

Thanks for your contribution regarding the need for more dishes and glasses in my Turkish Bath.

Today I bought more and put them in the flat.

Marhaba, staying at istanbul sweet homes really enriched our over all experience in instanbul. It has a very homey feeling to it and it is clean and comfy. Plus the location is just fabulous. It is near all my favourite areas especially (Istiklal st). we saved a lot on taxies since all places were just a walking distance away. Cheers Meta

I just spent the month of January 2007 at My Turkish Bath in Beyoglu. The apartment is situated in an area loaded with amenities such as grocery stores, meat shops, bakeries, pharmacies and liquor stores. There are also many wonderful neighbourhood restaurants, bars and clubs. Most of all its just a few minutes walk to Taksim Square and Istiklal Caddesi. It's also a very breezy walk across the Galata Bridge to the Spice Bazaar, Grand Bazaar and Sultanahmet.
My Turkish Bath is a very nicely appointed apartment with most necessities available for a one month stay and the owner was kind and friendly - on my first night in Istanbul he took the time to give me a brief tour of the surrounding areas and local restaurants. When I noted that the corkscrew did not function he immediately replaced it with a new working model. Althought I was able to make myself dinners when I did not want to go out, I would recommend that the apartment be outfitted with some more dishes and drinking glasses as I feel some have been broken and have not been replaced. It's important especially when there are three people staying at once. It was great to have maid service once every week to freshen up the surroundings and a plus to have pick-up and return service to the airport even thought there was a taxi stand just one block away. On my next visit to Istanbul, I hope to spend some more time in one of IstanbulSweetHome apartments as I was very impressed with the service.

Hello I would strongly recommend this apartment. My boyfriend and I rented the 4th flat for 1 year, in 2006. Great neighbourhood, and we loved our clean and well maintained apartment. Thanks your hospitality Metehan!!! We would love to rent from you on our next stay.

I stayed at Galata Arms and i have to say i really liked it a lot,,,there was everything i needed,its central and i only have good things to say,,i really recommend this flat to everyone who will visit istanbul...it´s at the end of istiklal street so if you have been clubbing its really convinient for you,,becuase you dont have to take taxi or anything,,just walk home,,,so for young people its a perfect place of choice,,,thanks metehan my friend for everything,,hope to be visiting istanbul very soon again...

This flat is spacious, clean and comfortable. It's very well. Near Istiklal Caddesi and Taksim Square, his location is perfect, in the heart of modern Istanbul. I suggest it to you.
Palmaccio Robert

Kelly is relatively right about her comment on our sitting area in My Turkish Bath; 2 armchairs, dining table are separated from the sofa as we did not want to break walls just to make place larger during our construction thinking of solidity of our building.

We stayed in apartment 201 for 2 weeks well situated as is only a 5 minute walk from Taksim square,the apartment was cozy but found the sitting area quite small.There are shops around the corner which open late .In general i recommend this flat for anyone looking for good location and easy access to transport.
Thanks Metehan:
Kelly&cristina

Dear Metehan, We really enjoyed our stay at your apartment Galata Arms and we didnt have any problems about the flat..It really is a friendly neighbourhood and less noisy than Tarlabasi neighbourhood..

The flat is in a good location so we didnt have problems about transportation..Very close to shopping places and also very close to the main streets..On the other hand having the church and the mosque next to each other made a nice view and also little bosphorus view was nice.. About the negative parts the outside door is really noisy :) so when there are people coming in and going out you can hear it really loud all the time :)

Metehan as a owner and maybe i can say as a friend is a great person helped us a lot..This wasnt our first stay and hope to stay at your apartments more times :) The decoration was really nice and you can really feel like it is your own flat during the time you stay there.. When you look from outside you would think that inside couldnt be that nice and interesting..i would like to thank to the person who made this decoration..

just a little comment not something so important or necessary maybe but it would be nice to have the camera system like in the other flat The last thing we can say is that staying in this kind of flat is way better than staying at a small hotel room where you dont have so much freedom at all with similar prices :) Best Regards and Thanks for everything Metehan you are the best!

Claudio & Zeynep

Four of us stayed over Christmas....we were very well received and Metehan put us in touch with Ufuk Gökdeniz, a great guide who took us out for the day. The flat was really cosy, we certainly needed it to be after our mild English winter! Really great views across the city from the sitting room and the terrace. We didn't want for anything whilst we were there.

It was a great location - less of the sights but great for good and atmospheric bars and restaurants in the evening when you come home shattered!

Just one thing to note, as the apartment is quite high up there are many stairs and its also surrounded by brief but steep hills so its worth bearing this in mind if you're limbs aren't great or all present and correct......we're looking forward to going back in the summer next time and wouldn't consider staying anywhere else. Christmas 2006.

Derya hanım, fiyatlar RATES & RESERVATIONS sayfamızda. Buradan ulaşabilirsiniz.
http://www.istanbulsweethome.com/rates.shtml

fiyatlarınızı göremedim aylık fiyatınızı öğrenebilirmiyim.

As one of your first "dental tourist", I am very glad to tell you that my dental experience with you turned out to be a very nice one. You, as a person, the atmosphere at your office as well as the way how you welcomed me were fantastic. Thank you very much for everything. I wish you all the best for your personal and professional future and would like you to know that you are also always welcome by me a a new friend as you did it with me.

Dear Brigitte,

Thanks for your comments.

I will buy a couple of more pots and pans and place them in the kitchen for next guests.

Thanks for mentioning the point about the azan (Islamic call to prayer called by the muezzin five times a day from a mosque's minaret), which is part of the music of this city, and especially of our street, together with the church bell, street sellers, and kids playing on the street...but you are right, the one early in the morning might be a bit surprising, if you arent used to... but after a while, we don't hear it at all...like a lullaby :)

Those who are planning to travel to Istanbul and looking for an accommodation should know that it is almost impossible to find a place which is far from a mosque or a church in the old, historical parts of the city, such as Sultanahmet, Beyoglu (Pera) etc.

Best Regards,

H.Metehan Ozkan

Dear Metehan,

We have now returned to Irvine, after a very long flight (and a one night stop in Paris).

We had a wonderful time in Istanbul and are very eager to come back, hopefully next summer. The apartment was very nice, beautifully decorated, with all the modern amenities. You are also a very efficient manager, I must add. Everything went perfectly as planned.

Now that I think if it, the only thing that could be changed are the pots and pans in the kitchen. I was cooking every day and it would have been nice to have better pots with lids. That's all I can think of.

Oh... if only you could turn the volume of the "call to prayer" a bit lower...
That was tough to get used to, especially at 6am!
.
Best wishes
Brigitte

Had a wonderful stay in this flat - know the owner who has a wonderful eye and it shows in this charming apartment. It is like walking into another land with the touches of East meets West - a fantastic location right in the heart of the city but quiet at night a great relief for the hustle and bustle of daily life. The best part was overlooking a charming green leafy garden of the church - and the 3 minute location of wonderful cafes and shops.

This flat - the Galata Arms - is in a wonderful posistion and has modern touches along with a rustic and homely feel. The srroundings and views are charming and I would recommened this flat to anyone young, old, male or female especially for a city break so what are you waiting for go and book it now!!

We had the most delightful holiday in Istanbul that I've had in many years, and the pleasure of it was largely thanks to Metehan and the flat we rented. Metehan arranged for a taxi to receive us, and even though our flight was three hours late, Kadir was waiting for us with the taxi. We were driven to a splendid flat in the neighbourhood of Beyoglu. The flat was airy and bright, and beautifully furnished. The beds were comfortable and the kitchen well-equipped, so that we were able to cook an elaborate dinner, at which Metahan and Tarkan graced us with their company. Metahan was exceedingly kind and helpful, and directed us to terrific restaurants and generally helped us navigate the city. After roaming around, we would return to our apartment and enjoy the magnificent view from the terrace of the monuments in the old city lit up at night. The view was to die for! The flat was very conveniently located near Taksim and we used both public transportation and taxis with ease. When we locked ourselves out at night, Metehan arranged for someone to open the door within about five minutes. Everything was managed with ease, grace and efficiency. We want to go back as soon as we can!

Dear Lyne,

Thanks for your remarks.

The TV has a standard package of all channels provided by Turksat Kablo TV company; http://www.turksat.com.tr/kablotv/harita.html , I hope one day I will also buy a DVD.

A small booklet for the bus lines published by the municipality would be helpful for us too, but unfortunatelly there is not such a thing...except the website http://www.iett.gov.tr/en/index.php

Hope to see you again!
Metehan

The location is perfect and the neighbourhood well served by local shops. I felt very comfortable and safe walking around the area of Cihangir, even at night. It is possible to walk to the Bosphorus from here and even to Sultanahmet which I did a few times.
Taksim metro and bus stations are just a 5 minute walk, so everything is accessible during your stay and there are always taxi's passing by the top of the street waiting for a hire.

I walked to Dilmer Language school every morning and it was a pleasant walk, passing some wonderful bakeries and kebab shops on the way.

The flat itself was very comfortable and was like a home from home for me. The desk area with internet access was perfect for keeping in touch with home and helping with my studies.

The only thing I would improve on was the TV reception or provision of a dvd player because even though I was learning Turkish I could not follow all the local TV channels :-)

The books and maps available in the flat were ideal for when I first arrived. It may also be useful to provide information on local buses however.

Thank you so much for everything and I hope to be back again soon.

Kind Regards

Lynne

I stayed at Galata Arms for a long period. Quiet and leafy but two minutes walk to the tram street, Istanbul's Soho. Very well equipped (everything works!) -amazing paintings on the ceilings - not to mention the arms! Recommended

If somebody wants to live and work in Istanbul: iF his (or her) work is creative: and if there is a sense of some romantic in his hart, the small flat on Serdar ahmed street is a perfect place for him. It's real, old but fresh a nd moving street, Quiet and noisy and and you feel there as a part of something very Yours. place newer disturbs you, it just helps.

there are five minutes of walk up to Istikal and strangness of the place is very visible: you live close to noisy and active tourist avenue, and at the same time you live ina a totally real istanbul.

in flat you feel yourself as a part of strange but very warm world:may be it's a imaginary Istanbul, the place of some so sweet retro urban fairy tale. no, the place is really modern with all modern things inside, but it's old and charming a t the same time.

thank You, friends for Your taste and vision of Your magic city

Yours, George.

Hace tres anos que empecé a venir a Estambul con regularidad y desde que una amiga del ramo de la hostelería me habló de IstanbulSweetHome , no he vuelto a pisar un hotel. ?Para qué? Si Metehan (el alma mater de la empresa) y su equipo me ofrecen la posibilidad de estar como en casa. Entretanto, he tenido la ocasión de ver cinco de los pisos de IstanbulSweetHome (me gusta variar y curiosear :) y -cada uno en su estilo- me han parecido todos acogedores y muy recomendables. El hecho de que funcionen como aparthotel es también una gran ventaja, porque te ofrece lo mejor de estar en un piso (un espacio propio, no estar obligada a salir a un restaurante si no te apetece, más libertad, en definitiva) y la comodidad de que una vez a la semana se pase alguien a limpiar y cambiar sábanas y toallas. Otra gran ventaja de estos pisos es que están todos en Beyoglu y muy bien situados: se puede llegar a la calle de Istiklal desde cualquiera de ellos en 5 min a pie. Además están totalmente equipados: ropa de cama, toallas, cocina...Y si hay cualquier problema, se llama a Metehan, que resuelve lo que sea con eficacia. En definitiva, para cualquiera que quiera estar en Estambul unos días y a quien no le apetezca quedarse en un hotel, IstanbulSweetHome es una excelente opción.
Patricia, clienta habitual :)

Dear Metehan,
We are back in Canada with wonderful memories of the time spent in Istanbul. We are really happy about our trip, the quality of the apartment and above all the quality of the contact we had with people like you there. We want to thank you many times for facilitating our stay. This trip will stay in our memory for ever. Everything has been just perfect and wonderful. Thanks again and take very good care,
Lucie and Michel.

Hi Metehan,
Thanks for organising the apartment for our stay. It was perfect for us and much better than staying in a hotel.
The view from the terrace was wonderful and it was great to meet up with you.
What a great service you are doing to the beautiful old buildings of Beyoglu, restoring them them so faithfully to their former glory.
Graham + Levent

Cari amici,
per 9 giorni abbiamo affittato l'appartamento n.ro 201 (My Turkish Bath) e lo consigliamo a chi vuole godersi una permanenza tra la gente di istanbul.
La posizione è ottima, si trova nel quartiere di beyoglu, in una zona di piena vitalità comodissimo a tutto. La casa è arredata con molto gusto, confortevole e rilassante specialmente dopo aver girato per musei, ecc. E' ben distribuita e per chi ama, come noi, il piacere di un vero bagno turco in casa è il massimo.
Che altro dire... andateci ne vale la pena.
A proposito, il padrone di casa Metehan, è un giovane intelligente e dinamico veramente ospitale come solo i turchi sanno essere.
Andateci!!!
Marisa e Franco

After 10 wonderfull days in Istanbul we´re now back in Hamburg/Germany and want to say "thanks" for the great place! We stayed in the triplex apartment in Beyoglu ( Istanbul Eye ) and liked it at lot. We wish we had a home like this! It does exactly look as on the pictures on the websites (we couldn´t believe) and the view is from the rooftop terrace is even more magnificient than it can be conveyed in pictures. We enjoyed every morning a breakfast on the terrace. The flat is in a very good condition, everything in place and thought of (hairdryer, towels etc.etc.) - like in a good hotel . Moreover the location is perfect - a nice neighbourhood near Galata tower and walking distance to many sights (we often walked over to Sultanahmet, which is about 15 to 20 mins).
We hope that we can come back somewhen soon and get a chance to stay in this place again. Definitely a recommendation!
Petra & Werner

We cannot speak highly enough of our time in Istanbul,and the accommodation we had in the apartment found for us by Metehan.It was all that had been promised,and more.We were only sorry that it was not quite warm enough to use the roof terrace as the view was fantastic.We have promised ourselves another time.
Metehan and his team were of great support,before we arrived, Metehan putting up with and replying to endless anxious emails from us endeavouring to decide where we should and would be staying.And Metehan himself spent a precious night trying to sort out a munched card for us,which was resolved satisfactorily only because of his efforts.
We have left with great memories of the warm Turkish people we met,from the little grocery store we went to, by our apartment,the internet cafe, the little lunch places and Metehan and his team.
Tony and Sylvia

Dear Metehan,
after an unforgettable week in Istanbul we just feel obliged to thank you for making our stay a real fairytale!!!
The New Year of 2005 in Istanbul will always stay in our hearts where a great part of this is due to a fantastic accommodation we've had in one of your flats (triplex apt in Beyoglu)! The "cherry" on a cake is your very special treatment we've had from you as a landlord! This came far, far more than one can expect from a landlord. Furthermore we've gained a true friend and that's what makes the stay a special one.
Once again, our most sincere and cordial compliments.
Veljko, Dragan, Branko, Mirko and Predrag from Serbia

I haven't stayed in one of those flats yet but as far as I saw and heard, this project has come to a spectecular point so far. I appreciate what my friends did and I believe they did a great and valuable job by trying to show the old soul of this ancient and unique city!
Congratulations once again!
Emrah C. Adalioglu

Metehan, I would like to take this opportunity for all the effort you have put in so far in making me feel at home as quickly as possible.
The flat at Palaska Sokak No. 5 is just magnificent. Very well maintened, not overlooking the slightest detail and wonderfully decorated and furnitured. It's a very cosy place, even in the midst of december.
It's location is right in the center of Istanbul and all it's activities, with excellent restaurants, café's and shops within walking distance. Yet providing peace and quiet when you feel like it.
Flats in Istanbul is really all what it says on the card or site: better than home!
Erlend Geerts

If I ever come to Istanbul - I will for sure rent a flat from you!!!!!
Do you have flats, suitable a big Swedish VikingQueen? Not to small, not to hot, not to lonely....
Good luck with your business!
Mickan

Sevgili Mete,
Thanks for everything...Time in Istanbul was a unique experience...
Thanks for your hospitality and your help...
We still feel that there is a second home for us in Istanbul.Be sure that we ll be back ! :) :) :) (Thats a threat!)
Take care and many greetings to your friend Kadir bey!
Greek Girls

Dear Metehan,
I want to thank you very much for your help and want to express how much I enjoyed staying at both flats. It made my stay in Istanbul that much more pleasant. You and your friends have put so much pride in them and it shows.
I look forward to calling you again next time I travel to Istanbul which I hope will be soon. Not only the flats but the hospitality you and Kadir bey showed, made it a worthwhile experience for me. Congratulations on your successful endeavor.
Erkan

Lieber Metehan,
ich möchte Dir auf diesem Wege nocheinmal für Deine Bemühungen und die Bereitstellung der Wohnung Cihangir N0.4 (Tea & Gossip Balcony) danken.
Ich kann dieses Appartmenthaus ´jedem, der nach Istanbul fährt bestens emfehlen. Abgesehen von dem hohen Einrichtungsstandard und der tollen Ausstattung, ist die zentrale Lage unschlagbar. Das Viertel ist als solches sehr ruhig und schön, jedoch bedarf es nur 5 Minuten zu Fuß und man sit mitten im Geschehen. Wenn ich zurück nach Istanbul komme, komme ich auf jeden Fall auf die Wohnung zurück.
Metehan, solltest Du irgendwann nach Deutschland kommen, so melde Dich bei uns.
Liebe Grüße
Ernst