We stayed at the Nena for 4 nights pre-cruise and just loved the Nena! This is a lovely little boutique hotel centrally located in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. It’s easy walking distance to all the famous sites in the area and there are a lot of small restaurants nearby. We had asked for a “triple” room on an upper floor and it was quite large, especially by European standards. We had plenty of room to lay out our suitcases on the floor without them being in the way. There was a small wardrobe unit for hanging clothes, but very little drawer storage for folded clothes. The bathroom was small but nicely done with newer tile, a good sized tub/shower and the only wall-hung hair dryer I have ever used that puts out enough heat and power to do a good job. We loved the wonderfully thick Turkish towels, too. Our room also had a small balcony but we never used it because the view was of other buildings. We were in the back of the hotel; had our room faced the other direction, we would probably have had a nice view of the Bosphorus and Sutlanahmet sites. Still, it was nice to have all the light that came through the balcony door.
The ground floor of the hotel has a nice sized lobby with big tables and chairs, the front desk, a back room with a small bar, a TV and several couches, a desk with a computer and the free internet access. Behind this is an enclosed “garden” area with tables and chairs and greenhouse-like windows and roof - the perfect place to relax with a glass of wine.
The top floor of the hotel has a “rooftop restaurant”; seating inside and out on a balcony overlooking the Sultanahmet and the Bosphorus. Here they serve a great breakfast, included in the room rate. They had scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausages along with fresh fruit, cereal and cold items that have a distinctly Turkish slant: feta cheese, olives and other savory items you’d expect at dinner instead of breakfast. We also ate dinner two nights up there on the balcony just to see the magically lit Sultanahmet buildings.
One of the best things about the Nena is the staff. They are so helpful and friendly that it made the entire visit a real pleasure. And the free airport or port pickup and drop-off are a real plus. After being in Istanbul 4 days, we realized that the Nena staff's attitude is typical of the warm hospitality of Turkish people.

Based on the excellent review on Tripadvisor we decided to book Nena Hotel in Istanbul. It was a great experience and I'd highly recommend it to others. We were in room #405 which is a deluxe room with a balcony. Since we were staying 4 nights they picked us up and delivered us back to the airport which was such a plus. Our stay included breakfast on the rooftop terrace each morning. We also ate dinner there once and it too was excellent. The views from the rooftop terrace restaurant are magnificent, especially at night.

The entire staff was wonderful and went out of their way to make sure we had a nice stay. The morning we left Istanbul we had a very early flight. The staff got up and made us coffee and packed sandwiches to take with us since we had to leave the hotel at 5:30am. How nice was that!!

The Nena Hotel is in the best location possible. It is just a stone's throw from the tram stop and located just a 2-3 minute walk from all the historical sites. If you want to see pictures, this is their website: http://www.istanbulhotelnena.com/

We loved Istanbul and want to return.
We would definitely stay here again in the same deluxe room.

We stayed 4 nights at Nena. The location is absolutely perfect. Short walking distance from major historical sites, good restaurants and the tram line. Hotel is attractive and understated, but warm and inviting. Lobby would remind you a little of Paris. Staff was both competent and friendly. The room was just fine and the view out of our room, overlooking the Blue Mosque, was to die for. (Recommend requesting the deluxe room, with balcony and view. Not much more.) Our rate included airport transfers and breakfast and, all things considered, was a bargain. You can get a discount for early booking AND for cash payment. Highly recommended for people who like small hotels with atmosphere.

On my first trip to Turkey, a friend and I decided to go to Istanbul a few days early and found the Hotel Nena website. We had a great time. The hotel offers airport pickup with a driver who is quite above the average taxi you might take from the airport. The rooms were very comfortable and the food served at the hotel was delicious. Many hotels in Istanbul offer poor breakfasts of Tang and tired food. (We had this at the group hotel.) The Hotel Nena offered fresh orange juice, strawberries, melon and other healthy and fresh food. The restaurant terrace is above the Blue Mosque, the hotel is convenient to the tram line, there is a lovely garden area to relax and the personnel at the hotel were helpful and friendly.