Stylish in its simplicity and located in the heart of Sultanahmet, the Empress Zoe takes some beating for cultural visitors. Relax with a drink in the garden or on the roof terrace and soak up the atmosphere of Old Istanbul.
Telephone: +90 (0) 212 518 2504
Price: from 70.00 EUR to 175.00 EUR
Receive a free Hg2 guide when you book a room online
Small, stylish, perfectly placed and reasonably priced, the Empress Zoe is one of the best options in the Old City for those who can’t afford or don’t want something as expensive or as formal as the Four Seasons.
Named after a famous 11th-century Byzantine empress who got through a succession of lovers and husbands late in life, the hotel has 22 rooms, which are clean, prettily decorated and uncluttered – handy because they are quite small.
Still you’re better off spending time in the romantic, beautiful and leafy back garden, where you rest amid the ruins of a 15th-century hamam. Alternatively, you can dawdle on the rooftop terrace, which has superb views.
