Arden City Hotel

The Arden City Hotel attracts a tourist crowd, mainly couples and families drawn by the central location, modern comforts, and Old World touches in decor and service. Guests who arrive at the white masonry building, which dates back to 1946, are greeted with coffee, tea, or a glass of wine, as well as treats like Turkish cookies, while a staff member shares tips for visiting the city. The lobby feels updated but Old World, with a touch of kitsch. There is statuary, marble flooring, oak book shelves, white walls with gilt trim, and elegant upholstered furniture, while floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the street. The street-level bistro bar attempts to invoke a British-colonial feel with a counter bar and cane chairs as well as an ash-colored mural of early 20th-century Brits. The rooftop restaurant is furnished with contemporary wicker chairs and maroon umbrellas, and offers panoramic views of the city, most prominently the majestic Hagia Sophia and the bustling Marmara Sea. The menu is upscale Turkish food, but guests report that its most savory aspect is providing a perfect perch for a glass of wine as the sun is setting. 

The Arden City Hotel is near Sultanahmet Square, the heart of tourist sight in Istanbul, surrounded by many other hotels and restaurants. It's a three-minute walk to the Basilica Cistern, an immense, beautiful ancient water storage site. The Byzantine Hagia Sophia is a four-minute walk, while the 17th-century Blue Mosque with its 20,000 Iznik tiles, is seven minutes on foot, as is the grand Topkapi Palace. Gulhane Park is a five-minute walk and provides tourists a sense of residential life in Istanbul. In 12 minutes, visitors can walk to the circuitous Grand Bazaar. Other attractions are a short drive away, such as the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art (nine minutes) and the hip Beyolgu neighborhood (15 minutes). Sirkeci Railway Station is a 10-minute walk away. Ataturk International Airport is a 30- to 40-minute drive, though can take upwards of an hour, depending on traffic.

Rooms at the Arden City Hotel, many with beautiful city views, were renovated in the summer of 2012 to blend modern conveniences with elements of old Turkey. Gilt coating covers details like table legs and moldings, and there may be back-lit cutouts in floral or crescent shapes in the ceiling and walls. Draperies, throws, and accent pillows are printed with images of Turkish architecture or solid colors of dusty purples and blues. One double room has delicate floral wallpaper and tufted green headboards with gilt trim throughout. Higher-category rooms have seating areas with velour sofas and coffee tables as well as furnished terraces with sweeping views of the city. All of the rooms have air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, laptop safes, slippers, minibars, kettles or Nespresso machines, and free Wi-Fi. The bathrooms vary: In the smallest rooms, bathrooms are tiled in white with gilt touches and tub/shower combos with sliding glass doors, while higher-category rooms have more elaborate Turkish tiles featuring floral designs and marble sinks, plus some have jetted tubs. All of the bathrooms have hairdryers and toiletries in pretty packages that are the hotel's own brand. The most consistent complaint about the rooms is their lack of sound-proofing, so noise can be an issue.

The hotel's rooftop Teleskopic Restaurant offers gorgeous views and a traditional Turkish menu, heavy on seafood. The Arden Bistro Bar, at street-level, serves pub-style food and drinks. A full menu of room service is provided at certain hours. A free buffet breakfast is served daily and includes Turkish cheeses, meats, and pickled vegetables. Guests arriving at the hotel receive a free drink and snack upon check-in -- children are given cookies -- and one-on-one advice about navigating the city. The hotel has a business center with printers, fax, and copier machines; courier service is provided for a fee. Transport can be arranged, as well as laundry and dry cleaning. Free newspapers, Wi-Fi, and luggage storage is included in the room rates.