Berk Guesthouse - 'Grandma's House' in Istanbul

Just a great stay all around. Ideal central location right in the heart of Old Istanbul. Simple, no frills room, but clean and comfortable, with a comfortable bed and small en suite bathroom. Excellent fresh cooked breakfast every morning, and wonderful views of the sea and nearby landmarks from the rooftop terrace. But the part of our stay was how our hosts made us feel welcome and at home from our arrival all the way through departure, giving us tips and suggestions for things to do and ways to get around the city, and generally treating us like family or old friends. Our room was on the first floor, facing the street, so I was a little concerned about noise, but that turned out to be no problem at all. For a true feeling of staying with family or friends in Istanbul, Grandma's House would be hard to top.

Quiet family-run guesthouse. Friendly and informative. Unfussy and just what I was looking for.
Very enjoyable stay.

It was recommended as a good place to stay in Istanbul. I loved the location and the view. The hosts are very nice and guest like people. I would definitely stay again in this place, if I visit Istanbul again.

This has been one of the best holidays of my life - the atmosphere in this guest house is truly one of a kind. The hosts Yeşim and Ahmet welcomed us as family and I can truly say I felt so at home . The location is unbelievable - you can see the sea from the rooms and Hagia Sophia is less than 5 mins away. The buffet assortment at breakfast was so rich and varied - healthy fruit and veggies as well as lovely fresh savoury and sweet baked treats. In addition, we shared so many laughs - Yeşim and Ahmet made us laugh every single day! Ahmet introduced us to affordable local cuisine as well as travelling via public transport. Lastly, Ahmet and Yeşim own the most adorable toy poodle in the world - we got to play with him and now leaving with a huge supercharge of endorphins! Hoping and looking forward to coming back next time!

Absolutely amazing hosts - Yeşim and Ahmed. They are a lovely family and welcomed us like their own. Breakfast and food is home cooked and so special, makes you feel like you are eating with your family. Gulnara is the chef and she makes wonderful food. The guesthouse is so cozy and homely. We had the top floor rooms and the views are great. The location is perfect as it’s close to the sea (great to run or walk) and also the centre where you have Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque), Aya Sofia’ya Mosque and everything in the centre like shopping and restaurants.

We couldn’t have asked for anything more from this excellent small family run hotel. Homely room which accommodated our family of 5 perfectly. Yesim and Ahmed are friendly , fun and extremely helpful. The location is also another major bonus - 2 mins walk to airport bus stop and the Haggia Sophia. Lovely breakfast also included. All at an extremely reasonable price.

My daughter and I spent 3 nights at Berk Guesthouse. The location was fabulous-it was a short walk to the historic part of the old city. When we left our cruise to join a city guide we made arrangements to have our luggage delivered to the hotel. It was nice surprise that they took our luggage to our room on the 3rd floor and also brought the luggage down when we left. There was a lovely assortment of food for breakfast included a homemade cheesecake pastry one morning and the Turkish coffee was delicious. The last day of our stay my daughter had an injury that took us to an Istanbul hospital. They couldn’t have been kinder to us as she rested in our room. They gave me a tray to take her breakfast in bed. Their hospitality was amazing and I would return to this hotel in a heartbeat. I loved the way they made us feel like family. This hotel was a highlight of our travels-a real gem.

Yesim and her husband are just such kind and friendly hosts, really helpful in an unobtrusive way. They invited the guests to their 'family dinner' all of which really helped Istanbul feel like a friendly place to be.

When visiting a new place the first thing you need is a great location, this is it. In the heart of old Constantinople you have everything on your doorstep: bars, restaurants, the Blue mosque, Hagia Sophia, The Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace and the Basilica. Add to this your wonderful hosts Yesim and her husband who provide the ambiance you need being welcoming, friendly, fun, & happy whilst completely Authentic … a real family atmosphere. Add to that and the big surprise is ‘what’s over 1,000 years old and underneath it ? You’ll have to visit and find out Would we stay again ? Most definitely - thank you Yesim

This is the best place to stay in Istanbul! It is walkable to mosques, spice market, grand bazaar, the ferry, even late at night. It is very quaint, with warm lovely family owners. The atmosphere is very friendly. The small number of rooms made it a cozy setting. We sat on the rooftop with our welcome glass of wine and talked with people from all over the world. The breakfast room is perfect for meeting others (or staying to yourself if you prefer) as well. The owners help with ideas of what/where to go. We were lucky enough to be invited to a family dinner with the owners--that's how warm and welcoming it is! The breakfast is quintessentially Turkey, with lots of tasty food. Our room was clean and the bed was very comfortable. We highly recommend this lovely place.