Not sure if this is technically Europe or no but what the heck...
My wife and i are planning a 6 night trip to Istanbul in March. We are in our early 30's and love to eat, shop, walk around. We could use a hotel recommendation in the below $300/night category. Our preference is to stay somewhere quant and local vs. a large national chain. Anyone with any experience?

We recently stayed at Hotel Kumru.
http://kumruhotel.com/index.html
It's in Sultanhamet, close enough that we walked to everything but far enough away it didn't feel super touristy.

The owner is American with a Turkish partner -- the best of both worlds! She was great and her restaurant and siteseeing recommendations were spot on.

The decor is clean and modern which might not be the first thing you think of for Istanbul but it was really relaxing to come home to after long days.

I can't recommend the Witt Istanbul highly enough. It's located in Cihangir, essentially part of the larger Beyoglu area. Boutique hotel and wonderful on-site staff. Modernly furnished rooms. Incredible shower heads. I stayed 5 nights in the penthouse suite (at about $500USD/night) with a wrap around terrace and the most amazing view of the Old City you could imagine. Later in my trip, I also stayed one night in a smaller suite than ran about $250USD/night. Close to restaurants and shops. 5 minute walk from the Tophane light rail station. VERY steep hill from the LRT to the hotel but hey, it's good exercise! Check them out on Trip Advisor...they are ranked right around #7 of all Istanbul hotels.

Hotel Empress Zoe. I stayed there and really liked it.

Happy Travels!

We also really liked the Empress Zoe. All the rooms are different; we had the Garden Suite.

Yeah, the Empress Zoe was great. And it was right in the heart of Sultanhamet. Plus, the owner, who's originally from San Francisco, was there every day chatting with the guests and inviting them up to the roof top for a drink and more chit chat.

Happy Travels!

I think, given your interests, that you wold be better off in the "new" city, rather than Sultanahmet. I wish I could help with hotels but the ones I've stayed at on fairly recent trips would not qualify. Not sure of prices at Pera Palace (I've not been since the renovation) but it certainly has character, and location is good.

http://www.jumeirah.com/en/Hotels-an...CjCVVZ3CjC1bEL

I second the Witt
also recommend House Hotel, Ortakoy and Radisson Blue, Ortakoy

The W is also small and is at an interesting neighborhood. Check my trip advisor review of "Besiktas"