Hush Hostel Lounge - Istanbul, Turkey
Have you heard of Hush Hostel Lounge?
Travelling to Istanbul, Turkey is a bucket-list destination for many. We recently did a slow travel stay in Istanbul and it really was more than I could have ever imagined. Of course, I have seen the postcards - even bought one myself. And yes, we’ve all heard about the amazing cat population there (did you know about the dogs?), but what do we actually know about Istanbul as a travel destination?
Well, below are my pointers, thoughts and our experience during our time in Istanbul at the Hush Hostel Lounge in February 2023.
Before we continue though, I must highlight that we visited just weeks after a recent disaster hit the area, and we tried to be as aware of this as possible during our stay. We did not stay close to the area that had been affected, but still, we acknowledged that a lot of loss and pain had happened.
Where is Hush Hostel Lounge?
Hush Hostel Lounge is located in an area named Kadikoy, this was most likely the best area for us to stay in for me - as a first-time visitor. My partner had been to Istanbul before, but this was our first experience together.
Kadikoy is a vibrant neighbourhood. We loved it for many reasons, my favourite being that it is such a walkable part of Istanbul. We walked just about everywhere unless we were on a ferry, bus, train or tram. When I say we walked - I mean, we WALKED! Day and night, afternoon and evening, sunrise to sunset, my partner and I were on our feet, feeling out the city. Just the way we like it. Kadikoy was a very welcoming neighbourhood in most parts. The café scene is huge, and there is plenty of choice and variety when you want to head out for Turkish Coffee, Baklava or Simit.
Hush Hostel Lounge is pretty easy to find, just add it to your Google Maps and away you go. Getting our bearings on foot was much easier than I had expected, noticing all the alleyways, roads and streets, that seemed to create a maze of adventure in the neighbourhood. Nay, after just two days, we were associated with it all and learnt how to navigate our way around. Especially to our favourite place - The Harbor! I recall my partner telling me, while we were in Tanzania, that I would love the ferries in Istanbul. I listened but I didn’t take him that seriously. I am now eating my own words (side-eye), as taking the Ferry in Istanbul has to be one of my favourite things to do (sorry hun). Once you have your Istanbul Card (easily available at the machines at the dock) you’re good to go exploring various parts of Istanbul, via bus, train, tram or ferry. Of which we did them all.
If you are a full-time traveller, a slow traveller, or a digital nomad, then I would highly suggest staying in the Kadikoy area. Oh and don’t forget to sign up for Couch Surfing, there is an amazing Couch Surfing group in Istanbul, which meets weekly, every Friday night. This is another reason, hostels are such great places to stay, even if you are a couple. The ability to meet people, you usually wouldn’t meet, is far greater in a shared communal space, than in an isolated space. While we do like to stay at hostels, we as a couple do tend to go for private rooms, as one would understand. We work a lot, slow travel and we also like as little noise as possible. So for both of us, this is a way to create a space we like being in, while also having our private solace.
The Accommodation:
The Accommodation at Hush Hostel Lounge is split into various options. So whether you are a solo traveller, group or couple, you’ll find the best room option for your needs, at Hush Hostel Lounge. Just a warning, the main building has some pretty steep and high stairs and so I would suggest either packing light or asking for a room on the lower level. Or if you’re injured like I am, check before arrival if you can stay in the secondary building. Due to my leg disability, we stayed in the latter, there would have been no physical way I would have managed the stairs, every day, several times a day, for our long stay period, so we moved into the second building. It was pretty perfect for us.
Our room was fitted with the following:
- A Double Bed
- Two Side Tables
- A Working Desk (and chair)
- Wifi Access
- A Clothes Hanger
- An Ensuite Bathroom (shower, sink, toilet, and towel rails which are heated and a hairdryer)
- A Heater (in our bedroom)
- A Small Balcony (looking into the courtyard - we met several kitties they were lovely)
It was just what we needed for our stay, and we still had access to the main building and all its facilities. Which included the kitchen, eating area, working area, tv lounge, coffee corner and backyard (although it was Winter and cold, so sitting outside wasn’t really an option). We would store all our food in the main kitchen fridges, and cook in the evenings on occasion.
There is Wifi access throughout the property for all the guests to use. You can also do your laundry at this hostel, which is always a win when backpacking through the world. Finding a hostel that still has its own in-house laundry is a rare gem these days. On that note, may I mention that this hostel offers single private rooms, something that one rarely finds in hostels, but that I think more should offer. Even as a solo traveller sometimes, you want you own space, but don’t need a double room.
The Café Culture:
Food, food and more food! That is the case in Istanbul, with food seemingly available on every corner, street and alleyway. Look I am not complaining, because the food in Istanbul is filled with culture, flavour and experience. We visited a few cafes in our local area, just a few streets walk away and we were blessed with an array of choices when it came to cuisine.
What ended up being one of my favourite cafes in Istanbul is the Fuj Mekan, Cafe in Kadikoy. The story behind how we found them, is actually a great example of how slow travel and mindset play a big role in what you get to experience when you travel. My partner and I had been talking for a while about how we would have loved to find a nice cafe, where music was played in the evening. I literally said to him “Just somewhere where someone is sitting on a guitar or something”. That evening we walked down a road we had walked down, so many times before. We went to have dinner, and on our way back, we heard music coming from a cafe. Inside there was a man playing the guitar, and oh what a sweet sound was being played.
We smiled at each other and went inside for a coffee. We sat and listened to the music for a while before my partner said to me “ I wonder if they will let me play with them?” I looked at him and told him to go introduce himself and ask. And thus, that is exactly what he did, and they were so welcoming and ended up playing several songs with him, that evening. It made me smile. I love it when my partner makes music, and being able to do so in an environment where there is openness and soul is truly something special in today’s world of constant competition.
We ended up heading back to the Cafe several days later, to do some work and have more of that delicious coffee (try the iced coffee!). The Fuj Mekan Cafe has alternative milk options, so those who do not drink dairy or are vegan and or plant-based like us can enjoy a good coffee. I personally loved the architectural atmosphere of the space. The texture of the walls, the ceiling which looked like it had come from a different era, and the retro gadgets laid throughout the space. Bread cutter anyone?
Things To Know:
In conclusion, I would highlight the following travel tips for your time in Istanbul and stay at Hush Hostel Lounge.
- We traveled during the cooler season, always carry a lightweight jacket or windbreaker with you. If you are using the ferries, during the day or evening, I highly suggest you sit outside on the decks for the views and experience, but you will need a windbreaker or jacket, as the wind coming off the sea can be quite cold. During the evenings the temperature drops quite a bit, if you are out all day, you will need something warm for the evenings.
- Carry cash. We found it easier to pay for things, in cash. There are ATMs all over the city and main hotspots, but it’s easier to manage your money and buy things as you go when carrying cash. The currency is pretty easy to understand and we found that using cash gave us more freedom to move around and pay for things. ie, topping up our Istanbul Card, buying a Simit on the road, and stopping for a Turkish coffee when the craving called - it called me a lot.
- Google Translate and Maps, these two tools really are your friend in Istanbul. The city is pretty easy to navigate but many signs and descriptions are not in English and not everyone speaks English. It’s a good idea to learn a few phrases before arriving and to ask locals who do speak English and Turkish to teach you a few phrases. We are big believers that we should all try and learn a bit more about each other cultures, and so do not expect or even want people to “speak English” just because of us. It is our responsibility to learn local languages as we travel. On the occasion we couldn’t figure something out, Google Translate and Maps really helped us.
- Pack your walking shoes. Leave the high heels at home, and pack your best walking shoes. Kadikoy specifically is beautifully laid out in a way that means, you can basically walk everywhere. We choose to walk, where ever we can, when we can, and so this is how we moved around Kadikoy and Istanbul for almost a month. We never took any private taxis, using only public transportation like the ferries, buses, trains and tram lines. Our feet got us from A-B most of the time and we highly suggest packing and wearing comfortable shoes. Might I add that we felt perfectly safe, walking at night in Kadikoy, something I highly appreciated coming from a country where walking around in the evenings, isn’t exactly advised.
I hope you enjoyed our experience at Hush Hostel Lounge. Let us know if you visit and don’t forget to share and tag us if you enjoyed the read. You can find me on Instagram and Twitter by clicking the highlighted links or the find hashtag, #TravelLocalwithCee. You can find the Hush Hostel Lounge link, by clicking on the highlighted links.
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*ALL Images by Cecilia Martens / Ceeces Travel and Lifestyle Photography*
