2 Best Hotels in Galata and Karakoy, Istanbul

An attractively renovated, century-old building so close to the 14th-century Galata Tower that you can almost reach out and touch it, the Anemon Galata provides plenty of old-world charm. The rooms are elegant and comfortable, if a bit musty and showing some wear. Breakfast is served in an upstairs restaurant with wonderful views of the tower and the Golden Horn, while the underground Sensus Wine Bar carries hundreds of local vintages, along with cheese plates and other light fare. Ask for a room in the back to get a view of the Old City and avoid noise.

Housed in a restored, late-19th-century apartment building on a street lined with fashion designers' boutiques, the classy Georges and its minimalist yet old-fashioned rooms exude chic—think high ceilings and plain white walls with elaborate moldings, teakwood furniture, and brass lamps. Bathrooms are sleek and modern, lined with black marble and featuring walk-in rain showers. Some rooms have balconies and a few have fabulous views of the Bosphorus; the rest overlook a cobblestoned street or back patio. The rooftop terrace houses a restaurant and bar that draws a sceney clientele of nonguests.