Sumahan on the Water

Great location "on the water", great rooms and bathrooms, nice staff...and rather difficult to find (not much is indicated from the street, and it is really far from the center). Of course you pay for this paradise, about $220, but it is a night you will remember. Breakfast could be improved, it's not bad but not to the level. The sister restaurant that is attached is a tourist trap, overcooked fish and poor service for a terrible price. Avoid!

Sumahan on the Water is a very different Istanbul experience. It's location on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus provides fantastic panoramic views of the city and a serene retreat from the hectic pace of the European side. The Butlers have lovingly restored this former ruki distillery into a simple, but elegent masterpiece! Your first waterside breakfast , traditonal Turkish with a slightly "new world" touch, watching the ships pass by, will confirm Sumahan is a truly a different experience. The staff was very friendly (most... more

What a terrific property, from the minute we walked in everything was perfect! The hotel staff was very friendly and helpful, providing assistance in connecting our laptop to the hotel's wireless service, making dinner reservations and providing directions to anywhere in the city; always with a very warm and genuine attitude. The entire property is beautiful, including the rooms which all have wonderful views of the Bosphorus. Breakfast on the patio was a great way to start any day and the property's boat was very convenient when we went... more

We just returned from a week-end break in Istanbul and we very much enjoyed our stay in this historic city. However, we would have prefered a hotel more centrally located, since the traffic across the bridge that takes you to the European side was painfully slow and the number of attractions around the hotel were very limited. The atmosphere, service and food were great, especially the seafood restaurant, and we particularly apreciated the understated boutique decor and ship that took us for free across the famous Bosphorus. One thing to... more

What a pleasant surprise! The hotel is stunning and has what we thought was the best location in the entire city given its position directly on the Bosphorus on the quieter Asian side. Sure you need a taxi to see the sights, but we were thrilled to come back to a civilized oasis of calm at the end of the day. We spent 2 nights in a duplex suite which was very comfortable and attractively furnished in a modern style. The Bosphorus views from our room were absolutely spectacular and staff could not have been more helpful, especially... more

The modern decor and fantastic views of the Bosphoros are the hotel's best assets. If you are looking for a peaceful retreat at the end of the day and don't intend on traveling to the European side of the city, this is the perfect hotel for you. All rooms face the Bosphoros and beds are positioned towards the window which is a lovely site to wake up to. If you are a tourist, or intend on spending a lot of time on the European side I do not recommend this hotel. We found the transportation to and from the hotel accounted for atleast 1... more

We picked this hotel by looking at the website and reading an article in a magazine. Why not, right? And there were some great things about it - with one slight drawback that can also be seen as an advantage. It's great that the hotel is out of the way & you can really relax, but transportation to a from the main part of the city can be difficult. It is true that the hotel has a boat - but the schedule is limited and it doesn't really get you near where you want to be. We figured out how to take the commuter ferry from the town near by... more

The Sumahan is THE place to stay in Istanbul. Fabulous setting right on the Bosphorus and well removed from the tour-bus crowd. The Butlers, hugely talented and savvy architects, have done a stunning job creating a world class 18 room inn that offers access to everything you'd want to do or see in Istanbul (reached by private launch) while allowing you the fantasy that you're living on the Bosphorus. Sunset views from your room as well as steps away from Kordun, hand down the best restaurant in Istanbul. We consider ourselves beyond... more

Sumahan on the water is an intimate hotel of the highest quality in an outstanding position. Owned and run by an architect couple - one Turkish, one American - the renovation and extension of this historic waterside building is simple, warm and supremely tasteful. The staff are friendly and eager to please, and the hotel is full of little decorative and operational touches that enhance the special experience. We stayed in a two-storey suite, with ground-floor living room complete with wood-burning fireplace, and a sleeping mezzanine with... more

I made so much research to find the best place to stay in Istanbul to take my partner for our anniversary. And Sumahan is THE place to stay in Istanbul. We stayed in a suit looking to Bosphorous. It was like living on the Bosphorous! Take either the suits or the single rooms in which the beds looks over the water. The breakfast is very good. And for dinners there is an amazing fish restaurant under the hotel. The hotel has it's own boat so passing to European side of Istanbul wasn't a problem at all. I will not stay... more