Hotel DeCamondo Galata Istanbul

Room Type: Urban Room

Hotel Amenities: Rooftop terrace, free wifi, complimentary tea and coffee

Average Cost per Night: €158 (incl. fees, for 3 nights)

Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

My Rating: 7/10

Once a house belonging to one of the most prominent Jewish families in Istanbul, this boutique hotel was a surprising oasis in the midst of one the city's busiest neighborhoods.

We arrived late at night, and despite the lobby being difficult to locate (the hotel is actually comprised of two separate buildings, on separate streets), we were warmly greeted at reception and offered a tour of the hotel rooftop (beautiful views across the Bosporus Strait). After the mixup on buildings, we learned that our room was housed in the "House Building", as opposed to the more industrial-designed "Banque Building" a street over.

The room was small but clean and modern. We overlooked what appeared to be an abandoned construction site near the back of the hotel, but this was surely preferable to being street-side. We were pleasantly surprised at how quiet the room was—couldn't even hear the call to prayer despite several mosques in the area.

If you're looking for a more unique design, opt for a stay in the slightly pricier Banque Building rooms. With all there is to explore in Istanbul, we hardly spent anytime in the hotel so the relatively bland rooms of the House Building didn't bother us.

Is this 32-room hotel truly 5-star quality as advertised? Probably not. But we found it money well-spent for some comfortable peace and quiet after hectic days exploring the streets of this bustling city.