Osmanhan Hotel

Located on a cobblestone street with other hotels and shops, the Osmanhan Hotel is a small, intimate guest house with a peach facade and window boxes. Guests -- most of whom are tourists -- step under a red awning and down a short flight of stairs into the small, marble-floored reception area with a wooden desk that features a gilt-tipped, old fashioned dial phone and a board displaying keys with tassels. Banquette seating with beige, patterned fabric is situated in front of a small table where drinks and Turkish delights are served to newly arrived guests. A small shelf displays books and jewelry for sale. There's also a fabulous rooftop terrace with city and sea views. Breakfast is served here daily and there's both indoor seating next to big windows and an open-air section with wicker chairs and tables covered in red cloths.

Located in the Sultanahmet section of Istanbul, the city's oldest neighborhood, The Osmanhan Hotel is within walking distance of several popular sites. The beautiful Blue Mosque is a four-minute walk from the hotel, while Hagia Sophia is a seven-minute walk; one more minute and visitors will reach the Basilica Cistern, an underground cistern with old Medusa-head carvings. The Topkapi Palace -- a campus of buildings and gardens of dizzying beauty -- is a seven-minute walk, while Galata Bridge is nine minutes away on foot. The Grand Bazaar is a 17-minute walk away. The Ataturk International Airport is 35-minutes away by car, without traffic, while Sabia Gokcen International Airport is a one-hour drive away. For a Turkish meal that is at once gourmet and homestyle, visitors should take the ferry to the Asian side of the Bosphorus to the humble and affordable Ciya Sofrasi, considered by foodies to be among the best restaurants in the world. The journey takes around 45 minutes door to door. 

Rooms at the Osman Han Hotel are classical but elegant -- especially for a mid-range hotel-- with wood parquet floors covered with Turkish rugs. Drapes, cushions, and bed runners are made of a shiny blue-and-gold rose patterned fabric. Only one room has a view of the sea -- the rest have street views. There is one ground-floor room and it may be noisier than the others. Furnishings include upholstered chairs -- some with exposed wood -- a small desk and chair, a bedside table, and a framed kilim (rug) on the wall. All rooms have small wall-mounted TVs with basic channels, irons/ironing boards, safes, kettles, and minibars. Bathrooms are small but elegant and have semicircular walk-in showers with glass doors or shower/tub combos, plus magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, and mini-toiletries. The shower heads are in the shape of a starburst. Note that smoking rooms are available.

The Osmanhan Hotel provides a free, extensive breakfast buffet on its rooftop terrace each morning. Hotel-wide Wi-Fi and parking are also free and fax services, airport transfers, dry cleaning, and laundry are available for a fee. Concierge services are also available through the front desk.