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.

We absolutely loved the hotel! Perfect location super close to the main touristic attractions. The staff is lovely, everything is very well curated, and the breakfast is delicious!

The windows of our room where not thick enough therefore we could hear lots of noise from the outside. It's still part of the Istanbul experience but it have been nice to have better windows.

Convenient location 2 blocks away from the Blue and Sophia mosques. Front-desk stuff recommended a few good restaurants. I’m forever grateful for these recommendations. Although there is no elevator in the building, the porter was at my disposal 24/7. The breakfast lady was super nice, the quality of the food was great. I’ll definitely book a room in this hotel I go to Istanbul again.

The Penthouse Suite and its terrace are glorious, a true place for relaxation while still being connected to Istanbul all around. Each morning we found our own little spot for breakfast and the breakfast was varied and delicious---it took two or three trips to sample everything! My suitcase weighed over 60 lbs. Thanks to the wonderful person who carried it up and brought it back down.

The only minus to ALL the pluses was that the room safe did not work in either of our rooms. It seemed a thing that could be checked after one client had checked out before another had checked in. Did it impact our days at Empress Zoe? No. It was a minor glitch when we arrived.

Empress Zoe checks all the boxes of the perfect hotel. First, the location is amazing to explore the old town, it's honestly less than a 5-minute walk to Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia, it's also nearby the tram, in case you'd like to explore the other neighborhoods. Their breakfast... wow... I'm still trying to find a better one in Turkey, but couldn't manage to do it. Fresh tomatoes, feta cheese, amazing homemade jams and pastries, you just have to try it and see. The staff is great! Even the people that work in the middle of the night are kind... They helped me with restaurant reservations, even before I had arrived. Istanbul has lots of hotel options, but this is the one. I can't wait to go back!

The room where I stayed was a bit outdated, but had that "vintage" look, which was nice. Bathroom was too dark!

We had a very comfortable suite with palatial bathroom. The suite's terrace overlooked an ancient hammam, a lovely wild garden and a glimpse of the sea plus we had our own gate into the property from the street. It's a five minute walk to Topkapi Palace. Breakfast was outstanding - a wide range of food to choose from with something different every day, served by delightful members of staff. In fact all hotel staff were very helpful and friendly. We were sorry to leave.

The only thing wrong was the lack of water pressure when the hot tap was turned on which made showers little more than a dribble.

A beautiful quirky hotel just a 5 minute walk from Sultanahmet Square where 4 of the main tourist attractions are. The hotel is two oldish buildings that have been joined. We had the top floor room with a view of the Bosporus. If the weather is good, breakfast can be taken in a delightful courtyard. Breakfast is a great selection of fresh fruits, cereals, local delicacies & other goodies. However gluten free products are hard to get in Turkey so it’s worth taking corn cakes or something similar. The staff were very friendly and helpful with restaurant recommendations, public transport advice etc.

Nothing. However access to the bedrooms and meals area is up a spiral staircase so not good for people with mobility issues. The hotel warns you about this and there are very strong porters to take your luggage to your room!

This is a small hotel in a little busy neighborhood. Two blocks from the main sites… there are tons of restaurants nearby and fun things to do. Yes… this isn’t the Hilton (I don’t want a big American style hotel when visiting new countries alone). The staff treated me like family, the rooms had that old Istanbul feel and were clean, the breakfast buffet was fresh and authentic. After the first day, the breakfast ladies knew how I took my coffee and had it ready the minute I walked in. There are a lot of stairs, so if that is a problem…. Ask for a room on the ground floor. (The bell man handled all the luggage.) The beds are comfortable and the showers had HOT water. The resident cat made the stay perfect. I will definitely stay here again on my next visit!

Nothing

Wonderful historic building with great ambiance. Excellent service, helpful reception personnel. Nice room with private terrace, amazing view. Tasty breakfast with homemade baked goods...the fruitcake is scrumptious. Beautiful garden. Excellent location with dining and tourist sites nearby - Topkapi Serayi, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, etc.

Nothing really. But do beware that there is no elevator, so if stairs are a problem, this may not be for everyone. It didn't bother me, I enjoyed the stair-climbing so I could have a bird's-eye view of the Bosphorus and historic Istanbul sites.