Lovely place. Excellent location, quirky detailing including ancient wall being part of reception area and spiral staircase to some of the rooms. Staff were all very helpful and friendly. Nice garden with interesting birdlife by an ancient baths. Breakfast good. Most of the major tourist destinations walkable or just hop on a tram 5 mins from hotel. Oh! and two very friendly cats!

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.

- Beautifully designed room - Hotel vibes were on point - Breakfast was fantastic and having it in the garden made it so special - Great location for sightseeing and shopping and food selection

- Air conditioner was obviously quite old so it wasn't very effective in keeping the room cool. I had to ask for an electric fan, which they kindly provided.

Great location neat Topkapi palace. The breakfast was fresh, varied, healthy and delicious. Historic building with modern comforts

Would have liked a kettle in the room and a bit more lighting, though tea and coffee were readily available at the bar

This unique hotel is quite a find, an oasis in the hustle and bustle of the city. It is extremely well located, well appointed and decorated, provides a super breakfast in the garden (weather permitting), has fabulous views and is surrounded by restaurants. The penthouse suite is to die for, with panoramic views of the city and harbour, a real gem for a special occasion or just because. The hotel is a stone's throw from the old city major attractions (Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Hippodrome, hammams etc), and within walking distance to the harbour ferries, the bridge to the Galata side and the Grand/Spice Bazzars etc. It is spotlessly clean, everything is fully functional, plenty of hot water and is well run by a really excellent, very helpful and positive team. A great experience and great value.

We had arranged a taxi service with the hotel, so reaching the hotel from IST Airport was very quick and efficient. We received a warm welcome from the employees, and Sofia of course (the hotel's cat, a SWEETHEART). The breakfast was filled with local products and homemade dishes, and you could sit in a small garden in the back to eat it, read a book, or enjoy the outside. The hotel also has a small terrace, with a view of the sea of Marmara. The exterior of the hotel resembles a small, Byzantine residence. The interior, filled with brick walls and wooden staircases, byzantine-themed paintings, and oriental artworks, gave the feeling of existing in that era, while also providing a good representation of the city of Istanbul, combining both cultures that coexist in it. The room was very clean, with fresh and fluffy bedsheets and pillows (something that personally loved). The bathroom was also clean and beautiful, and the hotel also provided small shampoos and handsoaps, as well as a shower cap. Only a 5-minute walk from Hagia Sofia, Topkapi, and Sultan Ahmet (aka Blue Mosque) and a 7-minute walk from a tram stop. Overall, Hotel Empress Zoe helped to make our stay in Istanbul even more enjoyable.

Beautiful hotel in an excellent location right near the Hagia Sophia mosque, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern and other sites of interest. The Grand and Spice bazaars and other mosques were a shortish walk away - it's such a vibrant, stimulating city and there is much to see with everyone we encountered being most friendly and kind. A boat trip on the Bosphorus was a highlight as were the incredibly tasty fresh fish wraps to eat on the water's edge. The hotel is so characterful, our room even had a part of an old marble hamam in the corner, and we loved how it was decorated with old artefacts and kelims. There is a charming ginger cat called Leo who lounges about the cushions in Reception and the staff are friendly and helpful - especially the ladies at breakfast, the receptionists and Yusef who carried our luggage up the spiral staircase and marble stairs and kept the rooms clean and tidy. It was snowing and bitterly cold outside but the hotel felt cosy and warm all the time. The breakfast was delicious: scrambled and boiled eggs, a hot aubergine and tomato dish, 3 x different types of olives, homemade breads, borek and apple and walnut cake, rocket, pomegranate seeds, fresh fruits, different cheeses, honey and preserves, dried figs and 2 x different types of apricot, natural yogurt, juice, coffee, tea - plenty of everything. There is a magical garden and a rooftop terrace with fabulous views. I would definitely recommend this hotel and would love to come back. We had an amazing three nights in Istanbul!

Nothing - loved everything.

My husband and I loved the Hotel Empress Zoe and would return if we get back to Istanbul. It is in a great location and we walked everywhere. There are multiple common areas such as the breakfast area that serves as a place to hangout later in the day, a beautiful garden, and a rooftop terrace. Because we were there in January we did not use the garden or the terrace but I can only imagine how nice it would be to enjoy those areas in warmer weather. The BREAKFAST was fantastic!! I long for such food now that I am back home! The staff plus two resident cats were friendly and welcoming!

No issues

Very warm and caring service; very good breakfast; best staff. Location is good too.

Can’t think of any.

I loved that the hotel was within walking distance of major attractions like Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Gülhane Park. The cozy and romantic room enhanced my experience, and I appreciated the quick responses from reception. I also enjoyed the delicious breakfast and found the terrace beautiful. Several times I told my friend that I would have rather stay in stead of being out in the winter-cold sightseeing.

I found the rooms and bathrooms to be small, but functional. I also want to caution others about a potential taxi scam when booking through the hotel. Our driver suggested taking a toll route to avoid traffic at midnight, but there wasn’t any traffic, so I’m glad I said no. While this wasn’t the hotel’s fault, I appreciated their advice not to pay the driver.