Page 34 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2023 DISCOVERING TURKEY

Accommodations like much from the outside, but inside, they
The last two times we’ve stayed in Istanbul, are clean and attractive. The rooms vary
we booked boutique hotels near all the princi- broadly in size, so check the square footage
pal attractions in the Golden Horn area. This before you commit. Also, if you’re staying on
is a safe tourist area, except for the possibility the upper floors, be sure there’s an elevator.
of colliding with a taxi on the narrow streets. Most of the hotels serve an excellent breakfast
It’s not necessarily pedestrian-friendly, with of fruit, veggies, cheeses, fresh bread and
few sidewalks that often need repair or are made-to-order eggs. Tea is a better option
crammed with merchandise from shops. than mud-thick Turkish coffee or watery ma-
chine-made lattes and the like.
Most hotels in this neighborhood don’t look

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