Hotel Empress Zoe, Istanbul

This is an excellent hotel. In a perfect location very close to major attractions. the staff were and helpful, the rooms very comfortable and clean. Couldn’t fault it.

My room was at the top of the building and there was a lot of stairs to climb. No lifts. Luckily there was a staff member on hand to take my suitcase up and down.

The location is excellent. The building is historic and designed tastefully. The staff are sincere kind and professional, exceptional! Very clean and food is delicious.

All very good.

Breakfast and resident cats are a standout at this lovely hotel. Great location.

The location - the beautiful old building the staff and the lovely breakfasts

We loved everything about this property and will recommend to our friends

It’s unique

Close to everything

This is not a hotel for everyone, especially if stairs are a problem, but the ambiance is amazing given the attention to fabrics, art and furniture. Also, this hotel had the best Turkish breakfast we experienced while staying in approximately 10 different hotels in Turkey.

While my stay at Zoe was very quiet this time, once, years ago, I stayed at Zoe in a room over a very busy intersection that was very noisy with tourists at night.

The hotel is very old and steeped in history - quite quirky but utterly charming. The location is brilliant, within minutes of the main tourist attractions and all the staff were super helpful. Delicious breakfast also

Nothing not to like

Great location, friendly and helpful staff, love the cats! Great breakfast.

Great breakfast. Nice toiletries in bathroom including cotton buds. First hotel out of the last five that I stayed in that provided these useful items. Nice modern bathroom. Water supplied in a 1L bottle on first day and then you can refill from the water dispenser during your stay there. Room was heated and warm. Mattress was comfortable. It smelled nice and the linen was pleasant.

They were unwilling to assist me to change a small amount of Euros (10 euros to lira. ) Most of the hotels had no problem doing that. I contacted the next hotel I was going to who helped me change the ten euros happily.

The location of the hotel is fantastic! It offers a ton of charm and the staff are great. The daily breakfast was a perfect start to the morning. The rooms are of typical size for European hotels (not the oversized we tend to be accustomed to in the US) and outfitted accordingly, ie, smaller beds and bathrooms. But the uniqueness and charm made it a great choice for our family.

No real issues for us - however, with no elevator or lift, it could be difficult for those with mobility issues.

Perfect location, great service, excellent breakfast, good value. We had a room overlooking a beautiful garden. If you want something charming and authentic, this is it. I would love to stay there again.

Cozy & cat friendly. Great breakfast choice, had table beside wood burner. Lovely courtyard garden with seating areas. Spiral staircase from reception area. Surrounded by great range of restaurants, walking distance to cultural centres, shops & public transport. Helpful reception staff & bags carried up & down for you. Room supplied with extra pillows & blankets. Also radiators & air con. Good sized room with plenty of storage.

breakfast was great with great service but instant coffee was a big disappointment . We love Turkish coffee and unfortunately, that was not part of our breakfast experience.

Charming & characterful with a beautiful garden

The first set of stairs were quite tricky

The hotel is so close to all the old city attractions like Hagia Sofia and Topkapi palace. The Turkish breakfast every morning was amazing. Such variety and something new to try everyday along with delicious fruit, breads, olives and cheese. The room was comfortable and drinking water is available in the breakfast area.

There are a lot of stairs in the property, but we knew this beforehand.

Loved the hotel, the atmosphere, the ambience, the superb breakfast, the area! I also liked seeing the three cats around the place!

I wasn't warned our room would be on the fourth floor and I'm no spring chicken but I managed just five and the reward was our beautiful little balcony.

The hotel is quirky and charming and very well located with a lovely garden. Excellent and professional service and nice breakfast. We had a late flight and our luggage was stored for us through the day which meant that we could enjoy ourselves without worrying.

A brilliant boutique hotel, converted from an old hamam.
Location near the Topkapi Palace

The layout was a bit awkward

The staff was incredible, very welcoming and helpful.

Can't think of anything.

I was stuck in Istanbul for a few days and this was such a wonderful option! Referred by a friend, this was such a perfect location that puts you in the heart of the Faith section. Everyone that worked there was super helpful and I had no issues during my stay. The bed was comfortable and so was the temp which was adjusted (somewhat) by the thermostat🙂. I also really enjoyed breakfast each morning with its wide variety of Turkish/continental options.

I guess it’s not technically what I “didn’t like”, and for me it wasn’t an issue at all, but the only way up is via spiral staircase. This may be difficult for some if you were on an upper level.

My children and I completely fell in love with Empress Zoe and its charming team. From the moment we arrived, we felt right at home. The Deluxe Garden Suite was an absolute dream, and the large, incredibly comfortable bed made us feel like true empresses.

Breakfast was freshly prepared every morning with great care and attention, making it a wonderful start to the day.

We will definitely come back—preferably during the warmer season so we can fully enjoy the enchanted garden.

Thank you for making our stay so special and memorable.

Excellent central location , great breakfast and best bed

If you don’t like stairs make sure you ask for a room that has minimal stairs to get to
Very clean but rather rustic bathrooms with minimal lighting

The building is such a unique and delightful building, it was an absolute delight to stay in. Our twin room actually had two little rooms, one with an authentic Turkish bath/shower which was lovely. There was plenty of hot water and the beds were very comfortable. The breakfasts were fabulous with a huge array of yummy things to eat and the staff were knowledgeable and kind, showing us different options and booking things for us during our stay. Thank you Tarik especially for all your help, booking airport transfers, sharing your local knowledge and making our stay so stress free - we absolutely loved Istanbul and staying here made it so memorable!

This property wouldn’t be good for folks who cannot climb a steep spiral staircase tho. We didn’t mind and thought it wonderful, adding to the charisma of the place.

Perfect location in the centre of the historic district, friendly and helpful staff, excellent breakfast, and three adorable cats. We will definitely stay there on our next visit to Istanbul.

The stairs are a little bit precarious. Fo us (age 70) this was not a problem, but anyone with mobility problems should be aware of this.

The location was fabulous and the hotel was really unique, with lovely Turkish decor and attached to historical ruins. Staff were extremely helpful and my 10 year old son loved the cats.

There are lots of narrow stairs which were fine for us but wouldn't suit some people.

Art, character, location, staff, cats, & an exceptional breakfast (without doubt the best ever!).

Amazing and super helpful staff. Incredible breakfast and sweetest kitty cats. Comfy bed and small but cozy space

Good location for the main attractions but some serious hecklers outside (not hotels fault of course)

This a charming hotel with extremely friendly and warm staff. It has a cozy green yard, it feels very homely. The location is perfect too, and the view from the terrace is magnificent.

We really liked the breakfast and garden. The room was spacious and comfortable. Very charming hotel.

Nothing

Had a lovely stay. All the staff were incredibly friendly and the hotel was in a very historic location. The garden and the terrace were beautiful

Excellent central location walking distance from most major sites and well served by public transport. The hotel is full of character. Rooms were small but had a really local feel. Staff could not be more helpful and friendly. Good spread of items for breakfast with plenty of healthy options.

No complaints.