Lokalist, Istanbul, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel

A nice hotel very conveniently located next to a metro and multiple bus stops. It’s also within walking distance to Kabatas boat station. The staff is kind and attentive and rooms are clean and comfortable. I highly recommend it for those who want to explore Istanbul.

Very good location for tourists, very clean,

Overall, I liked the hotel; as with everything, there are pros and cons. The location is near Taksim Square, a 5-7-minute walk from the square and Istiklal Street. I was worried about having to walk through a park to get from the square to the hotel, and I read in some reviews that it's not very comfortable in the evening because homeless people sleep on the benches. While they do sleep, the park actually turns out to be a small public garden, so you don't have to go through it; you can walk on the other side of the road. Overall, this concern proved unfounded. In terms of transportation, the location is convenient—there's a metro station and a funicular station right at Taksim Square. It's also a 13-minute walk downhill from the hotel toward the sea to the T1 tram terminus and Kabatas Pier, where you can also take the funicular from Taksim Square. The hotel isn't very large; everything is very compact, including the rooms. The rooms are small. The bathroom is behind a glass partition, and the sink is in the room itself. This is a bit confusing, especially the bathroom, but you get used to it. However, the interior is beautiful and modern, and the room is top-notch! The smart home system—everything is electronically controlled with a remote or switches—has plenty of charging ports. There's a safe, ironing board, refrigerator, kettle and coffee maker, and even a tea ceremony set. Drinking water is regularly replenished. I was pleased that the windows open, making it feel like you're sitting on a balcony. The breakfasts were generally good. The buffet included vegetables, a wide variety of cheeses, cold meats, hot appetizers, some fruit, and a selection of egg dishes made to order. They even had gluten-free bread. I don't think there was porridge, but I could be wrong. The coffee wasn't very good. Dinner was also available in the hotel restaurant, but the prices were high, even for central Istanbul. The staff was helpful, and English was the only language spoken. The hotel's guests were mostly elderly Europeans and residents of China; I didn't encounter any Russian speakers during my stay. Overall, the stay was comfortable.