Faros Hotel Taksim

From the outside, Faros Hotel is tall and narrow, and has a mixed brick and painted cream exterior. A small terrace at the entrance is decorated with industrial-style exposed lightbulbs and potted plants, giving it a trendy look. The lobby has a warehouse-loft feel, with exposed piping on the ceiling and hip pendant lighting. A cluster of trendy chairs surrounds a retro-style table, next to bookshelves full of books to borrow, two Mac computers, and a square metal wall sculpture. Beyond the sculpture (which acts as a room divider) is the breakfast and bar area, a stylish space decorated in different shades of gray, with framed artwork and a large fireplace. The place has a relaxed and hip ambience overall and is frequented by families, couples, and business travelers alike.

Faros Hotel Taksim is located in the cosmopolitan heart of Beyoglu, the lively center of Istanbul. Taksim Square is less than 10 minutes away on foot, and sits at the top of İstiklâl Street, a mile-long street of shops, cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars, and clubs, as well as bookshops, theaters, cinemas, and art galleries. The street is lined by the Neoclassical and Art Nouveau buildings that fill the neighborhood. There’s also a tram that runs between Taksim Square and the hip Tunel area. The district of Ortokoy is 10 minutes away by car and is one of Istanbul’s coolest districts, with its chic street market, waterfront bars, and restaurants attracting crowds on weekends. The cafe culture of Bebek is a stroll away from Ortokoy, too, and touristy Sultanahmet is about 20 minutes away on foot.

The rooms at the Faros Hotel Taksim are cool and calm, mingling traditional with urban: king-size beds have crisp white linens, and rooms feature gleaming white walls, polished parquet floors, mid-century-style furniture, and trendy artwork offset by industrial light fixtures. Each has all the amenities you’d expect from a mid-range hotel such as air-conditioning, a minibar, coffee-making facilities, a wall-mounted flat-screen TV (that's small), and a work desk -- but no iPod dock. Bathrooms are marble and have walk-in rainfall showers, trendy sinks that have exposed piping, and signature toiletries. Rooms aren’t completely soundproofed to the noise of neighboring roosters and the call to prayer that sounds throughout the city each morning, so bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper. Free daily newspapers and bottled water are included, as is free Wi-Fi. Street views aren't the most picturesque, however, and street-facing rooms can get some noise.

In addition to two affiliated restaurants around the corner, Faros Hotel Taksim has a trendy bar and lounge area that serves as the breakfast room (for the extensive free daily breakfast) and a coffee shop. The hotel also offers free parking and free Wi-Fi, although the Wi-Fi connection can be spotty. Guests get discounts at the two affiliated restaurants, the higher-end Faros Dine & Wine and the authentic kebab cafe Faros Kebap. One meeting room may not be sufficient to make this the business traveler’s go-to hotel, but the computers in the lobby are up-to-date Macs.