Empress Zoe

Most of the reviews here sum it up. Empress Zoe oozes charm and character and is great value for money. We upgraded to the penthouse suite which was worth every cent, particularly the rooftop balcony. Only downside is you need to book early to get in. We also stayed at the Dersaadt while in Istanbul which was nice too but more expensive and not up to scratch with Zoe.

We read all the reviews about this hotel and thought for sure it was going to be stunning. The only room available was a double, and it was nothing special. The room faced the street, and it was very noisy. We had to sleep with the windows closed and the AC on. Btw, there are two windows to reduce the noise. There are many other rooms, and these rooms may be much better - especially based on the reviews. The best parts of this hotel are the location - close to the main sights, and on a nice street with good places to eat. The... more

Just returned from 9 nights at the Empress Zoe. My husband and I stayed in Chez Zoe Garden Suites. Though it was only the two of use, we decided to splurge on ourselves and I am glad we did. The Suites have not only queen size (or should I say empress size) bedroom, but two twin sized day beds in the front room that look out onto the garden. These were great for relaxing afternoon naps and reading. The suites also have a huge hamam styled marble shower which we both really enjoyed. It added to the charm of the suite and was very useful too.... more

We have just come back from our six day honeymoon in Istanbul - where we stayed in the Penthouse Suite at the Empress Zoe. We LOVED it!!!! The hotel is perfectly situated, the staff were all lovely, the cats were great - and the room was perfect. It was the ideal place to come back to after a day of hard shopping, sightseeing or just wandering around. It was clean, atmospheric, quirky, had a great private terrace for enjoying a well earned G&T - and it led onto the main terrace which had wonderful views. This is the perfect hotel for... more

We stayed 4 nights in the Petit Suite, a small space for two if we hadn't had the "extra" single bed to store luggage on, but that suited us fine as, like the rest of the hotel, it was big on character and charm. Atmospheric decor, good breakfast, lovely garden (too cold to sit out in it sadly), helpful staff and GREAT VALUE FOR MONEY. Minor downsides? Note that the Backpackers place nearby has loud music late into the night on Friday & Saturday which can certainly be heard in any rooms facing the street. Of course the Blue Mosque call... more

This is to follow up on my husband's review of April 14. We stayed in the Maison Zoe Duplex Suite in March and it was indeed worth every cent. I wanted to identify the suite by name so you know what to ask for. We had 2 bedrooms (a small one we used for luggage and storage while sleeping in the larger one), a bath with a great shower, and a combination kitchenette (with a table and 4 chairs, fridge and sink)and lovely little living area with 2 sofa beds and TV. This room has 2 terraces, one with a view of the sea and the other of Hagia... more

I stayed in a suite at the Empress Zoe. It consisted of three rooms on two levels. It had a fridge and all the comforts of home. I have traveled a lot and have never gotten better accommodations for my money. The staff was very helpful. The breakfast was different, but so good that I adopted the menu at home. The cats were a lot of fun too.

I stayed in three hotels in Turkey, and the Empress Zoe was by far the best. I chose the tiniest room due to budget constraints, but it was fine. They were very up front about the size of the room, and I liked it just fine. Besides they have a cozy dining area with a fireplace and a bar if you need to have some space. The service was wonderful-- the receptionists were really helpful, especially Hayati, he was super sweet, and even toured us around for half the day! The breakfast was the best by far of any of the places I stayed, the location... more

I’m sitting in the breakfast area of the Empress Zoe enjoying my third cup of tea, delightfully content after a delicious buffet breakfast (the homemade jams and high quality cheese are my favorite) and taking advantage of the free wireless internet connection. This is a spot that invites lingering, particularly with seductive Turkish tunes playing in the background and views of the exquisite garden just beyond. Serendipity brought me to this oasis, having stumbled upon the Empress Zoe some years ago -- and I'm thrilled to have... more

We stayed at Zoe for two nights in Deluxe Garden Suite in Feb and really enjoyed it. Suite had great views of Haggia Sophia and pretty garden. It was spacious and very comfortable. We were able to have a glass of wine on our little balcony overlooking the garden which was very pleasant after a hard afternoons bartering at Grand Bazaar! Really enjoyed the home made jams at breakfast and the relaxed atmosphere of hotel. Friendly, helpful staff and a wonderful experience.Would love to return some day!