Hotel Empress Zoe
Akbiyik Caddesi, No:10, Istanbul 34122 Türkiye
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About
#189 of 4,378 hotels in Istanbul
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Hotel Empress Zoe is an excellent choice for travellers visiting Istanbul, offering a romantic environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay.
Close to some of Istanbul's most popular landmarks, such as Suleymaniye Mosque (1.2 mi) and Galata Tower (1.4 mi), Empress Zoe Hotel is a great destination for tourists.
The rooms offer air conditioning, and getting online is possible, as free wifi is available, allowing you to rest and refresh with ease.
Empress Zoe features 24 hour front desk, a rooftop terrace, and a concierge. In addition, as a valued Empress Zoe guest, you can enjoy free breakfast that is available on-site. Guests arriving by vehicle have access to paid public parking available nearby.
When you’re feeling hungry, be sure to check out Olive Anatolian Restaurant, Hatay Medeniyetler Sofrasi Taksim, and Roof Mezze 360, which are some Mediterranean restaurants that are popular with locals and out-of-towners alike.
If you’re looking for something to do, Topkapi Palace (0.4 mi), Blue Mosque (0.2 mi), and Hagia Sophia Museum / Church (Ayasofya) (0.2 mi) are a nice way to spend some time, and they are all within walking distance of Empress Zoe.
Enjoy your stay in Istanbul!
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Property amenities
Paid public parking nearby
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Free breakfast
Airport transportation
Rooftop terrace
Baggage storage
24-hour front desk
Ironing service
Wifi
Breakfast buffet
Taxi service
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
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Room features
Air conditioning
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Safe
Telephone
Bottled water
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Clothes rack
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Hair dryer
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Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Quirky Hotels
Historic Hotel
Languages Spoken
English, Turkish
Location
100Great for walkers
Grade: 100 out of 100
274Restaurantswithin 0.5 km
121Attractionswithin 0.5 km
Akbiyik Caddesi, No:10, Istanbul 34122 Türkiye
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We loved our stay at Empress Zoe. We had the corner room on the 2nd floor at the front of the building - it is very comfy and has wrap around windows and lots of interesting decorations. The breakfast in the gorgeous shady courtyard is a highlight. They have your standard eggs and toast but also lots of Turkish specialities such as Menemen, lentil koftas, local honey and yoghurt etc. The service is fantastic including quick response to emails and messages about transfers etc. Also a great location just a few hundred metres from Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia etc
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
We’ve just stayed for 2 nights at this hotel. It offers good value for our money. The breakfasts are very nice and you can enjoy them in a very pretty courtyard setting. The staff are lovely and very helpful and the location is terrific. There is a spiral staircase and we had to be very careful. The hotel staff carried our luggage to our room and vice versa when we left.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Ask for a room with a balcony
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Boutique hotel in a very touristy area of Istanbul but had a nice homely feel with character. Breakfast is home-style but pretty much the same every day which is fine for a stay of a few days but could be improved if they offered eggs cooked to order. Highlight is eating breakfast in the courtyard next to an old dilapidated hammam - a wonderful peaceful haven. The room was a little expensive but to be expected for such a central location and a bit small but we had a room facing the main street with a small balcony which was lovely. Not too loud considering the location. Rooftop provides a nice view early morning/late evenings. Stairs are tricky but the staff are willing to help with bags. All the staff were very friendly, kind and willing to help. Plenty of restaurants nearby but a fair amount of hassle as you walk by. Not easy to casually peruse menus.…
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip: Nightlife is not particularly loud at night although the call to prayer may disturb. Worth taking...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Ann Nevans, Owner at Hotel Empress Zoe
Responded 20 Aug 2023
Dear HKCrock, Thank you for your kind review. We are glad that you enjoyed your stay overall. We try to offer a good variety on our buffet breakfast. All of the dishes are homemade including the baked goods and we do offer different dishes every day. Regarding the eggs - we always have 2 types of egg dishes but during high season when we are very full it is not possible to offer eggs cooked to order. I am glad that a you liked breakfast in the garden. A word about the historic hamam which borders the garden. It is called Isak Pasha hamam and it was built in 1483 only 30 years after the occupation of Constantinople by Mehmet the conqueror...so it is quite a piece of history. We hope you will visit our fair city again one day. Wishing you happy travels/Ann
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We wanted to like this hotel more but ended up being a bit disappointed. It has a lot of character but has seen it’s day. We got stuck in a basement room which really stunk- was very dark and dank but paid full price for a suite nonetheless. The hotel is very convenient to the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia, etc. It is next to a street full of (touristy) restaurants but a great location. As other reviews have noted, the courtyard and public area are quaint but have acquired a bit of “patina” shall we say. Breakfast was great. If we had an above ground room we probably would have liked it more. So we give it a qualified recommendation if you like historical buildings and want to be in easy walking distance it’s a good choice.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Ann Nevans, Owner at Hotel Empress Zoe
Responded 20 Aug 2023
Dear JH, We appreciated your "qualified recommendation" and will try to improve from your comments. We do renovate, fix and paint every year and have renovated all the bathrooms in 2 of our buildings. Every year we do something, but we our philosophy is to work with and change rather than toss everything out and start new. That being said we are planning more renovations in the near future. Hotel Empress Zoe celebrated her 30th birthday last May. We have an original and artistic style developed by my Greek brother in law who was also a Byzantine painter and my sister who is a landscape architect. I am sorry that you did not like the Cistern suite. It is the smallest and most economical of our suites. Actually it is not a basement but it is partially below ground. There are windows in the bedroom and a little terrace on the garden side. Normally it is quite popular in the summer as it is cool, but I was very sorry to read that you found it damp and even a bit musty. I would like to sincerely apologize for that. Thank you for bringing that to my attention and I am definitely looking into that. We hope that you may return one day and we can offer you a room which is more to your liking. Wishing you happy travels in the meantime/Ann
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Very bad experience. We were unable to sleep due to the noise and the poor quality of the AC. Steps are dangerous. Various species of insects in the room. The price we paid is a lot lot LOT expensive for what this hotel is. We spent some better nights at an hotel that was 6x less expensive. For this price we were expecting high end experience, the minimum was not here
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: Noisy, expensive for what it is, bad quality of sleep, bad quality of équipement. For this price...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Response from Ann Nevans, Owner at Hotel Empress Zoe
Responded 21 Aug 2023
Dear John H from Paris, We were quite sad to see your review. In the 30 years Hotel Empress Zoe has been open I think we have only once received such a low mark and that one was not a genuine review. It has taken some time to answer you because I have questioned my staff closely. Yes, there is sometimes noise from the street which comes from a new bar which we and other hotels have reported to the authorities. I do very sincerely apologize for that. In general August is noisier on the street with people staying out late, but we have double glazed windows. I checked the air conditioner and it is working well. Our staff said that you had complained it was too cold but you were keeping it on the lowest setting. Also it is not possible to leave the air conditioning on all day while you are out because it cannot work 24 hours every day. Regarding the "various species of insects" I looked at the picture you posted and it was a small bug which had doubtless entered from your private terrace which has potted plants and shrubs. It had died on the marble floor of the bathroom and 3 ants came to the funeral. Regarding the price we are quite economical compared with other boutique hotels in Istanbul. I cannot imagine what kind of a hotel you could find which is 6 times more economical. I am sorry that we were unable to meet you expectations. I am also very sorry that you did not enjoy your stay with us. Kind wishes/Ann Nevans (owner)
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Small hotel that gave more than the average.Assisted with bags, taxis ,recommendations to eat,advice on sightseeing and costs-which varied widely. The ladies who prepared breakfast in the gorgeous courtyard were lovely, their food home cooked and plentiful. THEHotel is on a corner on a busy road but in 4 nights it was never a problem as windows were solid and aircon efficient. Close to all sites and easy walk to the harbour and other areas surrounding.
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Date of stay: May 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
If you are looking for a venue full of character then this is the place for you. Besides the fact that is exactly right next to the most obvious atractions, the hotel is cozy and welcoming and the breakfast is to die for. Istambul boasts of really yummy food but combined with the homey cozy feeling the food just tastes better.
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Date of stay: November 2022Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Really enjoyed this little gem in the heart of the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. Excellent room. The courtyard garden is beautiful and don't miss the roof top terrace with super views of the Bosphorus. Very helpful and friendly staff with good English.
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
I love the quirkiness of this delightful hotel with a garden filled with archaeological artifacts and rooms with hand-made textiles. I've stayed here four or five times and always found it a pleasure. The breakfast buffet is outstanding. The staff is ever hospitable and helpful
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Scrumptious traditional Turkish breakfast buffet; homemade jams, böreks, and cakes.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Empress Zoe Hotel is a Gem! We stayed in a Deluxe room with a partial view of the Bosporus on one side, and a little balcony overlooking a delightful garden. On the open balcony above us we had a nice view of the water and Hagia Sophia litteraly looming over us. This location is PERFECT for the central attractions. Just a short walk. The hotel arranged for our airport transfer which included a nice private shuttle van that was super convenient! The room was quaint and cozy and clean. The pillows were soft and the beds comfortable. The air conditioner in our unit was only so so, but the afternoon breeze really cooled the unit nicely. The shower was probable the BEST shower I have ever had! Although it must use a lot of water. It was like my private waterfall, so I kept it short. The daily breakfast buffet was excellent. lots of healthy and fresh choices. They always had eggs (Scrambled, Scrambled with a Tomato Curry, and hard boiled). Several breads and cake breads to choose from and a variety of cheeses, cucumbers, olives, Tomato's etc. etc. They have nice dark coffee and Chai as well as juices. It was great. The staff was super friendly and helpful. Only possible negatives was some street noise throughout the night and the proximity to the big Mosques means you will be awakened by several very loud calls to prayer during your sleep (my guess is this will affect the entire area of the city). This could probably be mitigated a little if the windows were kept closed, but the AC was not really awesome so we had to keep the windows open for ventilation. It was a little more expensive that some of the other choices, but I think considering what you get the Empress Zoe is where you want to go. …
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Date of stay: June 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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PRICE RANGE
US$83 - US$142 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
empress zoe hotel istanbul
LOCATION
TürkiyeIstanbulSultanahmet
NUMBER OF ROOMS
25
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Claim Your ListingHOTEL EMPRESS ZOE: UPDATED 2023 Reviews, Price Comparison and 1,025 Photos (Istanbul, Turkiye) - Tripadvisor
Frequently Asked Questions about Hotel Empress Zoe
Which popular attractions are close to Hotel Empress Zoe?
Nearby attractions include Sultanahmet District (0.4 km), Hagia Sophia Mosque (0.2 km), and Basilica Cistern (0.3 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Hotel Empress Zoe?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and airport transportation.
What food & drink options are available at Hotel Empress Zoe?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Hotel Empress Zoe?
Yes, paid public parking nearby is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Hotel Empress Zoe?
Conveniently located restaurants include The ottomans kitchen cafe restaurant, Yaşayan Mutfak Restaurant, and Rainbow Meat and Fish Restaurant.
Does Hotel Empress Zoe have airport transportation?
Yes, Hotel Empress Zoe offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Hotel Empress Zoe?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Turkish.
Are there any historical sites close to Hotel Empress Zoe?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Hagia Sophia Mosque (0.2 km), Basilica Cistern (0.3 km), and Historic Areas of Istanbul (0.2 km).
Does Hotel Empress Zoe have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the harbour view available here.