We will be in Istanbul for 4 nights as of Aug 29. I would like to stay in the Sultanahmet area near many of the top sights. Price range is $130-200. I would love a hotel with a rooftop restaurant with a view of the water. Any suggestions? I'm exhausted looking through the hotel clearing house websites. Ugh Please someone help. Thanks

Hi, Wandy.

On our most recent trip to Istanbul (last year), we stayed at the Sumengen Hotel (www.sumengenhotel.com). This is a very nice small hotel (not a chain), in a wonderful area of Sultanahmet, and meets all of your requirements. Just a couple of blocks from the mosques around the main square, the tram, and many restaurants within walking distance. Our room (toward the back of the hotel) overlooked the water (the Sea of Marmara). The manager and staff were very helpful, and even provided free transportation back to the airport when we left. We were told that Rick Steves was staying there at the same time we were, although we never saw him.
We would definitely stay there again.

This is where I stayed in Sultanahmet. Roof terrace where breakfast is served with water views . Excellent location. I liked it very much. http://askinhotel.com/

We stayed at the Dersaadet http://dersaadethotel.com/# in Sultanahmet and would recommend it. Great location and has a rooftop terrace bar and breakfast room....no restaurant though.

We stayed at hotel Nena, and would stay there again. Great location, rooftop restaurant (although we did not try it, but used it for breakfast), great view of the Blue Mosque from the restaurant.

We also stayed at Dersaadet-loved it. Has a rooftop bar where you cn see Blue Mosque. I also recommended to my sister later & she loved her stay there

We stayed at The Tan Hotel, modern, clean and inexpensive with a roof top garden.

http://www.hotels.com/ho244634/tan-h...tanbul-turkey/

Our 11-year old daughter and I had a last minute move from an apartment to The Byzantium Hotel and Suites last summer and were very pleased. Our room had a balcony with a view of the Bosphorus; it was pleasant enough at night to leave the doors open. Extensive selection for breakfast, as well. The hotel also had a rooftop terrace. The street was a bit touristy, but at the same time lively but not overwhelming at night. We would stay there again.

I have stayed at Hotel Niles 2 times. It's a block from the Grand Bazaar and has everything you are asking for plus an incredible staff. The desk clerk remembered me from 2 yrs. back (and I'm a 62 y/o granny)! He had me sit down in the lobby and as they weren't busy when I checked in brought me some tea & cookies and sat down and chatted. I felt very comfortable there, traveling alone. Look at the Tripadvisor reviews.

We stayed at the Empress Zoe a few years ago, and were very pleased. The location is terrific, the value superb, the service very accommodating. It's built around a wonderful coutyard, an oasis of calm in the heart of Sultanahmet.

http://www.emzoe.com/

However...no rooftop restaurant with water views. If that's a deal-breaker, move along.

There's an article on Sultanahmet hotels on Hotelchatter today:

http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/20...et%2C_Istanbul

Thanks so much. Will start checking these out. I had seen the Tan and considered it. Let me see what else you've suggested.