Istanbul hotel advice from an insider

Although Context doesn’t book hotels we field questions every day from our clients about places to stay in each city where we operate. I sat down with Claire Karaz, an art historian and docent in Istanbul, the other day and asked her to recommend a couple of hotels in the city for our clients, across price ranges, and in strategic locations. Here’s what she came up with (sprinkled with a few observations and first hand experiences from some of our clients):

The Celal Sultan Hotel is tucked away on a side street two blocks from the Hagia Sofia in an area of cafes and restaurants. Rooms are surprisingly large and warmly decorated. I’m used to hostels and shabby Orbitz specials. So, this one’s a treat for me, personally.

The Erguvan is also a “boutique” hotel, though a little less warm and inviting than the Celal Sultan. Still, it’s also located in Sultanahmet (which is the historic center of Istanbul, near Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sofia, and the Blue Mosque) and relatively inexpensive.

The Pierre Loti Hotel is a fine large hotel with all the things you expect from a larger place (business center, internet, etc.) located just up Divan Yolu Street. One of my favorite places is the Aya Sofia Pensions, which occupies a series of 19th century Ottoman houses in the shadow of the Hagia Sofia. The floors creak, the rooms are small, and the internet doesn’t work. But for about €90 (that’s right, they charge in Euros) you get the best view of the church and wonderful old Istanbul ambience.

One of the best budget-minded hotels in the area is the Hotel Nomade, which has 16 rooms for about €90 all nicely appointed and clean, and great views of the Bosphorus.

The Four Seasons has two properties in the city: the well-known main hotel in Sultanahmet where rooms run about €400 per night and the new Four Seasons Bosphorus in Besiktas, which definitely has a compound-like feel. But we recently met some clients who were staying here and it’s one of the nicer places we’ve been.

In Taksim, we’re crazy about Lush, which is a very cool boutique hotel with rooms in the €120 range for a double. Claire, who lives on the Asian side and feels that too few visitors ever venture over (we agree) also names Sumahan in Cengelkoy, which is a just a short boat ride from Eminonu. It looks AMAZING and is on our list to visit as soon as possible.

Posted by Paul Bennett
Paul Bennett is the founder and director of Context. He also writes freelance for a variety of magazines, including National Geographic and Smithsonian.
February 10th, 2009 under Accommodation, Context Travel, Istanbul.
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7 Comments »

  1. For lodging in Istanbul, I love The House Apart, part of the rapidly expanding House Cafe’ empire. House Cafe started as a single trendy cafe in Nişantaşı based in (you guessed it) a house and today has grown into quite a numerous collection of (still trendy) House Cafes across the city. Enter The House Apart, a handful of cute IKEA furnished apartments that offer a home away from home and a little peace and quite in one of the world’s most populated cities.

    Comment by Katie — February 11, 2009 @ 12:08 am

  2. very valuable advice. we always love insider information.

    Comment by rich whitaker — February 11, 2009 @ 11:54 am

  3. I think the Pierre Loti Hotel is an ideal place to stay because it has good location to get the business and historical scenic spots.

    Comment by Beijinger — February 16, 2009 @ 3:44 am

  4. Very helpful. I’m planning a late summer jaunt to istanbul and will definitely be checking out some of these recommendations. I love the Lush Hotel website - so cool!

    Comment by Megan — May 12, 2009 @ 4:54 am

  5. I have stayed at the KYbele HOtel 4 times over the last 19 years, the first trip being in 1990! I only go about every 5 years as I live in Oregon. Have you heard of it? It’s a small boutique hotel owned by three brothers. it’s in the Sultanhamet in a great location and is filled with delightful antique lamps.

    Comment by Joan Becich — October 8, 2009 @ 7:44 pm

  6. Joan, Thanks for the tip. I’m organizing my next trip (November) and need to check out a new place. This is it!

    Comment by Paul Bennett — October 8, 2009 @ 7:59 pm

  7. In September 2009 we stayed at the Four Seasons on the Bosphorus. The visual beauty of the gardens against the Bosphorus is beyond description. It is breathtaking. The food is extraordinary. If you want a real treat, stay here. You will not want to leave. My only advice is that when reserving a room ask for one closer to the Bosphorus and away from the street. The road is rather busy and the noise can be heard from the rooms closest to the street.

    Comment by Gina — February 8, 2010 @ 6:30 pm

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