Bankerhan Hotel

Bankerhan Hotel is a 33-room boutique hotel on Banker Sokak, a steep lane in Bereketzade between the Galata Tower and the Karaköy waterfront. It occupies a historic building dating from the end of the 18th century, just above Bankalar Caddesi, the old banking street of the Ottoman capital.

Rooms are compact and individually decorated, with rain showers in the bathrooms, individually controlled heating and air conditioning, a telephone and a TV. Room types include singles of about 12 square metres, doubles of about 15 square metres with a desk, twins and Comfort rooms of about 17 square metres, the latter with a sea view, and a Japanese-style double. If views matter, the Comfort rooms are the ones to book.

The hotel keeps its facilities simple, so think of it as a comfortable base for exploring rather than a place to spend the day. Transfers can be arranged from both Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport, which is useful given the steep streets around the hotel. The website shows a 360-degree view of the rooms, which helps when choosing a category. Check what is included in your rate when you book, as packages vary. Pack light if you can, as the lanes around the hotel are steep and cobbled, and wheeled cases are hard work on the climb up from Karaköy.

The location is the main appeal. Karaköy's restaurants, cafés and galleries, Istanbul Modern and the ferry piers are all downhill, while the Galata Tower and the cafés and boutiques of Galata are a short climb up. It is a sensible, mid-priced alternative to staying in Sultanahmet, which is one tram ride away across the Galata Bridge. The area is lively in the evenings, so light sleepers may prefer a room away from the street.

Bankerhan suits couples, solo travellers and those on a moderate budget who want to stay in one of the city's most interesting neighbourhoods. Karaköy tram stop on the T1 line is a few minutes' walk away, as is the Karaköy ferry pier for crossings to Kadıköy and Üsküdar. SALT Galata and Neolokal are on Bankalar Caddesi just below, and Karaköy Lokantası and Karaköy Güllüoğlu are within ten minutes on foot.