Walnut Shell Hotel

Great location- very, very friendly staff/owners! The stairs were scary but fun :)

Kind, helpful and responsive owners make this a small, family-run hotel feel special. We stayed in the top room with a balcony, a view of the water and a nice breeze. It's located within walking distance of many attractions, and there's plenty of food nearby*. We found the bed comfortable! Yunis gave us helpful advice about simple public transportation for where we wanted to go, and watched our bags for us after checkout. We appreciated that the room had a standing fan -- too many places don't offer that most basic item. There's AC, but In the evening, we think open windows and a fan are perfect. This is not a fancy, luxury hotel, but they work to provide everything you need. (*Try the nearby Casa de Madera bistro, which serves up an awesome and showy clay pot meal. We are vegetarian, and they had great options for us.) It was fine for us, but the narrow circular stairs may not be for everyone. For people allergic to synthetic fragrances, like myself, the bedding was fine, but I had to use my own travel towel. (So far, I'm finding this is true everywhere I go on Turkiye; it's not unique to this hotel.)

the location of this hotel is excellent for all the major sites but still walkable to most of the city and transport links. We enjoyed the suite with it's terrace. Perfect for returning too in the afternoon for a rest with a sea view. The hotel breakfast is provided in their sister hotel next door and the food was fresh with ample choice. Staff are welcoming and friendly and dealt with any minor issues promptly. Would recommend! Try the spa in the harmony hotel next door. Had the best Hamman experience with massage.. Also plenty of nice restaurants on your doorstep for dinner. Our suite was very clean and refreshed daily. The bed was comfortable and there was air-conditioning and a fan to keep cool. Coffee, tea and water were relished daily and we were greeted with a fruit plate and a bottle of wine. please give this small hotel a try, you won't regret it. We found the stairs to the 4th floor quite narrow but we knew this before we came from reviews from others. Staff helped with our cases on arrival. The safe didn't work, and the hairdryer was faulty but theey were replaced very soon after reporting theses minor issues. Room decor a little tired but still very comfortable and clean.

Very nice, helpful reception and very friendly staff, small supermarket around the hotel. It was very easy to find and the manager was very helpful. It’s in an ideal location to the Blue Mosque and Bazaars. Great breakfast options as well. The staircase to get up to the rooms is completely impractical and they don't warn you about this when you make the reservation. A large suitcase won't fit, not even in your dreams, and there's no elevator.

Great location! Awesome breakfast and seaside view from Terrace at breakfast. Friendly staff. Heater makes room too hot. A bit noisy in street facing rooms.

Very minor- faucet needs aerator not to splash water; room door needs stopper, otherwise it's blocking bathroom door and you can't exit. Just as an info - there's no elevator, only stairs, to the Suite is pretty steep.

It was very easy to find and the manager was very helpful. It’s in an ideal location to the Blue Mosque and Bazaars. Great breakfast options and airport transportation was fast and efficient. Everything was good

Clean, comfortable and reasonable price. Very near to hagia sophia and other sites. People here are very polite and do their job very good.

Exceptional

Staff were very helpful, location excellent. Facilities a little tired, needs renewal. Room was very small, not suitable for longer stays. The narrow, spiral staircase is an accident waiting to happen. Some concern with fire safety.

Very good location, nice balcony, kind staff. Not for elderly people - 4th floor, no lift, narrow stairs. Breakfast could be better.

Exceptional

Excellent staff. Kadir is very kind and professional. The room was very comfortable and has a big balcony. The hotel is very close to the main attractions, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and so on. Many restaurants and shops around the place. For senior folks it might be a consideration going up the stairs if staying in the upper level (4th floor). The stairs are steep.

Location Facilities

Very bad

Exceptional

Exceptional

good breakfast in an adjacent hotel uninvested small bedroom with tatty decoration, bedroom window outlook over a building being demolished

Kadir, the owner and his family are very pleasant, kind and helpful. Upper room has a balcony with good view to the sea and hotel is located very close to all great sightseeings of Istanbul Stairs to the fourth floor are very steep and narrow, so passing through is not comfortable. But that's building disposition, so if you require full comfort, choose Harmony hotel beside, which is the same owner

The staff was excellent. Any problems fixed straight away. No complaints. Very professional and well organised by the manager. Polite and courteous. Room very warm, daily cleaned with new towels. Brilliant location. Manager and staff exceeded expections with their constant will to keep customers happy. The stairs were not good for old people or with health problems. The breakfast was few doors away with climbing more stairs.