josiah's Qype profile

Very chill place to relax, read, or work. Good coffee and friendly staff. Probably my favorite cafe in P-Burg

One of the best haircuts I ever got…and that’s not an exaggeration. Very talented and friendly hairdressers take the time to do it right. Bonus points for a cool building and chillout music that almost put me to sleep.

The little touches are what makes this hotel stand out. The owner studied design in New York, and returned to Istanbul to open the Witt Suites. Nearly everything you see - from the furniture and room design to the bathroom fixtures and bed linens have been specially designed by hot local and international artists.

It’s the kind of hotel that don’t want to leave during your stay. Room views are gorgeous, with all suites either looking over the ocean or the old city. The suites have iPod docks, and I enjoyed taking in the views with a glass of wine and an ambient soundtrack. My room looked over the city, and seeing the mosques lit up at night was a quintessential Istanbul experience for me.

There’s a Turkish breakfast buffet in the morning. Try the house specialty: freshly squeezed orange or pomegranate juice - delicious! There is no on-site restaurant, but you’ll want to sample some of the ones that are a 2-3 minute walk down the street. The staff is very friendly and helpful - ask for recommendations. Or, grab a sandwich to go and there’s a great view over the Bosphorus located just around the corner from the hotel.

The hotel is set in a quiet, trendy neighborhood with a bohemian flair. It reminded me of London and New York’s SoHo or Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg - lots of little cafes & boutiques popular with local artists and expat hipsters alike. Istanbul can be a noisy city, so the neighborhood feels like a little oasis. Top attractions are close: Taksim square and Istiklal Street is a 5-10 minute walk; Hagia Sophia & the Sultanahmet Mosque a 5-minute taxi or tram ride away.

I’ve stayed at many hotels around the world, and rarely see this level of value. You get a spacious suite for the price of a standard room in a comparable hotel. It’s the kind of hotel worth planning a trip around, and you’ll want to stay a few nights to get the whole experience. I’ve recommended it to my friends and family, and can’t wait to return.

3 floors with lots of tables & electrical outlets for working. Coffee is affordable, slightly cheaper than US prices, and quite a bit cheaper than the Western European prices I was paying! It’s a good place if you want to work for a few hours - the first Starbucks I’ve found with unlimited free wifi.

Probably the best Starbucks in Berlin for getting some work done. The second floor (see attached picture) has lots of space, electrical outlets, and chairs for relaxing. It also overlooks a beautiful old building across Ku’Damm, which is nice. Combined with the (paid) wifi access, it’s a great place to come for finishing up that report.