We found this hotel through an online booking agency and have been extremely pleased with it. The location is just a few blocks from Taksim Park and within walking distance of all the shops, restaurants, and night life on and around İstiklâl Caddesi, without being quite so close as to have to deal with crowds or lat-night music. The distinctive green glass shade over the main entrance is also helpful, as it's easy to spot the hotel from a distance.
LaresPark is quite modern. Apparently wifi was briefly down the evening we arrived, but worked well (and rapidly) for the remainder of our stay. I think that local internet service probably still has some hiccups, but the staff were polite and did everything they could to help (there was a hard line connection in the business center for those who really needed it.)
The rooms are pleasant and clean. They look to have been redecorated in the last few years. Bathrooms are higher-end European type, with both a handheld shower head and an overhead rain-shower-type head (nice for the Americans, because we're just not used to having only a handheld). Lots of hot water. Tasteful tiling, contemporary fixtures--including a bidet attachment on the toilet, which seems common in Turkey. Rooms have modern TV and sound system, programmable safe, and a minifridge.
The buffet breakfast exceeded all expectations, officially one of the two best hotel breakfasts I've seen, and worth staying here just for that. Breakfast runs from 7-10:30 (longer on Sunday). It includes an assortment of local stewed fruits (figs, sour cherries, and the incredibly sweet & rich Turkish apricots), several kinds of yogurt, an assortment of jams, preserves, and nut spreads, as well as a huge honeycomb. The omelet bar also has hard-boiled and sunny-side up eggs, ingredients for locally flavored omelets, a Belgian waffle stand, about 5 kinds of olives, local cheeses, and a number of pastries of the croissant/brioche type. Coffee is of course good. We stayed for 3 days and had completely different breakfasts every day (though apricots and cherries with each).
I was very sorry I could not get a room here for my return trip through İstanbul (I didn't book far enough in advance). I will absolutely try to stay here again on my next visit. read more