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Recommended Reviews - Hotel Ibrahim Pasha
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In a nutshell: FANTASTIC service, great location, fab breakfast, but there were some glitches We really liked this hotel very much and would have gone back in a heartbeat because the service simply could not be better, the kafalta (breakfast) was super yummy, and the location could not be beat. Alas, it also did have certain problems and so we have not attempted to go there again. Location: You can walk to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi, and of course the Blue Mosque; the kapılıçarşa (covered market) is a short tram ride away. The breakfast was really superb; most places offer tomatoes, olives, feta, bread, jam, and coffee or tea and fruit; but this place also offered delicious Turkish borek (a savory pastry not unlike the Greek spanikopita), home-made by one of the workers wives! Oh, it was fabulous. I'm still dreaming of those borek! The very best thing was the service. The management and the workers all bent over backwards to help us, and we sincerely appreciate them for that. Very professional, very nice. They proactively provide maps, advice for getting around, warned us about taxi drivers who might take the long way to the hotel and called taxis for us from the hotel to help ensure that it didn't happen (and indeed, when we hailed a cab from our destination to the hotel it was a lot more). In the interest of giving a complete and fair review to other travellers, however, I do have to admit that certain things did come up during our stay that might upset the average traveller. The wireless connection did not work from our room the entire time of our stay. It did work in the lounge area, however, where there is also a computer available for guest use. The hotel management did have calls out to their service provider and were trying to work on this, which we appreciated. It didn't affect us because I wasn't planning to be on the computer, but under different circumstances, the lack of service (when we had counted on it) would have been disastrous. We stayed in two rooms, one at the beginning of a multi-city trip and one at the end. The "standard" room at the beginning of the trip was a little small. However, we found it so well designed (i.e. with built-in luggage racks that slide out like drawers) and so pretty that we didn't mind the small size. The only real problem is that there was some visible mildew in the shower's tiles. The biggest problem was with the second room, which was amazingly beautiful but somewhat dysfunctional. The blinds fell down twice, and we were very gentle with them. The real problem was again the bathroom: any time you took a shower, which was in a tub, the bathroom would flood with water. Specifically what would happen is that there is a ledge between the tub and a window, that looks out onto the room (you can close the blinds for privacy) There is no drain on that ledge, so the water hits the ledge and has nowhere to go, and so it ends up on the floor and floods. When I say "flood" I mean: four huge beach-sized towels can't mop it up. There is a slight decline in the flooring so that the water eventually ends up near the toilet, which does have a drain in the floor. But it was uncomfortable and yucky wading through water after every shower, and after reporting the problem to management we were told it was a design flaw and nothing could really be done. That said, my husband said that that room was his favorite of all the places we stayed on that particular, 5-hotel trip; it certainly was very hip and cool. We found it to be roomy, with a huge walk-in closet that accommodated our (many--too many) pieces of luggage without problem. It was quiet and the bed--built on a slight platform--was comfortable. We first stayed there in 2009 and when we looked into returning a year or two later the price had skyrocketed and it did not appear that the design flaw in the bathroom had been fixed. If you go, I'd stay away from the rooms in the "6" tier. (note: this review was originally published at another review site whose account I've since closed.)
This is a hotel in Istanbul that looks and feels for all the world like you have stepped into luxury. Hotel Ibrahim Pasha is a converted 19th century townhouse (in fact, it is 2 converted) that has all the modern luxuries you need. I only stayed for one night but was made to feel welcome from the first second to the last. This is a boutique hotel to match all of the others in the world. I was amazed at the way the place looked and the support I got from all members of the team. I stayed for one night on my own and the room was perfect for me. The hotel has a reputation for being booked out well in advance, so make sure you get in there as soon as you can to avoid disappointment. The view of the Blue Mosque from the hotel is pretty spectacular and this makes the stay all the more engaging. The hotel is really close to the Hagia Sophia and a short walk to this sight is always a pleasure. Getting into this hotel is highly recommended - don't miss out on a booking or you may regret it. read more
12 years ago
13 years ago
Hands down, this is the place to stay in Sulthanamet for us Westerners. Most of the hotels we looked had super small rooms, VERY ethnic decor, small windows ... basically a traditional "old" Turkish vibe. Ibrahim Pasha is not at all like that. The vibe in this soulful boutique hotel is wonderful, comfortable, mature, soothing - and the breakfasts, which are included, are AMAZING! LOCATION The BEST location in the Old Town. Within, literally, a stones throw from the Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern and the Blue Mosque, a great coffee shop (http://www.yelp.com/biz/denizen-coffee-istanbul-istanbul#hrid:XyCDSK4_K30nRLfmnpgNgw), and wonderful eateries. The Hippodrome is right outside the front door and down the street a half a block (so, it's quiet). THE GOODS OHHHHH the breakfast!!! WOW. Everything you could imagine and it was all first class. Every morning, there is a communal breakfast of coffee, teas, fresh fruit, fresh breads, fresh produce, and the best yogurt I had in the two weeks we were there (of course, being the southern gal that I am, the only thing I missed was a thick sausage patty or a nice slice of bacon or two - but you won't find that anywhere in Istanbul!). The only odd thing was the charge for orange juice. We just did without. THE DIGS Our room was not large, but it was ample. The bed was very comfortable, with nice linens and pillows - lighting above each side of the bed made it great for reading at night. There was a small sitting area of two comfy chairs and a small table. The bathroom was European in design and well updated (in an older building, which was a surprise), with plush bath linens, robes and slippers. There is a nice library downstairs that was always quiet and perfect for afternoon reading. Lots of books and periodicals about the surrounding areas (which gave us ideas of things to take in). The BEST part about the place is the terrace upstairs with the little bar. It's so charming. We sat upstairs for tea in the afternoon - great views of the Sea of Marmara, and the Blue Mosque, as well as the asian side of Istanbul and up the golden horn. THE DIRTY Which is not so "dirty"! Ibrahim Pasha is not inexpensive, by any means. However, I wouldn't recommend staying anywhere else for the price. The standard rooms are small, so splurge for the upgrade. You won't regret it. THE STAFF Everyone in Istanbul is warm and inviting, and especially at the Ibrahim Pasha. The staff at IP went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed and that we were comfortable. We were greeted by one of their staff when we arrived at baggage claim, to take us to the hotel, which was very nice ... We were certainly tired and had no idea how to get around in this new place! They also made great restaurant recommendations and even made our reservations. Ibrahim Pasha is a small boutique hotel - so if you are planning your trip, connect with them early. read more
10 years ago
In a nutshell: FANTASTIC service, great location, fab breakfast, but there were some glitches We really liked this hotel very much and would have gone back in a heartbeat because the service simply could not be better, the kafalta (breakfast) was super yummy, and the location could not be beat. Alas, it also did have certain problems and so we have not attempted to go there again. Location: You can walk to Hagia Sophia, Topkapi, and of course the Blue Mosque; the kapılıçarşa (covered market) is a short tram ride away. The breakfast was really superb; most places offer tomatoes, olives, feta, bread, jam, and coffee or tea and fruit; but this place also offered delicious Turkish borek (a savory pastry not unlike the Greek spanikopita), home-made by one of the workers wives! Oh, it was fabulous. I'm still dreaming of those borek! The very best thing was the service. The management and the workers all bent over backwards to help us, and we sincerely appreciate them for that. Very professional, very nice. They proactively provide maps, advice for getting around, warned us about taxi drivers who might take the long way to the hotel and called taxis for us from the hotel to help ensure that it didn't happen (and indeed, when we hailed a cab from our destination to the hotel it was a lot more). In the interest of giving a complete and fair review to other travellers, however, I do have to admit that certain things did come up during our stay that might upset the average traveller. The wireless connection did not work from our room the entire time of our stay. It did work in the lounge area, however, where there is also a computer available for guest use. The hotel management did have calls out to their service provider and were trying to work on this, which we appreciated. It didn't affect us because I wasn't planning to be on the computer, but under different circumstances, the lack of service (when we had counted on it) would have been disastrous. We stayed in two rooms, one at the beginning of a multi-city trip and one at the end. The "standard" room at the beginning of the trip was a little small. However, we found it so well designed (i.e. with built-in luggage racks that slide out like drawers) and so pretty that we didn't mind the small size. The only real problem is that there was some visible mildew in the shower's tiles. The biggest problem was with the second room, which was amazingly beautiful but somewhat dysfunctional. The blinds fell down twice, and we were very gentle with them. The real problem was again the bathroom: any time you took a shower, which was in a tub, the bathroom would flood with water. Specifically what would happen is that there is a ledge between the tub and a window, that looks out onto the room (you can close the blinds for privacy) There is no drain on that ledge, so the water hits the ledge and has nowhere to go, and so it ends up on the floor and floods. When I say "flood" I mean: four huge beach-sized towels can't mop it up. There is a slight decline in the flooring so that the water eventually ends up near the toilet, which does have a drain in the floor. But it was uncomfortable and yucky wading through water after every shower, and after reporting the problem to management we were told it was a design flaw and nothing could really be done. That said, my husband said that that room was his favorite of all the places we stayed on that particular, 5-hotel trip; it certainly was very hip and cool. We found it to be roomy, with a huge walk-in closet that accommodated our (many--too many) pieces of luggage without problem. It was quiet and the bed--built on a slight platform--was comfortable. We first stayed there in 2009 and when we looked into returning a year or two later the price had skyrocketed and it did not appear that the design flaw in the bathroom had been fixed. If you go, I'd stay away from the rooms in the "6" tier. (note: this review was originally published at another review site whose account I've since closed.) read more
8 years ago
12 years ago
This hotel simply put just gets everything absolutely right. The staff is interchangeably awesome, with each and every person you will speak to being as kind, helpful, and knowledgeable as the next. The location is impeccable and just one block from the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar and everything else you might want to do in old town Istanbul. The hotel is well appointed and designed in true Turkish bohemian style. Though the rooms are small, all rooms are small in that area of town (especially in this price range) and these are super nice and use the space very well. The little treats each evening like Turkish Delights and fruit left on the bed are just the crowning touch. The Turkish breakfast each morning is delicious and extravagant and amazing. Then there's the roof deck with the view of the Blue Mosque and the Bosphorous... Breathtaking! Really, there are no complaints at all. I would stay no where else and recommend no where else. If it's unavailable, just reschedule your trip! read more
