SuB Karaköy - Special Class
Location: Necatibey Cad. 91, Istanbul, Istanbul, 34425, Istanbul, TR
Star Rating: 8.4 Stars
Property Type: Hotels
About this Property
Luxurious Amenities
Pamper yourself with onsite massages or enjoy the health club. Stay connected with complimentary Wi-Fi, and take advantage of concierge services and a nearby fitness facility.
Culinary Delights
Indulge in a meal at the restaurant, grab a snack at the café, or sip a drink at the bar/lounge. Don't miss the continental breakfast available daily.
Convenient Location
Located near Galataport and the iconic Galata Tower, this boutique hotel offers quick access to Istanbul's must-see attractions. For a comfortable and stylish stay, book your room today.
Important Information
- Cashless payment methods are available for all transactions.
- Contactless check-out is available.
Policies
Check-in: 02:00 PM - anytime
Check-out: 12:00 PM
Instructions: Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property.
Amenities & Facilities
- Fitness facilities
- Express check-out
- Health club
- Free WiFi
- 24-hour front desk
- Terrace
- Garden
- Luggage storage
- Express check-in/check-out
- Concierge service
- Elevator
- Fitness facilities
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Library
- Health club
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Free use of nearby fitness center
- Porter/bellhop
- Express check-out
- Smoke-free property
- Express check-in
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Rooftop terrace
- Food and water bowls
Rooms Available
-
Design Twin Room
2 Twin Beds
215-sq-foot room with city views
Layout - Separate sitting area
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - 22-inch LED TV, satellite channels, and iPod dock
Food & Drink - Espresso maker, minibar (fees may apply), electric kettle, and room service (limited hours)
Sleep - Premium bedding, blackout drapes/curtains, turndown service, and bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, slippers, and a shower with a rainfall showerhead
Practical - Laptop-compatible safe, desk, and iron/ironing board (on request); cribs (free) available on request
Comfort - Air conditioning, daily housekeeping, and heating
Need to Know - No rollaway/extra beds available
Non-Smoking
Room/bed type depends on availability at check-in
Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)
- Minibar
- Shower
- TV
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Desk
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Slippers
- Satellite channels
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
- Bidet
- Bottle of water
- Room service (limited hours)
- Daily housekeeping
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Espresso maker
- Designer toiletries
- Premium bedding
- Separate sitting area
- Turndown service
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Free WiFi
- Rainfall showerhead
- Room and bed type depend on availability check-in
- No rollaway/extra beds
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Bedsheets provided
- Desk chair
-
Design Double Room
1 Queen Bed
215-sq-foot room with city views
Layout - Separate sitting area
Internet - Free WiFi
Entertainment - 22-inch LED TV, satellite channels, and iPod dock
Food & Drink - Espresso maker, minibar (fees may apply), electric kettle, and room service (limited hours)
Sleep - Premium bedding, blackout drapes/curtains, turndown service, and bed sheets
Bathroom - Private bathroom, slippers, and a shower with a rainfall showerhead
Practical - Phone, laptop-compatible safe, and desk; cribs (free) available on request
Comfort - Air conditioning, daily housekeeping, and heating
Need to Know - No rollaway/extra beds available
Non-Smoking, pet friendly
Room/bed type depends on availability at check-in
Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)
- Minibar
- Shower
- TV
- Telephone
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Desk
- Private bathroom
- Heating
- Slippers
- Satellite channels
- Electric kettle
- Wardrobe or closet
- Bidet
- Bottle of water
- Room service (limited hours)
- Daily housekeeping
- Hypo-allergenic bedding available
- Espresso maker
- Designer toiletries
- Premium bedding
- Separate sitting area
- Turndown service
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Free WiFi
- Rainfall showerhead
- Room and bed type depend on availability check-in
- No rollaway/extra beds
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Bedsheets provided
- Desk chair
Guest Reviews
- Miguel (10/5): - Very cosy and safe area
- Zoe (6/5): - Pro’s:
Great safe location. Tons of good restaurants, right near different museums and very walkable to other attractions. The hotel and room was clean. The breakfast at the hotel next door was amazing! Service there was incredible,
Con’s:
Way too dark, it was horrible and very small. They need better lighting not just in the rooms, the entire hotel. It was so hot in the hotel I was miserable. The AC did not work in my room. Staff was ok, it would’ve been nice if they spoke English just a little bit better.
If you’re just looking for a place to sleep the hotel is fine. If you’re looking for bells and whistles you’re not going to get it. I only stayed for 2 days but I made plans to stay longer I would’ve changed hotels. Between it being so dark and hot, I would not have been able to last.
Side note - the restaurant on the 6th floor is great. I was significantly over charged. I will say the food and service was fantastic. It’s not affiliated with the hotel. I was exhausted so it worked in a pinch. Much better restaurants in walking distance.
- Henry (8/5): - The hotel is very close to almost everything you need
- Alan Ricardo (8/5): - Great boutique hotel in a convenient and safe location near cafes, restaurants, and transportation. The lobby is great to work from and the rooms are comfortable and modern. The staff was also very welcoming and helpful. Shoutout to Arda for going above and beyond when I needed help!
- David (8/5): - Quite a bohemian funky hotel which we loved, in the heart of Karakoy, handy for transport links and in walking distance of many of the major sites.
Breakfast was in their sister hotel down the street but choice was rather limited. No fruit or fresh salad and nothing if you were vegan. The sister hotel had a spa but the prices were outrageously high.
Overall a good hotel to stay in with friendly reception staff who went above and beyond to help.
- Chris (10/5): - Incredible location, clean and well maintained.
- German (10/5): - Amazing place. The rooms are comfortable. The staff is super friendly! My choice in Istanbul always 😊
- Hande (6/5): - It used to be a beautiful hotel, needs a bit maintenance.
- Laura (8/5): - Great location near some lovely eating places and close to the Galata bridge and lots of transport links. Staff not very helpful or friendly but we didn’t need them much. Breakfast was tasty but no options just the same thing each morning. Fine for a few days but by day 5 I was a bit bored! Breakfast staff at the sister “root” hotel were terrible smoking at the entrance to breakfast room, not providing clean cups etc. Rooms were comfortable, clean and quiet.
Overall a good stay but a few down sides. Great location and clean rooms. Poor staff and breakfast though tasty can get a bit repetitive
- Benjamin (8/5): Walk to many places. - Great hotel in a great location. The breakfast was especially good.
- Farshad (2/5): - This property is literally a dumpster! They didn’t refund my money which is totally fine! I saved on my medical bill to not stay more than 15 mins there!
- John (6/5): - Great location and walkability. Staff needs better language and customer service training.
- Faysal (8/5): - Very close to metro station and shopping mall, walkable and a lot of choices for dining
- Melahat (6/5): - The property is ok nothing special ,very unprofessional receptionist, we’ve been given a room that was occupied with belongings inside , my safe ,tv and my lights did not work in the room also walking into the next building for breakfast is strange, definitely not a great experience,. Would definitely replace the reception to more professional and friendly faces
- Hamed (4/5): - Location is good but definitely overpriced,
Very small room
- Abdalaziz (10/5): - Berat and other thay are so cool
- yesim (6/5): - The breakfast had moved to their sister property and since then it’s downhill. The worst breakfast ever.
- Elijah (10/5): - Don’t look further and book this hotel and you will not regret at all.Location is excellent it’s only 2
Min walk to train station.ion street there are tons of cafes and restaurants.Receptionist was extremely polite and speaks perfect English.Design of the hotel one of a kind in Istanbul also I believe it was futures on CNN.This hotel is better then most 5 star hotel I have ever stayed in Istanbul.It’s very retro and natural.They kept the original future of the building.
- Refqa (10/5): - Great value and location
- suzann (10/5): - This was the second time we stayed this room was much better than the kne before, close to everything and lots of restaurant's around the area, train stop very close, staff very friendly and helpful. Woukd recommended this place to stay
- suzann (8/5): - Hotel staff friendly, close to everything, breakfast great
- William (10/5): - I had a great stay at SubHotel-- the staff were friendly and helpful, the breakfast was really good, the room was clean and comfortable, and the location is great. Walking distance to the ferries, trams, and buses, as well as restaurants, cafes, and lots of historic attractions. Highly recommended if you're visiting Istanbul!
- Michael (8/5): - Smaller rooms but comfortable. Everything you need for a base while visiting Istanbul. TV has youtube and netflix capability which is nice for English speaking guests. Breakfast very good.
Easy to walk across the bridge to Sultanahmet area as well as up the hill to Taksim Sq and Iskatel Street. For the price it is clean, safe, and convenient option.
Staff were very accommodating to my requests. Baggage storage pre and post check in. Even allowed me to check in at 7:30am when I arrived.
- AARON (10/5): - Extremely Pleasurable Experience!!
I travel a lot for work and stay in a lot of different hotels, but the experience I've had at this hotel has been by far the best experience out of all the hotels I've stayed in over the years. As soon as I checked in I was welcomed with a warm greeting from the staff and all my bags were handled for me, the breakfast buffet and the staff that cater for it we're both amazing and I enjoyed a lot of new Turkish dishes that I had never got to experience before. My experience was so pleasurable that I decided to extend my stay for another week and when it came to checking out I felt I had built a very warm and personable rapport with all the stuff at the hotel.
I highly recommend this hotel for anybody that's looking for something with unique touches and a dedicated service team!!!!
I will let no doubtedly be coming back to stay here on my next work trip to Istanbul
- mark andrew (10/5): - interesting decor and great location for accessing the city
- Ehsan (2/5): - One of the worst experiences I have ever had staying at a hotel. Smell of sewage in both rooms we had was unbearable. Staff could not stay in the room for more than a minute due to the smell. Lift also was extremely small and did not work at times. The hotel refused to check us out early and refund us the rest of our stay despite the fact that they did not fix the issue for us. I hope expedia reconsider having this hotel due to unprofessional management.
- Kathleen (6/5): - When the hotel first opened it must have been just great. Personal, cool design details, great food and bar. But now it seems to be on life support. The rooftop bar and restaurant is now closed. (Covid casualty?) and thinks in the room broken. The owners have a cool new place three doors away ‘Root’ which they seem to be focussing on. Maybe stay there? The location is great but the hotel no longer merits the ‘cool boutique design hotel’ title.
- Jonathan (2/5): Scammers - Do Not Book This Hotel - We booked this hotel in February for a stay in August and choose the ‘Pay at Hotel’ option. Despite this they took payment from my credit card in February and despite promising to refund it never did and then stopped replying to my emails.
I decided to continue with the stay as I had already paid for it but when I checked in they took payment again, even after I told them that payment had been made and showed them evidence. They said they had to wait for the bank to open to verify the earlier payment and then it would be refunded. This was never done and they are not responding to emails.
It is a nice hotel in a good location but run by scammers.
We head from other guests that they also had similar issues.
I have contacted Hotels.com and hope that they will take action against this hotel.
- Anjum (6/5): - We had booked this hotel for a 2 night stay. On arrival the counter staff were very friendly and helpful, however the hotel lobby and dining room has most definitely seen better days. It looked unclean and rough (maybe that’s just the industrial look). Anyhow, we decided to not stay at the hotel based on what we had seen. We walked down the road and booked another hotel and came back to remove our luggage. To be fair we did not get an opportunity to see the rooms, however based on what we had seen of the reception area and dining room - I think we made the right choice not to stay at The Sub - Karakoy as it looked very dated and run down.
- Michael (10/5): Wonderful boutique hotel in the best neighborhood. - Loved it. All the cool art and details were so cool and the room was very comfortable. The breakfast was excellent, better than we anticipated. Staff were helpful and kind. The location is perfect, literally the center of everything but quiet at night so sleeping is easy. Didn't hear a thing from other rooms. The price is excellent for such a high quality hotel. My only small issue was the bidet wasn't working very well, the handle came off and the water was weak. You also need to be careful of the curve in the bed headboard so you don't hit your head on the slightly sharp edge. Did nothing to take away from our wonderful stay. Thank you so much!
- Verified traveler (8/5): Overall stay good - Staff were helpful, location was great and the rooftop terrace was amazing. the room I was staying in was mediocre in general but clean.
- Mirna (8/5): Unexpected changes - Upon our arrival we were moved to their sister hotel on the same street due to some issues in their hotel. Little unexpected. None of our VIP status perks (a bottle of wine, coctails on the rooftop) with Hotels.com were ever mentioned or offered.
The sister hotel was ok, but just not what we expected.
- Naran (4/5): - the room was much smaller than it's shown. I guess it would work better for a solo traveler. no elevator so you have to carry your heavy bags up to 5th floor through spiral stairs.
- Leonid (8/5): - SImple hotel with design in good location
- Zied (10/5): - Great friendly staff
Good location
Room was big enough
- Meagan (10/5): - Probably the most personal experience I have ever had at a hotel. From allowing me to check in early, a free glass of wine my first night, helping me find a spa and even helping me buy a tram ticket. The staff could not have been more helpful, in particular Muhammet at the front desk. The hotel is perfectly located to discover all the sights, by foot, public transport or ferry. The breakfast was delicious and plentiful. Rooms are comfortable and reasonably priced. Will definitely stay again!
- Eliz (2/5): - It was a very disappointing stay for us. The wc was not clean in the first place. Inside of the toilet there were leftovers. They don’t check for HES code. The employers don’t wear any mask, even if they are in the elevator with us. They don’t apply any Covid rules like it’s 2018. The breakfast was the worst I ever seen. I couldn’t even swallow. The tea was cold, you have to ask for hot tea. We don’t recommend this hotel.
- Sarah (10/5): - Staff were very friendly, polite and helpful. Nice breakfast too.
- Olga (10/5): - Muy original y estilado hostel. Excelente ambiente, me encanto diseño.
- Elie (10/5): - The staff were very friendly and welcoming, room was great, and environment was superb
- Gilberto (10/5): - Amazing staff and very clean room !!
- Katrin (6/5): - Lack of communication. No English knowledge. Unorganized.
- Mohammed (2/5): Nast place and full of ants - Basically avoid this place at all cost, nasty, dirty and full of ants . There is no buffet breakfast as it’s says on hotels.com . Short of staff and no one works on the roof terrace . My room was full of ants, stains on the toilet seat and rust metal all over the room. Lots of road works around this hotel. Avoid it
- Verified traveler (8/5): - It’s a super cute, small boutique hotel that was clean and interesting. The room was very small but clean and there was no dedicated closet, just a nook in the wall to hang clothes in. We didn’t stay long enough to try the breakfast. There were toiletries in the bathroom but no toothpaste at the front desk. I’d definitely stay there again but it did not feel like a 4 star experience. Actually we stayed in another small boutique hotel with unique style the previous night, and that one was 2 stars and basically indistinguishable from this.
- Daniel (8/5): Interesting design rooms, nice hotel - The hotel is good value for money and I recommend it if you want you room to be "different" from your regular hotels. The staff was nice and friendly, breakfast was good. The location is so-so, street is narrow and sidewalk difficult to navigate with a troller. Due to the pandemic there were not a lot of dining options nearby and Sultanahmet is 30-45 min walk.
- Jasvinder Kaur (10/5): Lovely stay in this boutique hotel - We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this well-located quirky boutique hotel in Istanbul.
Eren on the front desk was great in helping us retrieve our wallet, which we had accidentally left in the taxi from the airport.
Mohammed and Selma were friendly and attentive at breakfast.
We would definitely recommend this hotel and would happily stay here again when we return to Istanbul! Thank you again to you all :-)
- Verified traveler (8/5): - Hotel is in a great location, can walk anywhere in the neighborhood and close to the tram and ferries for getting to other areas of the city. Staff were nice and friendly. Only thing I'd say is that the hotel is showing signs of wear - furniture in the room was worn down, bathroom shower needs re-caulking etc. Decor is fun theme and it was kept clean, but I'd suggest some updates!
- Verified traveler (10/5): A++ - Great location, lovely room & very friendly & helpful staff!
- Verified traveler (8/5): - perfect location, near train station/ old city/ city centre.cant go wrong.
in istanbul your never in your room so you dont need all the bells and whistles.
- Verified traveler (10/5): - What a great place to stay! I enjoyed staying here and highly recommend this hotel! Very friendly and polite staff I felt I was among friends. They try to help you with whatever you need.
The decor is amazing! And the location is good close to all the places I wanted to visit.
- Brad (10/5): - Great location, nicely decorated and clean rooms, helpful staff, quaint lobby and rooftop
- Marcela (8/5): - Good experience
- Verified traveler (10/5): Zany - Very friendly staff and located in a more relaxed area than Sultanahmet.
Conveniently located next to a tram stop, so only takes 10 minutes to get to the mosques and other tourist sites.
Has some nice bars and cafes around worth checking out.
- Traveler (2/5): - Creepy and dark. Elevator starts half a flight up. Sink was leaking. Decor is creepy and tacky in Edson and couldn’t see well enough to apply make up. Front desk great intentions with limited ability to help in English. Very nice staff but not a good experience. Would have moved hotels if more time allowed
- lucas (10/5): Great hotel and perfect location - Very wonderful hotel. Prime location and friendly staff. Felt very at home.
- Verified traveler (8/5): - I like the 'urban' style implemented in the entire Hotel concept.
- Morey (10/5): Excellent boutique hotel in Istanbul - Quirky and artsy and boutique hotel, excellent English-speaking service, and close to downtown Istanbul via a convenient tram just a few minutes away. We loved having a retro Bluetooth speaker in the room! The breakfast was modest but everything was freshly-made and tasty.
- Verified traveler (8/5): - The location was nice. I liked the hotel. It was well priced.
- Monica (10/5): - Very friendly and helpful staff. The location of the hotel is great, near many cool restaurants and cafes.
- Yolanda (10/5): A relaxing, friendly and cosy hotel - Sub Karakoy is a small, friendly and quiet hotel that is very relaxing to come back to after a day of sightseeing in the city. It's super-clean, AC is very good, rooms are nicely decorated with artworks, shower is powerful, it's really close to top transport links (tram stop Tophane is about 2 mins away), Galata is an easy walk away, there's a nice little rooftop bar, and breakfast is good with lots of homemade produce, though it could use more fresh fruit and a bit more variety in the hot dishes and cereals. But the best thing about the hotel is the service. Aip and Caner in particular were amazingly kind and helpful, always taking time to help us with bookings, transport information, suggestions of where to go etc, and generally just being great hosts. Would definitely recommend. The only thing I would say is that the immediate area is a bit shabby, as it's being redeveloped so most of the buildings nearby are unoccupied. Still, there are a couple of shops, an ATM and an off-license all within a couple of minutes walk.
- Chow (6/5): It must be a cool hotel - once upon a time - The reception area is the best space of the hotel. The elevator was out of order during my stay so I hard to walk for 5 stories everyday. Roof top bar never opens. The room is definitely a little worn already. The bathroom has a weird smell and they know it so they use some kind of fragrance to cover it up - which can make it worse. The bed gives away some love motel vibes...
- E (10/5): Highly recommended - We absolutely loved this hotel! It’s clearly a labour of love of the owners.
The staff are very friendly, the breakfast was huge and delicious and we especially loved the freshly baked sweet treat surprise each morning!
The room and public areas are very stylish, the bed and pillows are amongst the comfiest I’ve ever experienced.
The area is perfect, located near to great restaurants and bars but without been noisy and very close to hip streets as well as major sites.
We would definitely book here again.
- BPL (8/5): - Good place for the price and for solo or traveling with friends, would not recommend for families. Located in the Karakoy neighborhood, trendy area with nice shops and restaurants and just across the bridge from the main tourist area, also walking distance from Galata, another nice area.
Facilities are very basic, the building looks like it might've been an old residential apartments converted into a hotel. Also sort of looks like a college dorm setup, which might suit younger travelers better. Bed was comfortable, the portrait above the bed can be a bit creepy though if you look at it too much. Breakfast is included and have a pretty decent selections from vegetables to eggs and Turkish bread. Staff was very nice and helpful.
- Alex (8/5): Can't beat the location and the breakfast - If you stay on a Saturday night, be aware that the bars will have the music at fun blast until midnight. bring earplugs.
The room was fine, clean, comfortable, the staff friendly and helpful and the breakfast amazing!
- Verified traveler (10/5): - Great location for ferries, trams and walking. Quirky decoration and the staff were laid back and relaxed, friendly but also helpful and efficient giving the hotel an unusual and enjoyable atmosphere.
- Verified traveler (8/5): - Nice room, modern style and minimalistic. The bed and the mattress were super good!
The hotel is kind of overpriced for what they offer. Some things at the room need to be improved (empty mini bar, tiny TV). Many things at the breakfast are charged (non regular coffee, eggs)
- Sandra (10/5): - This was one of the best experience, just amazing!
Special thanks to the staff: Caner, Pinar and Nurettin for the excellent service, help and advice during my stay. Also to people working at the hotel at the kitchen and rooms because they were also incredible.
The hotel has a great location, you can get easily to the most important historical attractions in minutes using the public transportation. It’s safe and easy to use.
Thank and may all have a wonderful stay.
Sandra.
- Verified traveler (4/5): Not a good option - I didn't feel comfortable at all .. it's dark .. narrow hotel.
- Deividas (10/5): - :) very good hotel
- Hande (10/5): Comfy and peaceful! - Comfy and peaceful. The design also gives you joy. Located in a very strategic area. Overall, greatly pleasent!
- Verified traveler (10/5): - Great! Great location price and service. Unique settings.
- Abdulazeez (6/5): Experience at the hotel. - In short;
Location is great.
Room and services is the leaset customer focused and disoriented.
Front desk staff are friendly but disengaged and not focused. Got ask couple times where I’m going even though I checked with the same person who asked me.
Decorations of the rooms are confusing and specially the bathrooms is so extra confusing.
Yeah that was it.
- Esmaeil (10/5): - Hotel location is quite good: Quiet and close to city center. Hotel staff are very friendly. Lobby and terrace of the hotel is cozy. I definitely recommend this hotel.
- Christine (10/5): - An artist boutique hotel in a great location, very helpful and attentive staff and overall I had a pleasurable stay.
- Jonathan (10/5): - Beautiful small boutique hotel with convenient location. Staff is very friendly and helpful. Karakoy cafes and restaurants are just around the corner. Location is great. We walked to every tourist hotspot from the hotel but if you want to use public transport tram and fery stops very close and metro stop is 5 minutes walk away.
- Mark (8/5): Nice boutique hotel in Karakoy - Chic boutique in the hipster Karakoy neighbourhood. Room was decent sized though the bathroom was quite cramped.
Location of the hotel is fantastic, being just 2 minutes away from the many cafes, restaurants, bars and shops of Karakoy. The Tophane tram stop is also just a 2 minute walk away. For those wanting to try a traditional Turkish bath, the top-rated hammam in Istanbul Kilic Ali Pasa is also a short 3 minute walk away.
Reception staff was always friendly and helpful with suggestions for food and sightseeing.
- Hedieh (8/5): - Very cool atmosphere, the staff were really helpful and always accessible. Close walk to taksim and to the water. Breakfast was nice, room was very cute and cozy, just a bit small, particularly the bathroom was very small. The small hotel is very charming however the street itself is not be desired. Very dirty street with run down buildings and even torn down building with all the brick and garbarge on the sidewalks.
- Lena (10/5): - I was a solo traveler in Istanbul for 3 days. This hotel totally met my needs as it's in a fantastic location and neighborhood in Karakoy. The hotel is small, rooms are small but comfortable and clean with a modern Turkish feel, bed was big and comfy too. The best thing about the hotel was the Turkish breakfast which was amazing! Every morning they laid out an array of decisions Turkish jams, cheeses, olives, bread and eggs. It was very homey and relaxed. I would dedtinielt go back to this hotel
- Verified traveler (6/5): Good but overhyped - Small rooms. View isn’t special.
Breakfast has a good variety. Tea, water and coffee offered in lobby all day for free.
Location is good.
Rooms have bad lighting, AC takes time to cool off rooms, bathroom is very small.
Beds are very comfortable.
It was good for a nights rest, but wouldn’t stay in the hotel again.
- Jonathan (8/5): Great hotel in superb neighbourhood - Very welcoming and friendly staff. My wife injured her foot needing crutches and the staff went above and beyond to assist. An amazing neighbourhood with great bars and restaurants nearby. Delicious breakfast in the morning. Free tea/coffee all day. Rooms quite small but good for crashing out after a busy day sightseeing.
- Verified traveler (10/5): - Good in general. Good quality and excellent location. Close to the transport station.
- Gregory (10/5): - Great little hotel, staff really go above and beyond to help
- Verified traveler (6/5): Ok. - I stayed here twice, and both times the staff was very friendly so I wish I could leave a better review! I'll start with the positives - it's in a very ideal area if you're in Istanbul for good food and good access to Tourist-y areas without actually wanting to stay in too tourist-y of a place (it's smack between the old city & the sites to see on the other side of Istanbul like dolmabace palace, galata tower, etc). It's near my favourite neighbourhoods - you wouldn't think it, but right across the street, behind a gas station, is a treasure trove of cafes and restaurants. The neighbourhood Cihangir is right up (a rather steep) hill with more great restaurants and cafes. You're a minute's walk from Tophane station, giving you easy access to the old city (which you can also walk across the bridge to), Beskitas, Sisli, Taksim, etc.
I never had breakfast (because of the close proximity of cafes) but it looked like a decent spread.
Now for the room itself...I found the rooms (both times) to be quite dark. Even when all the lights were on (the second time I stayed, half of the lights weren't working).
The elevator is reallllly loud. It kept me up all night because it was constantly in use because of the rooftop bar, which was also quite loud. The refrigerator buzzes so annoyingly I had to unplug it.
The bathroom is OK. It's small, but that's to be expected for the price you're paying.
- Ruslan (10/5): - Great place! I love it!
- Nurah (8/5): Karakoy is the area to stay in! - Friendly and accommodating staff.
Lovely spacious room and huge shower head!! Bed was v comfy. Only downside, no cupboard or hanging space for clothes and no tea coffee in room but there is a nice cosy cafe on ground floor. Breakfast was very good- not sure why people left negatIve feedback on breakfast- lovely variety, authentic Turkish and plenty of fruit and cheeses!
Across the road there are lovely funky hip restaurants- burgerlab, pizzalab and more. The famous Gulluoglu baklava is also opposite and the stunning Kiliç Paša hammam is 30 seconds walk.
I am definitely coming back here to stay! Many thanks :))
- VOLKAN (10/5): - Good location, good staff, small bathroom (-)
- Mirza (8/5): - The hotel management were really friendly and helpful. They made sure we were all set
- Verified traveler (8/5): Great location amazing staff - Great hotel, I only stayed for a night but the location was perfect with great choices for food really close by.
Only downside was that the shower drain was semi blocked and the shower needed a bit more of a thorough clean but the staff were amazing, room was comfy and overall enjoyed my stay.
Would recommend again
- Reza (6/5): - 3 stars better for this hotel
- ML (8/5): Good base to explore the city - This is a great place to explore the city, located between Taksim square and the Galata bridge. An easy walk to both. My friend and I walked across the bridge everyday to sightsee, and then back to Galata, Beyoglu and Karakoy for dinner and drinks each night. There is a lot of development and building going on that makes the neighbourhood feel a bit grimy in places at the moment. I'm sure it will be nicer (and probably more expensive) in 6+ months time! You don't notice any of this when you're sitting inside a cosy cafe smoking shisha however - and there are so many cool little cafes and streets to explore right next to the hotel. The grime is kind of part of the charm of Istanbul anyway. The hotel itself is very clean, the decor is cool and comfortable, and the staff are very accommodating. One thing - if you're staying in a twin room on the first two floors bring earplugs with you - the nearby clubs play music loudly (until past 4am on Saturday night), the street has heavy traffic at all hours, and the nearby mosque has a call to prayer twice a morning - unless you don't like sleeping in!
- Alan (10/5): Just what we needed. - lucked up on this one, perfect spot for travelers looking for access to new and old Istanbul. Staff was very good and was knowledgable about most of our questions. Free breakfast was delicious.
- Verified traveler (10/5): great staff great location - Very helpful reception desk helping you with figuring out whats nearby or how to get to where you want to go etc. Chic place and on a Saturday evening the most hep neighborhood in Istanbul.
- YME (4/5): It should be rated no better than 2-star - We stayed 10 days there in early April, 2016. We made our choice based on Rick Steves' tour book. It has a $ mark (means medium range), so we expected a decent place. It turned out not so. The hotel is at probably the worst neighborhood in the area. It is surrounded by fenced up empty lot, abandoned building, and buildings for renovation. Sidewalk is narrow, broken, and very dirty.
The hotel is very simple and basic, to the extend that it doesn't look like a regular hotel. The room is very small too. Our double room besides the bed doesn't have much room left. Bathroom is about 5x5 feet, very very small.
The worst thing is the sound insulation. We first checked-in to a room facing the street. The traffic and people noise from the street disturbed our sleep. We switched to a room facing back of the building. The noise is better. But the window is not far from the window of another building, so we had to keep our curtains shut all the time. There was very few other customers. Most the days we saw less than five people at breakfast. That should make the hotel quiet, though we still could hear some noise from other room in a few nights.
Breakfast starts pretty late at 8am. It's typical Turkish breakfast. That means only simple cold food, no toast, milk, or cooked eggs.
Overall this is just a small 2-star hotel. We really can't say we enjoy the time there. There are many much nicer hotels at the Karakoy area. You will certainly be happier to spend $20 more for a better one.
- Diana (10/5): Great stay at SuB Karakoy! - I stayed at SuB Karakoy with my sister and a friend in February 2016. We had a fantastic time! The hotel is great and the service was excellent and super-friendly. Karakoy is just a stone's throw from the Old Town but has a different, more relaxed and less touristy, feel and is definitely worth a visit. If I was to travel back to Istanbul I would definitely be returning to SuB Karakoy.
- Verified traveler (8/5): Good hotel with basics - The location is great, staff friendly and helpfull, room clean but not fancy.
- Genaro (10/5): Underground cool in an vibrant neighborhood! - SuB Karaköy is a small, hip hotel in an energetic and creative neighborhood of Istanbul. From rental Vespas, polaroid cameras, and vintage speakers next to your bed, this industrial-chic tavern is not your conventional corporate hotel experience. Expect an old-school furnace, a flannel bed throw, ironic pop art, and a noisy neighborhood with live music and nightlife. Staff is very helpful, friendly and willing to make your stay special. Daily breakfast buffet is a delight! Artsy neighborhood is flourishing with coffee shops and chic, trendy eateries and restaurants. Ten minute walk to the Galata bridge and old town. Down the street from the fantastic modern art museum. Note: there is a mosque just a block away, so prepare to hear the prayer call every morning at the crack of dawn. I recommend bringing ear plugs if you are a light sleeper. Also, get to know the cross streets --since it's a small hotel, cab drivers aren't as familiar with it. Otherwise, SuB Karaköy is a colorful, electric adventure waiting to happen. Prepare to be inspired.
- Verified traveler (10/5): Cool hotel with great location - Nice, small hipster hotel with perfect location in the trendy cafe and restaurant district of Karaköy. Excellent service and a decent Turkish breakfast and free choice of eggs. Free tea and coffee in the lobby at all times. Cosy, glassed-in roof terrace with a wood oven and a bar serving small dishes and wine by the glass. The hotel has a distinct "Berlin atmosphere" with vintage furniture and well-used interiors, but the room was both clean and warm enough for a weekend trip in February. Easy walking distance up the hill to the Galata tower, the shopping and nightlife area in Beyoglu and Taksim square (10-15 minutes), over the Galata bridge to Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar (20-40 minutes) and to the ferries over the Bosphorus to the cafe and shopping district of Kadiköy on the Asian side (5-10 minutes). Great value for money.
- Alain (10/5): Perfect accommodation in Istanbul - Great place to stay in Istanbul. The hotel is located in a charming area of the city and very close to a metro stop (2 min walk). I highly recommend it!
- Katie (10/5): I wish I was still there! Best hotel ever! - This was probably the best hotel my husband and I have ever stayed in! The hotel itself was awesome! The staff were seriously some of the nicest people I have ever met. When we arrived, they sat down with us and went over the entire area on a map and told us where to go and what not to miss. They were there for anything we needed and were great to talk to!
The rooms and the hotel itself were decorated really cool with a funky industrial, artsy feel. I wish I could replicate the room for my room at home!
We didn't know what to expect with the neighborhood, but soon realized after being there that is was definitely the cool "up and coming" neighborhood. So many restaurants, bars and cafes within walking distance.
The rooftop was a great place to grab a drink or dinner and the fireplaces kept us nice and toasty.
The breakfast was perfect! Being vegan I ate mostly fruit, veggies and lots of delicious bread with tahini and homemade hazelnut butter! So yummy! They have so much more if you eat dairy and meat. They even offer to cook you eggs any style you wish! So accomodating!
I cannot say enough good things about this hotel and wish I never had to leave!
Thank you so much to Fatih, Hasam and Nur! You guys made us feel like family :)
- William (8/5): - Great hidden gem! Breakfast was amazing and lots of options. Not far from a hop on hop off bus tour that we used to get back to the hotel after walking everywhere during the day. Would definitely recommend and stay again in the future.
Photos