Moon Blue Hotel in Istanbul

The hotel is perfectly located, close to the Hippodrome, Sultanahmet Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and other monuments. The rooms are clean and bright. Breakfast on the rooftop terrace offers stunning views of the Bosphorus and the city. The staff is attentive and friendly. We would be happy to stay here again on our next trip.

We were given a room on the top floor, which was a great place with a view of the ocean.
The bus stop from the airport was nearby, so it was easy to get around.
The Blue Mosque was right nearby, which was great for sightseeing.

We stayed at the hotel for a week and were extremely pleased with our choice. When selecting a hotel, I looked at numerous options in the same price range and ultimately settled on Aren Suites.

The hotel is exceptionally clean – truly spotless. Housekeeping service was thorough every day, not just emptying bins and changing towels. Shampoo, shower gel, and soap were replenished daily in the room, and towels were changed every day. A hairdryer and minibar were also provided. The bathroom ventilation seemed excellent; everything dried quickly, and there was no dampness or mold whatsoever. While the furniture wasn't brand new, it didn't feel worn out or shabby – everything was tidy and in good working order. The air conditioning unit was a bit noisy, but it didn't bother us; there was no remote control, as it was operated via a panel on the wall.

The hotel's location is superb. We were just a few minutes' walk from Sultanahmet Square, and the tram stop was a leisurely 10-15 minute walk across the square.

Breakfast was a small buffet, offering four hot options: eggs (scrambled or fried with vegetables/mushrooms/potatoes), sausages in tomato sauce, and potatoes or vegetables. The hot food was always kept warm, no matter when we came down for breakfast. Additionally, there were salads, fresh vegetables (cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers), muesli/cereals, bread, fresh and tasty pastries, simit (a type of Turkish bagel), jams, butter, individual portions of chocolate spread, and cold cuts including sausage and two types of cheese. Soft drinks, tea, and coffee (from a drip coffee maker) were also available – all standard offerings. The view from the breakfast terrace was absolutely stunning! Perfect for leisurely and delicious breakfasts.

The bed was comfortable, and we appreciated the four pillows provided. We had booked a sea-view room on floors 4-5 and requested a higher floor when making the reservation. Our request was granted, and we were assigned room 501, which was quite spacious (matching the description online), featured a French balcony, and offered a beautiful sea view. I would open the balcony door, pull up a chair, and just sit there, admiring the view and watching the seagulls. Overall, if you have the option, definitely choose a sea-view room – you won't regret it!

The hotel has an elevator, but access to the terrace is via stairs from the fifth floor. Previous reviews mentioned a resident cat joining guests for breakfast. Indeed, there is a cat at the hotel, but the reception staff prevents it from using the elevator, and the stairwell door is kept closed (to stop the cat). So, the cat stays in the ground floor lobby – just in case that's important for anyone.

The staff were friendly. On our first day, we arrived late, and they recommended a nearby restaurant called Marbella Terrace. It wasn't cheap, but we really enjoyed it and ended up dining there two more times. It's a very intimate and charming spot. The street itself is generally quiet, with everything quieting down around midnight. We had a late evening flight and wanted to extend our stay in the room. They offered us a different room, number 202, which gave us the opportunity to see another room category – it was equally clean. We were very satisfied with our choice of hotel. The rooms matched the photos on the website. On the terrace, there are two tables in the shade, with others out in the sun. There's also a covered section of the terrace with tables, offering an equally fantastic view.

It was a bit noisy due to its location.

Stayed here for 3 nights. A nice cosy little hotel with great location. Limited but very scrumptious breakfast at the scenic rooftop terrace. Walking distance to Haga Sofia, the Blue Mosque and the Sultanahmet tram station (so getting around is very easy)

More than i expected. The location close to the blue mosque. The room spacious, the breakfast is good. Beautiful view from breakfast room

The room at first floor is not soundproof, quite noisy
Breakfast with great view at rooftop

Great breakfast. Located walking distance from major sights like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia , Ballisca Cistern etc. great view from the terrace.

Great location - within walking distance to the places of interest and eateries.
Rooms aging but comfortable.