Midtown Hotel Istanbul Review 2026: Taksim Square Stay

Just a 3-minute walk from Taksim Square in Istanbul's New City

Midtown Hotel: Cozy rooms and a delicious breakfast

Merhaba, everyone!

I'm Laura, sharing the best travel tips for Türkiye!

During my previous trips to Istanbul, I mostly stayed in Old City areas like Sultanahmet or Sirkeci. While those spots are great for historic landmarks and ancient ruins,

for this trip, I wanted to fully immerse myself in the vibrant, energetic vibe of the New City. So, I decided to look for a place near Taksim Square. After carefully comparing several options, I chose Midtown Hotel, which has both an amazing location and glowing reviews.

Midtown Hotel Basic Info

The biggest reason I chose Midtown Hotel was definitely its location. It takes just a quick 3-minute stroll to reach both Taksim Square and the metro station.

On top of that, the Havaist airport bus stop is only 5 minutes away, which means you won't have to struggle dragging heavy suitcases across cobblestones!

I arrived at the hotel just before 1:00 PM, well ahead of the official 2:00 PM check-in time. I asked if early check-in was possible, just in case, and luckily they had a room ready for me!

Even better, though I had booked a Standard Room, they kindly upgraded me so I could stay in a much more spacious room.

The staff were overall super friendly and spoke excellent English, making communication a total breeze.

Midtown Hotel Rooms

As soon as I walked into the room, I was greeted by a subtle, refreshing scent of cucumber soap and neatly tucked linens. I was slightly worried beforehand because some reviews mentioned a lingering cigarette smell, but my room smelled absolutely wonderful!

However, when walking through the hallways during housekeeping hours, I did catch a whiff of cigarette smoke coming from some of the other rooms.

The bed was incredibly comfortable—I slept like a baby and woke up without any back pain. They also provide two different types of pillows, so you can choose the height that works best for you.

The soundproofing was also much better than expected. Even though it's right near the bustling Taksim Square, I wasn't kept awake by any street noise at night.

Unlike some older hotels in the Old City where the soundproofing is poor and the mini-fridge barely works, Midtown Hotel had a perfectly functioning fridge. No more lukewarm drinks after a long day of exploring—such a game changer!

If I had to nitpick, it would be the view

of the construction site right outside my window.

Midtown Hotel Bathroom

The bathroom was also spotlessly clean, with absolutely no unpleasant drain odors.

The amenities provided were quite basic.

They don't provide toothpaste and toothbrushes, but they do have basic amenities like shampoo, body wash, cotton swabs, and a nail file ready for you.

Since water quality can vary quite a bit from region to region, I brought a travel shower filter with me this time too. Back in the Old City, the filter turned brown after just one shower, which was a bit shocking,

but here, I used it for three whole days and was pleasantly surprised by how clean the filter stayed!

When I first went to swap out the showerhead, I saw some corrosion on the connector and braced myself for terrible water quality, but it turned out to be totally fine.

Midtown Hotel Breakfast

Breakfast at Midtown Hotel is served on the R (Restaurant) floor.

Breakfast is served from 7:00 AM to 10:30 AM. When I headed down early in the morning, almost everyone already eating was a fellow Korean traveler—we really are a nation of early birds!

The breakfast is normally €12, but the staff kindly gave us a discount at check-in, so we got it for just €8.

Served buffet-style, the spread was not only incredibly satisfying but also delicious. There's a wide variety of options, ranging from traditional Turkish staples to classic Western dishes.

They offered over 10 different types of bread, including Simit (the famous Turkish sesame bagel), Ekmek, croissants, pound cake, and pancakes. Along with that, there were fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, salads, Börek (savory pastry), potatoes, scrambled eggs, an assortment of cheeses, and fresh fruits.

Complete with fresh coffee, Turkish tea (Çay), and sweet desserts, it was the perfect, hearty way to fuel up for a day of exploring.

🔺Check the Lowest Rates for Midtown Hotel🔺

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Taksim Square Lockdown

Of all days, there seemed to be a planned protest, and the atmosphere felt incredibly tense. They began blockading the entire stretch from Taksim Square to Istiklal Street with metal barriers, and a massive fleet of police cars, ambulances, and even military vehicles began gathering.

The Metro (M2 line) and the funicular service ground to a halt. To make matters worse, after I finished some grocery shopping at Carrefour, I returned to find the police blocking the path leading straight to our hotel.

Tourists dragging their heavy suitcases tried explaining to the officers that they were staying at hotels inside the zone, begging them to let them through, but the security was so strict that they wouldn't budge at all.

Somehow, we managed to squeeze our way through in the end, but it was a seriously nerve-wracking experience.

Wrapping Up

I’d give Midtown Hotel a perfect score when it comes to location. Since the airport shuttle bus stop is nearby, getting around was incredibly convenient. Plus, despite being right in a bustling area, it was surprisingly quiet inside, making it easy to relax. To top it off, check-out wasn't until 12:00 PM, which gave us plenty of time to take it easy on our last day.

With supermarkets like Migros and Carrefour close by and Istiklal Street just a stone's throw away, it was perfect for casual strolls. It's definitely a place I’d love to stay at again on my next trip.

And that wraps up my review of the Midtown Hotel near Taksim Square!