I stayed four nights at the Richmond. Overall an OK hotel if you want to be in the heart of Beyoglu/Galata and in the middle of all the action on Istiklal Cadessi, with plenty of restaurants, cafes and baklava shops around. Service by front desk staff is excellent, I was welcomed by name and assisted to my room, helped with wifi, etc. Loved the complimentary nuts and fruit in my room with a hand-written note addressed to me personally. The standard room is fine, more like three-stars, only the bathroom stands out for being luxuriously appointed (bathrobes, lots of towels, toiletries, full rainfall shower, good lighting, etc) and the bedding was nice. But the feeling in the room was extremely dull. There's nothing on the walls (neither in the corridors) so nothing to hint that you might be in Istanbul. The view overlooking the roofs of Istiklal was unremarkable, so I recommend asking for a Bospherous facing room. Walls are thin, so you can clearly hear what other rooms are watching on television. Breakfast is Ok with enough variety and some changes but if you're looking for pastry or fresh juices you'll be disappointed. The breakfast room is beautifully designed but in the basement so no views of any kind. Meanwhile the seventh floor has a large space with sweeping views of the city, but it's closed off maybe for special events. A shame and a lost opportunity, it would be perfect as a bar. In the end, the location was excellent for me but it felt like a bland business hotel.