Svtlana
January 30, 2025
We chose the Asmali Hotel for walking around the Sultanahmet area for 3 days, it was enough to see everything and then move to another area. The location is very good: the main attractions on Sultanahmet Square (hippodrome) are 5-7 minutes up a small hill, the Marmara Sea embankment is the same, but downhill. The Little Hagia Sophia mosque is very close. Also nearby is the free Nakkash cistern in the carpet shop of the same name. There is no public transport stop nearby, but maybe this is for the best - trams do not rumble under the window, there are no crowds of people, the street is calm and nice. The main piers are also far away, so for water trips on ferries it will be more convenient to choose other hotels. About the room: we took a 2-bed deluxe (specifically 303) - second floor, windows overlook the street, not cramped (about 5.5 x 3.5 m), large bed, clean inside, but the furniture is a bit tired in places. There is a wardrobe, TV, refrigerator, safe, kettle, welcome bottle of water and tea leaves. Two stylish chairs, as if from Topkapi Palace and a table. The radiator heats, in January the room is warm, so we did not try to turn on the air conditioner. We looked into the room next door (I think 302) - this is a double standard, there is less space there, the windows overlook the wall of the neighboring building, in general it is sadder, it is better to take deluxe (303, 403). The climb is by a spiral staircase, there is no elevator. Breakfast: top marks (considering the price segment)! Buffet, you can stock up on nutritional energy for the whole day of walking. In our next hotel, the included breakfast consisted of a choice of either an omelet or a sandwich with one tea or coffee. And here - an exhibition of salads, cheeses, pancakes, jams, pastries, a couple of hot dishes, different every day during our stay. Unlimited tea, coffee, though the coffee machine is powdered, so we mostly drank Turkish tea. The female chef cooks very well. The girl Dilya speaks Russian well, if anything - she will tell you everything. Breakfast is served in a restaurant on the 5th floor, and above - an open terrace from which you can see a piece of the Sea of Marmara, a piece of the Bosphorus and the minarets of the Blue Mosque. In January, you can admire both sunrises and sunsets from the terrace - everything is within sight. The photo confirms :)
Room cleaning - on request by hanging a tag (we did not try it, because we were not there for long and spent the whole day walking around the sights).
What was a little confusing in addition to the shabby - a non-removable shower. The pressure is good, but it's not very comfortable. There were no damp smells, we were lucky with the neighbors - we almost didn't hear it :) Only when we walked past the stairs or opened the door. By the way, rooms starting with 2 (first floor) are not the best option for this very reason - everyone will walk past, and the reception is there too.
There are many cafes, minimarkets around, the SOK supermarket is 700 meters away, it's cheaper there and there is a bigger choice.
Brief summary - I liked the hotel, I can safely recommend it, for such a price ($40 per day with breakfast) - it's just a gift, especially considering the skyrocketing prices for cafes and other things. The location is convenient for exploring the Sultanahmet area.
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