Hotel Empress Zoe, Istanbul

Super location in Old Town, near Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace and the Bosphorus, etc. Great staff, very good Turkish breakfast and I loved the two 'house' cats

my room was tiny but comfortable, and the price was more than fair, so a good value in the end

The staff was outstanding

Coffee makers in the room or available in the lobby, especially since coffee shops weren’tnopen early and breakfast didn’t start until 8:30 am

We stayed in a suite with the sea view and it was just like dream.

This was a great stay, we loved everything about Hotel Empress Zoe. From the location, the look of the building, the incredible garden where one can breakfast in, the cordial staff to the house cat Sophie and new ginger cat addition. Breakfast was simply amazing. We've been to hotels with more elaborate breakfast buffets, but this hotel's breakfast was simply excellent without going over the top with the choices. Delicious fresh bread, cheeses, olives, vegetables, spreads, sweet pastry, jams, honey and much more, prepared by two lovely ladies. It was a delicious start of the day, sitting in the peaceful and pretty garden with one of the two cats usually passing by as well. Room was cosy and full of character, making it unmistakable that you are in Istanbul and not in some generic looking room. We were super happy with the little balcony overlooking the quiet garden and also allowing view on the Bosphorus. It did include climbing 4 flights of stairs, but that was a good exercise given how hilly many parts of Istanbul are.

This has nothing to do with the hotel, but the neighbouring restaurant (the hotel is located in a touristic zone with many restaurants) had staff pestering us every time we passed to have dinner there, and although some heckling is to be expected, this man became really unfriendly over time.

Fabulous spread. Different treats every day. Lots of choice.

Little disappointed that Turkish coffee was extra.

Great location with views of Aya Sophia and the Blue Mosque from the roof. Great breakfast in the garden and very friendly and helpful staff.

The rooms are small and there is a winding staircase and no elevator. However the staff does carry the bags up and down.

Super breakfast, lovely building in great location. Helpful staff. Great garden area.

Courtyard was beautiful snd breakfast was a feast! Our room was a bit small but very charming. Staff were kind and helpful . Location was amazing, spitting distance to all the big sights but quiet and sweet

Beautiful details such as the marble bathrooms. Great location in a quiet street. The garden is next to the ruins of the old baths and is a lovely setting for breakfast. Great breakfast

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Great location, directly near Topkapi/Hagia Sophia. Clean facilities, very nice house and garden. Good breakfast.

Restaurant advice very uninspired Very touristy area Less ideal for Taksim/Galata

A beautiful quirky hotel just a 5 minute walk from Sultanahmet Square where 4 of the main tourist attractions are. The hotel is two oldish buildings that have been joined. We had the top floor room with a view of the Bosporus. If the weather is good, breakfast can be taken in a delightful courtyard. Breakfast is a great selection of fresh fruits, cereals, local delicacies & other goodies. However gluten free products are hard to get in Turkey so it’s worth taking corn cakes or something similar. The staff were very friendly and helpful with restaurant recommendations, public transport advice etc.

Nothing. However access to the bedrooms and meals area is up a spiral staircase so not good for people with mobility issues. The hotel warns you about this and there are very strong porters to take your luggage to your room!

Wonbderful location , very close to mostall of the major historical sites of Istanbul. Also, the hotel also a nearly 1000 year old hiatorical building.

Wonderful position near Hagia Sophia Staff were wonderfully helpful Generous breakfast Rustic charm

The gauntlet of hassling restauranteurs in the street outside the hotel

A perfect location. After a fantastic breakfast, and an amazing Turkish coffee, you can get to most of the main sights within minutes and miss the crowds. The staff were exceptional - so friendly and helpful. Rooms were terrific and having a glass of wine on the roof top was a perfect way to end the day.

location was excellent, although the street was rather noisy at night with stag parties.

being on the top floor, the stairs were hectic with my arthritis.

Location was great. Hotel had a quirky feel to it. Staff were friendly and had a great breakfast.

This is not a criticism but just general advice. Hotel, given that it is an historic building did not have a lift and spiral staircase may be problematic for people with mobility issues.

The room was beautiful. The hotel is in a central location; we could walk to most things we wanted to see. The breakfast was excellent.

Some nights it was a bit noisy because of the roof-top restaurant across the street.

Super charming. Wonderful staff. And fantastic location. Just perfect.

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The old building frescoes pictures and the location

Nothing except you need to be able to do spiral stair cases

Our large double room was very spacious, ample storage facilities and a very comfortable bed. Superb double glazing which on a moderately busy street mean't a great night's sleep. All of the staff were so kind and welcoming. A stunning and delicious buffet style breakfast each morning which could be eaten inside or outside in the very pretty garden. A rooftop terrace with spectacular views to relax after a day of walking. Everything about the Zoe was good, from the communication prior to arrival, taxi arrangements and the stay itself. I would highly recommend.

This is a small hotel in a little busy neighborhood. Two blocks from the main sites… there are tons of restaurants nearby and fun things to do. Yes… this isn’t the Hilton (I don’t want a big American style hotel when visiting new countries alone). The staff treated me like family, the rooms had that old Istanbul feel and were clean, the breakfast buffet was fresh and authentic. After the first day, the breakfast ladies knew how I took my coffee and had it ready the minute I walked in. There are a lot of stairs, so if that is a problem…. Ask for a room on the ground floor. (The bell man handled all the luggage.) The beds are comfortable and the showers had HOT water. The resident cat made the stay perfect. I will definitely stay here again on my next visit!

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I had a wonderful room w a balcony over the garden. Location v close to the sights in Sultan Ahmet, on the European side. Breakfast excellent in charming breakfast rooms and garden.

Nothing really

Loved the location, the view from my room, the beautiful garden area and the wonderful breakfasts. All staff were very helpful and friendly. Also great that there was always someone in reception. The hotel’s building and its integration of historical features was really interesting and helped make it a special place to stay.

Nothing to add.

Thé roof top and the lovely peaceful garden. The service fir drinks tea, coffee etc starting 4 pm.

A lot of narrow winding stairs, really not convenient for people with mobility difficulties, the case being of my friend ( knees)! The taxi service way too expensive. If you stay there there is a taxi stand 50mts away. Our room with 3 beds was small and stuffy. But there is air conditioning.

I stayed in a small but cosy single room. The location was great, a few minutes walk from Hagia Sophia and other sights. The staff are all very friendly and helpful. The garden and the breakfast are definitely a highlight.

Very cute room. Breakfast in the garden and friendly ladies setting it out. Learned a few words of Turkish that brought out smiles. Location location. 5 mins to Hagia Sofiya, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern. Restaurants all around. Small supermarket around the corner.

Traffic. Leave plenty of time for transfers!

Loved the garden and the roof terrace, they were magical. The garden is part of an old Hannam you feel part of history. The location is perfect right next to the mosques that can be seen from the terrace and you can hear the prayers. The customer service is absolutely great, people make you feel at home and are very accommodating and friendly.

Our rooms were nice but a bit small and tired although very clean and practical. We had double single rooms and were separated giving you privacy. The bathroom and washing area were lovely and made of marble.

Perfect location, charming suite and courtyard, delicious breakfast, helpful and friendly staff, Sophie the cat 💕

Our family (2 adults/2 kids aged 11 & 13) had a wonderful stay at Empress Zoe Hotel & wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to others. The hotel is in such a great location to see sights like the Topkapi Palace & Hagia Sophia but is tucked away in a back street so it was lovely to escape to at the end of a long day. We walked everywhere & there were many restaurants in the area if you were too tired to venture further. We stayed in one of the family suites which was perfect & we loved the Turkish furnishings/accents. The kids had a separate sleeping area adjoining a little living area with mini fridge, kettle & sink. The shower was fantastic at the end of a long day of sightseeing. The staff were super lovely helping to arrange laundry & recommend restaurants. The full Turkish breakfast in the peaceful, lovely garden overlooking an ancient hamman ruin was a lovely way to start the day & our room had access to a rooftop terrace overlooking the water which was a nice way to end the day with a glass of Turkish wine.

There are a lot of stairs but my husband, who had a hip replacement 3 months ago, still managed it.

A building full of character, lovely staff

Being an old building my room for some traveller was compact and the shower stall very small

It's a beautiful hotel, we were more enticed to stay in our room than explore Istanbul that's how beautiful the penthouse room was. The hotel is also staffed with just a bunch of lovely people going above and beyond.

lovely light in the room with windows that opened. Rooftop deck with great view of the city. Very close (5 min walk) to Hagia Sophia area. Nice staff to help us find the best way to get to the airport via public transportation.

I thought it would be more ornate with colorful tapestries on the bed but that may just be certain rooms. 3 flights of stairs to get to room. Area very busy, would be best for people with limited time wanting to walk to Hagia Sophia etc. If you have more time to take a bus/metro/longer walk there are better options for the price.

The staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful. The large scale breakfast and the women serving it was a treat. The garden courtyard is an oasis in Istanbul.

There were two narrow spiral staircases to my room, three on my last 2 days. I am 75 and would caution elderly people about the climb and descent.

We loved our room overlooking the courtyard garden. The breakfast included in the room fee was excellent from beautifully cooked eggs, to fruit, yogurt, breads with coffee and tea. The atmosphere was very relaxed, we enjoyed meeting fellow hotel guests over drinks in the courtyard garden.

This was our second stay at Empress Zoe and once again the staff were delightful in all ways including helping with luggage up the steep flights of stairs. The garden and rooftop are welcome respite from busy Sultanahmet. The character of the Hotel is also beautiful. The breakfasts delicious. Very happy to recommend you stay here.

Steep stairs not for the faint hearted.

Location and breakfast! Also the room was great for our family

My friend and I were travelling to Istanbul to take part in the great Cross Continental Swim: across the Bosphrous. My friend had never been to Istanbul but I had, a few years earlier, with my husband, and had stayed at the Empress Zoe. I confess I did look at other places but in the end I turned back to what I knew was good: Hotel Empress Zoe. We had a different room this time: I slept in the main bedroom and my friend slept in the living room - she said it was very comfy! Although the curtains could be black out perhaps... The staff there are so excellent: efficient, friendly, non-intrusive. Sorting anything out that you need without fuss. They even had a take away breakfast prepared for us on our 6am departure on race day! Other more relaxed breakfasts were enjoyed in the garden - listening to the Blue Mosque chatting to the Haggie Sophia at the Call to Prayer. So close to everything. Wonderful.

Black out blinds in the main room if someone is using the beds in the living room? It was very light in the main room compared to the bedroom - so the guest in the bedroom feels a bit guilty!

It was extremely comfortable and hotel stuff was very attentive. We really enjoyed our stay in Empress Zoe hotel

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Breakfast & garden courtyard lovely & generous. Staff helpful and knowledgeable. Clean, safe, comfortable and authentic, without gimmicks. Free umberellas for the rain! Excellent location. Quiet room.

An earlier breakfast would be helpful as you need to get out early to see the most popular sites before the crowds.

Centrally located, making it easy to get to all major attractions. The garden, on the property, is a serene spot if you need a break from the noise of the city.

Very atmospheric, very friendly, very quiet and excellent roof top spaces. Very friendly staff and excellent breakfasts. Location couldn't be beaten. Stairs keep you fit.

Breakfast Great. Location Fabulous

The location is excellent, just a short walk from the main tourist areas but you feel relatively peaceful. The room was a fantastic size for the family and it was a bonus having two separate single beds instead of the sofa bed that is so often on offer. The wifi was great and the breakfast in the morning was very fresh with a good choice. The staff were very attentive and helpful and there are stunning views from the roof terrace.

Less mobile travellers or families with very young children need to be aware that this hotel would not be suitable for them! There are a LOT of stairs. You need to go up a very winding spiral staircase to access the first floor and there are lot of different flights of stairs and narrow areas to access the rooms. You need to be fit and mobile!

Comfortable room and charming garden.

The climb up to my room was a little taxing.

Location! Can walk to key Istanbul sites. Lots of great restaurants. Design! Attached to structures hundreds of years old. Amazing suite. Excellent service. Great breakfast. You'll fall in love with the place and want to return. Was torn between enjoying the hotel itself and wandering around town

Nothing.

I liked the breakfast and the variety. Staff was very helpful.

Everything was wonderful. If the rooms are more spacious, it will make a big difference.

Felt like we were staying in someone's home! The staff were all lovely - friendly and attentive. Breakfast was delicious. Location was perfect for sightseeing. Garden was beautiful!

Kettle/tea making facilities in the room would be great.

Very comfortable beds and pillows, great breakfast and staff were superb.

Beautiful building and charming and helpful staff...it's a very good hotel for visiting the sights... Near Blue Mosque Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. Good breakfast and lovely resident cat called Sophie...it's old and quaint charm has a winning way... recommended..!