Khai Karaköy Hotel

The Khai Karaköy Hotel is one of the smaller hotels in Istanbul that manages to pack a lot into a limited space. Its location in Karaköy works very well. Cafés, restaurants, Galata and the waterfront are all nearby, and many places can be reached on foot. There is a café on the ground floor, complete with a lovely terrace that’s perfect for a coffee or a quick break. There is one small detail you should be aware of, however – unfortunately, you cannot have breakfast there, although the atmosphere makes you wish you could. The rooms themselves are rather compact and are not the sort of place where you spend much time. At the same time, the space is well utilised. Nothing feels cluttered, everything you need is there, and the rooms are cosily furnished. Good materials, warm colours and little details make the most of the space. There is one thing to bear in mind, however – due to the central location, you can hear the city too. The streets around Karaköy stay busy late into the night, and this noise does carry through, particularly into the front-facing rooms. For anyone who wants Istanbul right on their doorstep, this is fine. Those seeking absolute peace and quiet should bear this in mind. The building also houses the gourmet restaurant Tuzz, which we found a bit over the top.