Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At Sultanahmet
Hotel · Sultan Ahmet ·
Former prison turned luxury hotel near Hagia Sophia
Former prison turned luxury hotel near Hagia Sophia
"Overlooking the Hagia Sophia, Süreyya Teras offers a calmer vantage point away from the bustle of Sultanahmet, serving a range of traditional Turkish mezze and refreshments prepared by their mixologists; I was also encouraged to ask staff about the ruins below the terrace, as they’re happy to chat about the history of the Byzantine library next to the mosque." - Amelia Dhuga, Robert McKelvey
"A luxury hotel known for staging an annual holiday market and special holiday dinners in December; visitors looking to warm up can also enjoy traditional Turkish steam-bath experiences at luxury hammams in top hotels." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"For a historic stay The Four Seasons has not one but two palatial properties in Istanbul, on either side of the Golden Horn. Take your pick—both are glorious, their settings knock-out. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus, created out of an Ottoman Palace, does breezy waterside glam to a T, and in summer, it’s hard to imagine a lovelier place to be than its terrace, all red and white striped cabanas between the blues of pool and sea. Over in Istanbul’s ancient heart, Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet has a weightier romance about it. The historic building was once a prison which housed the dissident literati in the Ottoman era; now highly polished and deeply luxurious, its arresting facade painted a happy yellow, it’s hard to imagine ever wanting to escape. Modern Anatolian dishes are beautifully presented in the jasmine-scented courtyard garden. Rooms are generous; kilims, neoclassical furniture, and woven Turkish textiles replace the usual 4S creamy-classic palette. Its neighbors are the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Hagia Sophia, whose minarets and domes tower over the hotel as though keeping a saintly eye on the incumbents."
"Staying in the Old City, I found the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet to occupy a historic three-story property with a welcoming neoclassical façade that belies its past as a prison for much of the 20th century; its terraced suites are adorned with Ottoman and contemporary Turkish motifs, offering spectacular views of either the tranquil, meticulously landscaped gardens backed by the Marmara Sea or an unfettered vantage of the iconic Hagia Sophia, all enhanced by world-class dining and peerless hospitality. Readers gave it a score of 99.12, making it the top hotel in Istanbul in this year's World's Best Awards." - Brad Japhe Brad Japhe Brad Japhe is a journalist specializing in food, beverage, and travel. He also hosts online video content as an expert in those fields. He’s reported from all 50 states and has visited all seven continents. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Recently undergoing a top-to-bottom refurbishment that preserved its historic neoclassical architecture, this regal hotel in Istanbul’s Old City redesigned its 65 rooms and suites and displays Turkish contemporary and Ottoman-period art alongside handwoven Turkish Kilim textiles throughout the property. A pastry shop in the lobby offers sweet Turkish delicacies and an exquisite afternoon tea service, a landscaped courtyard houses the new restaurant Avlu, and the newly constructed Kurna Spa—with regular treatment rooms and two hammam rooms—creates a true oasis amid the neighborhood’s bustle; as one reader put it, the hotel is simply “perfect.”" - Devorah Lev-Tov Devorah Lev-Tov Devorah Lev-Tov has been a travel, food, and drinks journalist for more than a decade, with bylines in publications like The New York Times, Vogue, and Bon Appétit, in addition to Travel + Leisure. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines