We were a group of six who booked the Madison Hotel through a package. We paid extra in the package for a "four star hotel". Be aware that there are two floors of rooms that would pass as four star rooms, and then several floors of rooms above those that would barely pass as a two star room. This hotel seems to see if they can get away with putting you in the two star room, no matter how much you paid. The six of us were put into three rooms in the two star type rooms. They were miserable rooms, with bed covers so faded and worn they looked like they were from the 70's, they reeked of smoke, the A/C didn't work in one and the toilet didn't work in another, and the small TVs barely worked either. We thought maybe we got screwed by the travel agent, but instead we went to the front desk to say things were not working, and these were not four star rooms and that we paid extra money for a four star room. The management obliged and changed all of our rooms to the much better, newer rooms just a few floors lower.
Everything else was fine except for trying to put us in awful rooms. I would not recommend the hotel based on this because it just seems downright sneaky to say that a place is a four star hotel and then try to get away with putting people in sub-standard rooms, with the actual four star rooms acting as the "model rooms".

Put off a bit by negative reviews which proved entirely unfounded. Perhaps the hotel has been fully refurbished since they were written. Rooms are a bit small and furnished less than luxuriously, but it was all clean, the service was good, the location was great, the spa was fine - though only open from 2 till 10pm - breakfast more than sufficient with good choice. Rooms had minibar, safe, armchair and table, dressing table, stool, sufficient tolietries, air con and 24/7 room service. No view to speak of, though!

Just back from Istanbul...a bit put off by the reviews on the Madison I looked at before travelling, which proved to be unfounded..
I found the Madison very good.... clean rooms, beds and room cleaned thoroughly every day, any requests seen to immediately and cheerfully. The location is excellent, just a 5 minute walk from chaotic Taksim Square in a quiet side street. Bus and taxis and Metro just around the corner. Little shops for the extras we forgot to bring just nearby. 24 hr. room service, which was important after exploring such a huge city when all we wanted
was to crash out in our room and have our meals brought to us. The room service meals were brought promptly and were lovely, with fresh food and salads...(definely recommend the chips, not frozen and delicious.) The staff were English speaking and very helpful with ideas for places to go and thing to do on our free day as we were on a package tour. Have a look at the little art gallery down the stairs from the main lobby !
And say "Hello" to the grey parrot and budgies in the lobby.
One problem for those of us who are not too steady on our feet, they do NOT have a handle to aid getting in and out of the bath..we mentioned that to the management and they said they will improve. On TV, we had a few English language channels, ie. BBC1, CNN, to keep up with the weather forecast, etc. and two English language movie channels and the Disney Channel for kids,(caught up with "Hannah Montana" that my grandaughter is always on about.) I didn't visit the pool but other friends did and loved it, I forgot to bring my swimsuit and I was sorry.

We were leaving at 4 am to catch our flight and they put on a light breakfast for us, something that not all hotels do.

I would definitely recomment "The Madison". I enjoyed my stay there and was very comfortable.

Sub standard hotel. - the photos on the website are not an accurate representation of the hotel.

The lobby was packed with different sofas which make it look like a furniture shop. Unlike the website photos, the rooms are actually pink, green, yellow and red

Breakfast is below par. Would especially not advise having dinner there. Even the TV in the room was very badly positioned. Would not advise staying at the Madison Hotel.