Ideal location. Worth the price for the 5th floor terrace alone. Rooms adequate but in need of some repair. Shower head wouldn't stay up in position, one lamp had a broken on off pull cord, bed cover too short creating a nightly battle. Staff is friendly but always trying to push tourist traps like guides, dinner river cruises and such. Housekeeping was stellar, the location is an easy walk to the many must-see sites and a good base to explore while being just a tad away from the worst of the tourist concentration. We stayed in two hotels in Istanbul, at this one we did not encounter aggressive restaurant door touts like we did at the not that distant Obelisk hotel, but just a 10 or 15 minute walk makes a big difference in this regard. A true historic Hamam next door, far superior to the tourist trap spas. The Agora is surrounded by good restaurants, a couple were truly excellent. I loved the breakfasts here. You can meet some nice cats around the hotel, get some cat treats at the grocery across the street. I'm telling you the view from the top floor terrace is simply spectacular. read more

See all

Nice location (in an Old Istanbul quarter/close proximity to all the sightseeing venues and nice restaurants), pleasant staff, delicious and large breakfast buffet of Turkish staples, including fresh fruit, veggies, cheeses, olives, etc. A nice-to-have would be Turkish vs regular/self-serve coffee, plus fresher pastries. Loved the roof-top 360-degree views of the city on the deck, especially Hagia Sophia! Will always remember the 4 am "wake-up calls" resounding from every surrounding mosque, mixed in with screaming seagulls and fighting alley cat sounds. Loved the 300-year-old Hamam/bathhouse across the street. Overall, quaint and pleasant. Would consider coming back and booking a top floor with the sweeping views of the Bosphorus. read more

This hotel is honestly one of the best hotels I had ever stayed in. My family and I were there for four days and the staff are kind and welcoming. They treat us like we're family. The receptionist Roshan is great and caring. He is understanding and honest which I appreciate. The rooms are great too especially with the A/C controls. However, I do have one objection and it is the breakfast food. I understand that it is traditional Turkish food but I wish they have more options or give us labels or tell us what to do with the food because I just pick a food that I do know and eat. Nonetheless, I would still give five stars :) read more

The Husband and I go on one "big" trip every year thanks to limited vacation days courtesy of Big Oil. This year, and before the arrival of baby N, we ventured to Turkey for 9 days! Let me just say, it was a pleasant change to hear the call to prayer and not count the seconds until the mortars started to hit (the Army life is so fun). We ended up staying at the Agora Life Hotel and loved it! The Four Seasons it is not but for the price, location, cleanliness, and hospitality, there is no better deal. Pros: -Price! I booked online through the hotel's website and got 10% off my room rate, which was already affordable. It's much kinder on the pocketbook than other hotels in the area. -Hospitality! Seriously, they have it down to a fine art. When they found out the Husband and I were having a baby, they left a bottle of wine in our room (kind of ironic but still kind of them to do) and gifted me with a lovely shawl when we left. -Free Wifi! Yeah, try finding that at some uppity hotel. -Free breakfast! Delicious and filling. -Location! It's 5 minutes to the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Blue Mosque. 10 minutes to Gate 1 of the Grand Bazaar. But it's not on a main road so it's fairly quiet at night. -Clean! Kind of a big deal in my book. This place is wonderfully taken care of for a modern boutique hotel. -Airport transfer! If you stay 3 nights or more, you receive a free pickup from Ataturk Airport. They were also kind enough to gift us with a return drop off at the end of our stay as well because I'm pregnant. Cons: Room size. I honestly had no qualms about this because it's not like I went to Turkey to stay in my hotel room. I booked the smallest room and although it's quaint, I've stayed in smaller for way more (looking at you, Switzerland). If you're used to the standard Western hotel room, you may have some issues with the size. Overall, I loved staying here. It only added to my wonderful trip to Turkey! read more