Pros

  • Intimate, charming boutique hotel
  • Fantastic location just off the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet
  • Roof terrace with stunning view of the Blue Mosque and the Bosphorus
  • Modern room amenities, including flat-screen TVs and iPod docks
  • Rainfall showerheads and Molton Brown toiletries
  • Free breakfast buffet with fruits, meats, cheeses, and pastries
  • Free coffee and tea all day, plus afternoon cake
  • Small DVD library
  • Wood-burning fireplaces in the cozy lobby and library
  • Laptop computer and printer available for use
  • Elevator (but it's tiny)
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Cons

  • Beds are on the hard side
  • Standard rooms are tiny
  • No restaurant or fitness center
  • Fresh orange juice at breakfast is an extra fee
See More Cons

Bottom Line

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha is one of the most charming boutique hotels in Sultanahmet, with an unbeatable location just off the Hippodrome. The cozy lobby and library both have wood-burning fireplaces -- a real treat in the cooler months -- and the roof terrace has a jaw-dropping view of the Blue Mosque and the Bosphorus. The free breakfast is perfectly adequate if not as extensive as the offerings elsewhere, and free tea and coffee are served all day upon request. Standard Rooms are diminutive but adorable, with flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, robes, Molton Brown toiletries, and rainfall showerheads. For what you get, it's a great value, though prices do spike up in peak season.

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Oyster Hotel Review

Ibrahim Pasha Hotel

Scene

A small, charming boutique hotel with a phenomenal location

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha is a boutique hotel in the truest sense of the word, with only 24 rooms and almost no features to speak of. There is no fitness center, no spa, and no-onsite restaurant. But for most guests, the lack of features hardly matters -- the hotel's appeal lies in its boutique extras, charming decor, and fantastic location.

The many thoughtful extras really do go a long way toward making the stay, from the free tea and coffee served all day upon request, to the free DVD library, to the afternoon cake, to the wonderful wood-burning fireplaces in the lobby and library. The hotel's roof terrace is a highlight, offering spectacular views of the Blue Mosque and Bosphorus; the hotel can bring up drinks for guests year-round, and a small bar for guests only opens up in the warmer months.

The hotel is located on a side street just off the Hippodrome, and though it is extremely convenient for sightseeing, taxi drivers often have a hard time finding it. Luckily, the hotel gives out a handy map of the area with directions to the hotel printed in Turkish. The map also includes local restaurant and sightseeing suggestions, though guests are probably better off making their own dining choices.

See More Scene

Location

On a side street just off the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet, within walking distance of almost every major sight

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha has a fantastic location on a side street just off the Hippodrome, a social center and arena where chariot racing took place in ancient Constantinople. Today, the Hippodrome is a pedestrian promenade and the heart of the Old City. Two famous obelisks are on display here: The Obelisk of Theodosius, and the Constantine Obelisk. Istanbul's other most popular sights, including the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern, are in the immediate vicinity.

Istanbul is a city of contrasts. It's a city that's both modern and ancient, where great restaurants, hopping nightlife, and horrific traffic exist alongside some of the world's most impressive ancient wonders. It's both western and eastern, culturally as well as geographically: It's the only city in the world on two continents (Europe and Asia). A visitor can listen to the Muslim call to prayer while standing in the shadow of the Blue Mosque and feel transported to another time -- or go clubbing after nightfall with Istanbul's trendy urbanites. Though Istanbul is predominately Muslim, there's a clear divide between the secular, westernized population and the conservative Muslims: as a result, it's not unusual to see Turkish women in chic western dress sharing the sidewalk with women in burqas. And a smattering of other faiths also call Istanbul home, including Greek Orthodox Christians and Jews (European Jews first sought refuge in Istanbul during the Inquisition).

The Turks are famous for their hospitality, and tourists, including Americans, should feel very welcome here. Though it's good to be cautious in any large city, Istanbul's crime rates are relatively low and most tourists won't have much to worry about aside from getting occasionally overcharged by taxi drivers.

  • 1-minute walk to the Hippodrome and obelisks
  • 3-minute walk to the Blue Mosque
  • 7-minute walk to the Hagia Sophia
  • 10-minute walk to the Grand Bazaar
  • 15-minute walk to Topkapi Palace
  • 20-minute walk to the Galata Bridge and the ferry stops
  • 13-minute drive to Beyoglu, home to some of Istanbul's best restaurants, shops, and nightlife
  • 23-minute drive from Ataturk International Airport (depending on traffic)
See More Location

Rooms

Tiny but adorable rooms with modern amenities

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha's Standard Rooms aren't small, they're tiny, and come with either one double bed or two twin beds. For more square footage, upgrade to the Deluxe Room. All rooms come with modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, robes, and slippers. Beds are a bit hard.

Bathrooms are on the small side, and the plastic shower curtains don't do much to prevent the bathroom from getting wet when you shower, but they do have Molton Brown toiletries and rainfall showerheads.

  • Flat-screen TVs; the front desk can play a DVD of your choice from the free movie library, which will appear on one of the channels
  • iPod docks
  • Bathrooms with rainfall showerheads and Molton Brown toiletries
  • Robes and slippers
  • Free water (standard in Istanbul hotels, as it is not recommended to drink the tap water)
  • Free fruit
  • Beds have quality bedding but are on the hard side.
See More Rooms

All-Inclusive / Food

A nice free breakfast, plus free coffee and tea

The hotel does not have an on-site restaurant, but it does offer a free breakfast with fruits, cereals, cheeses, meats, breads, pastries, and yogurt. Fresh-squeezed orange juice is available for an extra fee. Coffee and tea are served all day upon request, and the hotel also sells alcoholic beverages.

Plenty of restaurants can be found nearby -- some reasonably tasty, and all touristy. Better restaurants with a more local vibe can be found in Beyoglu. The hotel includes a list of restaurant recommendations in different neighborhoods on the map they provide to guests, but the two I tried were unmemorable, so it's probably worth doing your own research when it comes to dining.

See More All-Inclusive / Food

Oyster Hotel Review

Ibrahim Pasha Hotel

Scene

A small, charming boutique hotel with a phenomenal location

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha is a boutique hotel in the truest sense of the word, with only 24 rooms and almost no features to speak of. There is no fitness center, no spa, and no-onsite restaurant. But for most guests, the lack of features hardly matters -- the hotel's appeal lies in its boutique extras, charming decor, and fantastic location.

The many thoughtful extras really do go a long way toward making the stay, from the free tea and coffee served all day upon request, to the free DVD library, to the afternoon cake, to the wonderful wood-burning fireplaces in the lobby and library. The hotel's roof terrace is a highlight, offering spectacular views of the Blue Mosque and Bosphorus; the hotel can bring up drinks for guests year-round, and a small bar for guests only opens up in the warmer months.

The hotel is located on a side street just off the Hippodrome, and though it is extremely convenient for sightseeing, taxi drivers often have a hard time finding it. Luckily, the hotel gives out a handy map of the area with directions to the hotel printed in Turkish. The map also includes local restaurant and sightseeing suggestions, though guests are probably better off making their own dining choices.

See More Scene

Location

On a side street just off the Hippodrome in Sultanahmet, within walking distance of almost every major sight

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha has a fantastic location on a side street just off the Hippodrome, a social center and arena where chariot racing took place in ancient Constantinople. Today, the Hippodrome is a pedestrian promenade and the heart of the Old City. Two famous obelisks are on display here: The Obelisk of Theodosius, and the Constantine Obelisk. Istanbul's other most popular sights, including the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, and the Basilica Cistern, are in the immediate vicinity.

Istanbul is a city of contrasts. It's a city that's both modern and ancient, where great restaurants, hopping nightlife, and horrific traffic exist alongside some of the world's most impressive ancient wonders. It's both western and eastern, culturally as well as geographically: It's the only city in the world on two continents (Europe and Asia). A visitor can listen to the Muslim call to prayer while standing in the shadow of the Blue Mosque and feel transported to another time -- or go clubbing after nightfall with Istanbul's trendy urbanites. Though Istanbul is predominately Muslim, there's a clear divide between the secular, westernized population and the conservative Muslims: as a result, it's not unusual to see Turkish women in chic western dress sharing the sidewalk with women in burqas. And a smattering of other faiths also call Istanbul home, including Greek Orthodox Christians and Jews (European Jews first sought refuge in Istanbul during the Inquisition).

The Turks are famous for their hospitality, and tourists, including Americans, should feel very welcome here. Though it's good to be cautious in any large city, Istanbul's crime rates are relatively low and most tourists won't have much to worry about aside from getting occasionally overcharged by taxi drivers.

  • 1-minute walk to the Hippodrome and obelisks
  • 3-minute walk to the Blue Mosque
  • 7-minute walk to the Hagia Sophia
  • 10-minute walk to the Grand Bazaar
  • 15-minute walk to Topkapi Palace
  • 20-minute walk to the Galata Bridge and the ferry stops
  • 13-minute drive to Beyoglu, home to some of Istanbul's best restaurants, shops, and nightlife
  • 23-minute drive from Ataturk International Airport (depending on traffic)
See More Location

Rooms

Tiny but adorable rooms with modern amenities

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha's Standard Rooms aren't small, they're tiny, and come with either one double bed or two twin beds. For more square footage, upgrade to the Deluxe Room. All rooms come with modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, robes, and slippers. Beds are a bit hard.

Bathrooms are on the small side, and the plastic shower curtains don't do much to prevent the bathroom from getting wet when you shower, but they do have Molton Brown toiletries and rainfall showerheads.

  • Flat-screen TVs; the front desk can play a DVD of your choice from the free movie library, which will appear on one of the channels
  • iPod docks
  • Bathrooms with rainfall showerheads and Molton Brown toiletries
  • Robes and slippers
  • Free water (standard in Istanbul hotels, as it is not recommended to drink the tap water)
  • Free fruit
  • Beds have quality bedding but are on the hard side.
See More Rooms

All-Inclusive / Food

A nice free breakfast, plus free coffee and tea

The hotel does not have an on-site restaurant, but it does offer a free breakfast with fruits, cereals, cheeses, meats, breads, pastries, and yogurt. Fresh-squeezed orange juice is available for an extra fee. Coffee and tea are served all day upon request, and the hotel also sells alcoholic beverages.

Plenty of restaurants can be found nearby -- some reasonably tasty, and all touristy. Better restaurants with a more local vibe can be found in Beyoglu. The hotel includes a list of restaurant recommendations in different neighborhoods on the map they provide to guests, but the two I tried were unmemorable, so it's probably worth doing your own research when it comes to dining.

See More All-Inclusive / Food

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Babysitting Services

  • Balcony / Terrace / Patio

  • Cable

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Free Breakfast

  • Internet

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Mini Bar (with liquor)

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.