Taksim Square Residence, Two bedrooms, pool sauna gym

First Impressions

Staying at Taksim Square Residence genuinely surprised me — in the best way. It’s one of those four-star properties that feels a bit more polished than you’d expect, tucked along Elmadağ Caddesi in Şişli, which is honestly one of the more underrated stretches of Istanbul. The building has a residential feel to it, which I actually appreciated — it’s not a towering corporate hotel, it’s something that feels a bit more like your own place in the city.

Location & Neighborhood

The address puts you in a really solid spot. Elmadağ sits just a short walk from Taksim Square, so you’ve got the energy of the city right there when you want it, but the street itself is calmer — you’re not dealing with the constant noise and crowds the moment you step outside. There are decent local cafés and restaurants nearby, and getting around Istanbul from here is straightforward whether you’re heading to Beyoğlu or further afield. Couples especially seem to love this location, and honestly, I get it — it has a kind of romantic city-break feel to it.

The Apartment

The two-bedroom setup is what really sets this place apart from a standard hotel room. You’ve got actual living space — room to spread out, unpack properly, and not feel like you’re living out of a suitcase. I mean, for a couple or two people travelling together, having that extra bedroom and a proper layout makes a real difference over the course of a few days. It’s the kind of space where you could genuinely imagine settling in for a week without going stir-crazy.

Facilities

The pool, sauna, and gym are all on-site, which — well, not every Istanbul property at this price point can say that. The pool is a nice touch, especially if you’ve been pounding the pavements all day doing the tourist circuit. The sauna is great for winding down in the evenings, and the gym is there if you’re the type who actually uses hotel gyms (no judgment either way). It’s a solid package, honestly, and it adds a layer of comfort that makes longer stays feel genuinely relaxing rather than just functional.

Why Guests Love It

There’s also free private parking on-site, which sounds like a small thing until you’ve tried to find parking anywhere near Taksim — then it becomes a very big thing. The property has a guest rating of 9.3, which is hard to argue with, and you can sort of feel why when you’re there. It’s not flashy or over-the-top, but everything works, the space is generous, and the location does a lot of heavy lifting. If you’re planning a trip to Istanbul as a couple and want something that feels a bit more like a home base than a hotel room, Taksim Square Residence is genuinely worth considering.

Istanbul’s apartments welcome families with skyline terraces, toy libraries, and easy access to Princes’ Islands ferries.