Istanbul is a wonderful but hectic city and offered me several amazing experiences.I arrived straight from Bangkok after a 40 hour commute, already frazzled by the pulse of the Big Mango. I was looking for a bit of a retreat on my first few days, a place where I could lay my head in peace while curing my jetlag. I found just that and much more at the beautiful Sumahan on the Water, a boutique hotel located on the greener, maybe less visited Anatolian side of the Bosphorus, the less harried and quieter Asian shore of Istanbul. It truly was the perfect introduction to this vibrant city.
Sumahan on the Water is an Ottoman-era alcohol distillery repurposed into a stylish, warm and intimate boutique hotel right on the waterfront – as you’d expect from the name! – in the Çengelköy neighborhood. It’s a great laid back part of the city that feels more like a small village with wooden houses, nice cafes and restaurants, organic fruit and vegetable kiosks at nearly every street corner and walkways along the water. Strolling around the village, I was handed small crunchy cucumbers to sample by vendors a few times; it is a charming area of Istanbul indeed. It may feel a little far from the old part of the city to some people, but it’s a great tradeoff for the level of quietness afforded by the neighborhood. A cute little mahogany boat on the hotel’s private launch whisks the guests across the river several times a day at a fixed schedule, so the distance is absolutely not a problem. The view from the hotel – and from all of the rooms – is simply breathtaking, affording incredible views over the Bosphorus bridge and across to the European side of Istanbul. It is especially stunning at night when the bridge lights up.
Sumahan’s industrial past is still very prominent with apparent girders throughout the hotel and a glass elevator in the lobby. My room is a great mix of the coolness of the original industrial architecture with the added romantic warmth of plush beddings and furniture, and a fireplace. It is modern and classy and I absolutely love the design. The ample windows bring lots of wonderful natural light into the room and the lounger is the perfect place to look out and daydream as you watch luxurious yachts, tourist boats and tankers glide past. The bed also faces the windows, so be sure to leave the curtains open at night to wake up to the most magical scenery. You’re even given a pair of binoculars if you feel extra nosy about what’s cracking on the water.
I stayed in the small deluxe room, but there are five other different types of accommodation to choose from, each with their own personality, most with fireplaces, but all with magnificent views. The ground floor features two-storey lofts opening onto a grassy courtyard next to the restaurant and some of them even have a bath with a Bosphorus view. Dreamy!
There are only 24 rooms at Sumahan on the Water so the service is intimate, fast and seamless, which feels great in such a large city that can sometimes feel a little impersonal. I am always a little worried about my bicycle being cumbersome when I visit smaller boutique hotels, but it was whisked away from me with a smile and safely put in storage before I could even start to express my worry. There always seems to be a member of staff at hand for any request.
The included breakfast buffet at Sumahan is served by the river (there is a lovely terrace for the warmer months) and is absolutely stunning – and conveniently vegan-friendly, giving me a first taste of one of the most food-centric countries I have been given to visit: a cornucopia of lush fresh and dried fruits, crispy and vibrant vegetables, delicious olives, nuts, simmit (a bagel-like bread) and a whole assortment of other breads with a great selection of jams. The award-winning and exciting Tapasuma restaurant is also part of the hotel.
And if this is not enough to transport you into an oasis of luxury, calm and serenity, Sumahan also has a wonderful wellness center with a Turkish Hamam and massage services. Is this Turkish delight or what?
Sumahan on the Water
Çengelköy Mh., Kuleli Cd No:43, 34684 İstanbul (directions)
Many thanks to Sumahan on the water for their hospitality. As always, all opinions are my own regardless of who is footing the bill.
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Wish I’d read your review before I booked my hotel for next week – this looks wonderful!
Ah no! Where are you staying? You will loooooove Istanbul! 🙂
[…] SPLURGE: SUMAHAN ON THE WATER […]
Love your photography- beautiful imagery 🙂 The hotel has such a cool vibe. I tend to love smaller boutique hotels… little touches like the binoculars are never overlooked by me. I love that kind of service! The massage sounds amazing too.
Yeah, this place was a big YES all around for me as well 😉
Wow–I LOVE the style of this place!! I love repurposed places, especially hotels! I will definitely be looking into Sumahan on the Water for when we visit Istanbul one day. It’s nice that there are so few rooms, as well–I like feeling a bit secluded in busy cities! Great find and thanks for sharing!
For sure, I couldn’t believe how quiet it felt. The neighborhood is absolutely charming also 🙂
Looks like an awesome place! I’ll definitely keep it in mind as I hope to travel there this year! What a cool vibe the hotel has!
Looks like a fantastic respite, perfect for unwinding after Bangkok. Thanks for the post.
Wow! I’m a massive fan of architecture and who doesn’t need some TLC once in a while? It’s a beautiful place and I really like the look and style of the place. Thanks for sharing such a unique place to stay.
You would love this place!!
What a lovely place to stay! I love it when they give me rooms with great views.
The rooms in this hotel ALL have this view, pretty cool isn’t it? 🙂
I was in Istanbul recently and the place we stayed was not even close to as amazing as this place. Now I know!
😉
What a beautiful place! I will keep this in mind for my trip to Istanbul. I’m sure I wouldn’t have found this place on my own. I love clean and modern it is but it still feels cozy and inviting. Perfect combo!
Such a beautiful hotel! That bathroom is GORGEOUS! I love that the hotel is so intimate, service is always sensational in these kind of boutiques. And I love that there is so much natural light. Thanks for the introduction to Sumahan on the Water – I’m making a note!