Levanten

Not easy to find, but once you’re there it’s amazing. Staff is fantastic and was always giving me tea and pogca (Turkish pastries!) Great location, super close to Taksim square. The only cons are no elevator (but the staff will help take your bags up for you) and only one bathroom per floor, meaning there was a huge wait time for the toilet and to shower in the morning. Bathrooms were also lacking toilet paper a lot. The staff is a bit overworked doing everything around the place so it’s often difficult to make sure that everything is completely in place. But they totally do the best they can and are some of the most lovely people I’ve ever encountered. When I return in Istanbul I will definitely stay there again.

I spent 2 hours looking for this hostel in Istanbul. I had to deviate from my GPS’ direction because the street I was supposed to turn to was blocked off by a bunch of police in riot gear.
I parked at the closest parking garage I found and paid more than the price of my hostel I proceeded to ask for directions and the first person told me to go down the alley way, turn left and turn on the first right… no hostel.
I asked one of the riot police and he told me to go up another street… no hostel. I asked another person and he told me to back down the street and turn left after 20 meters… no hostel. I asked another person and he pointed me to walk to the end of the street… no hostel. I’m going around in circles and this round robin’s been going on for about an hour now.
I stopped took a deep breath saw two guys were sitting down talking and they looked like they’d know the place so I asked for directions, their response. «Go left on this street, walk 20 meters, and then ask another person for directions.»
Not a bad hostel though, not the cleanest but very cheap and in a very convenient location.

I think I’ll make this one pretty straight forward:
Pros: Cheap rooms, cheap water bottles for sale, free tea and coffee, great workers, clean, towels to use for free (I’ve been to hostels that charge to use towels) and excellent location (right in Taksim and next to Istikal street), decent beds, clean bathrooms.
Cons: Can be difficult to find at first, portable radiators in the rooms that don’t necessarily keep the room warm at night, windows don’t really keep the noise out from the outside.
All in all, the experience was great, the workers at the place literally were my friends by the end of the trip because they were so nice, and everyone else that we met at the hostel were cool and so nice!
Levanten, I’ll be back one day, and I’ll be wanting some more of the Turkish tea! Please :)

This hostel is way nicer than it looks. The beds are comfy enough that we weren’t complaining after our long days. They sell water for extremely cheap, have a kitchen (with tea and coffee provided, but no meals). The guys that work here are insanely friendly, and it seemed as though most of the guests were good too.
The complaints for here would be that it is extremely cold inside the place, and the little movable radiators don’t really help much with this. It’s the first time I’ve ever shivered through a hot shower (the water usually does get hot). Also, the directions given to us were terrible, and there’s no sign outside so you have to keep an eye out. Hint: It’s a light pink-​red building with a step and a door next to a small shop on a back street… Overall for a hostel, it’s quite good for the price once you find it, and if you’re in Istanbul when it’s warm then this place will be perfect for you!