Having undergone a major facelift in 2013 and upgraded its name from Arcadia to Arcadia Blue, one of the Old City's best-located hotels is now very much back in business. The major pluses? The view from the terrace breakfast room/dining room/bar is quite simply one of the very finest in the city. To the south, ships ply the blue waters of the Sea of Marmara, ahead and east the Egyptian obelisk in the Hippodrome rears its granite head, backed by the cascade of domes that is the monumental Blue Mosque. Beyond the mosque's leaded domes are the gardens of the Topkapi Palace and, a touch beyond, the blue ribbon of the Bosphorus backed by the hills of Asia. It's stunning, especially when the historic buildings are lit up at night.

Even if many rooms on the lower floors have rather more prosaic views of the law courts just across a narrow, little-used-by-traffic street, it's great to know that a short elevator ride away this amazing panorama awaits. (Alternatively, you can try and get one of the 18 corner suite rooms on floors 5-8, which boast similar views to the terrace, although you'll need to book months in advance.) The structure of the building means most standard rooms have a raised floor area in front of the windows, where there's a couple of chairs to sit and read. The renovations were done by the well-regarded Norm design company, so expect plenty of tasteful contemporary neutral décor, walnut wood finishes, and elegant light fixtures. Bathrooms are all marble, tile, chrome, and glass. The hotel is perfectly situated for the major sights, local restaurants, and the tram stop, as well as being extremely quiet for such a central location. Another plus is excellent spa, complete with marble and tiled traditional Turkish bath, two saunas and massage room, and a small fitness center.