I just arrived back home after a 6 night stay at the Galata Antique hotel. The hotel is in an absolutely perfect location, right around the corner from the Tunel Sq. funicular stop and also the modern metro. It is very easy to get into the Sultanahmet/Old City area via public transport. We actually found ourselves primarily walking to the old city by way of the Galata Bridge which made for an interesting way to explore the neighborhood. It is about a 30 minute (very scenic) walk to the Blue Mosque/Aya Sofya/etc. The reason why we stayed in this area as opposed to Sultanahmet is because we were looking for a good place with lots of nightlife and we sure picked the right spot. The hotel is about a 2 minute walk from Istiklal St. with innumerable bars, restaurants and shops. This is definitely a less touristy area than the old city and seemed to be much more lively at night with plenty of live music and comfortable places to have some drinks and meet the friendly locals.
So, aside from the location, the actual hotel was a very pleasant place to stay. Our room was a bit small but it was very clean and cozy. It definitely made a good home base for sleeping and taking a break after a long day of sightseeing, which is exactly what we wanted. The staff was very nice and accommodating and made us feel at home from the moment we arrived. There is a free breakfast every morning on the rooftop with a great view; the breakfast itself is okay, nothing spectacular but plenty of coffee, tea, fruits, jams, bread and usually sausage or eggs.
I only have one minor complaint about our stay at the Galata Antique. The hotel has free wireless access however the reception is quite bad. We had no access from our room and had to use wireless from the lobby, where the reception was also poor. This was definitely not a big deal but it was a minor annoyance.
All in all, this is a great little place with friendly staff, clean rooms and a wonderful location. I would strongly recommend considering this hotel if you are planning on staying in Istanbul.
Oh, and one more quick tip: The main entrance to the hotel is located on a side staircase off the main road. It's not that difficult to find but just an FYI.
