My stay at the BankerHan Hotel Istanbul

Updated in July 2026

My hammam experience in Istanbul was something but what I loved most about this city were the amazing boutique hotels.

I walked – nearly cycled right into, to be more precise – the Banker Han Hotel looking rather scruffy, dirty and disheveled (my usual self since converting to bicycle touring really!), half worried that I was going to get the “eye” for showing up all hobo-like in this very trendy new Bankerhan hotel in Istanbul. Instead of that, the staff came right outside to welcome me and it wasn’t ten seconds before I was handed a cup of tea and offered a seat at the reception with the staff who kindly asked about my travel.

Some places are just so cool and hip and welcoming and perfect, and BankerHan Hotel in Istanbul by the Sofa is absolutely one of those hidden gems in the heart of Istanbul, the kind that makes for a genuinely comfortable stay from the first cup of tea, and that you should definitely add to your Istanbul trip itinerary.

The Bankerhan hotel recently opened its doors in May 2015 in the up-and-coming Karaköy neighborhood, right in the heart of Galata and a short walk from the Galata Bridge, several Istanbul hammams, and the old Kamondo Steps. It is the second born of the creative owners of The Sofa and is one of the most exciting mid-range boutique hotel options I have stayed at.

The hotel offers a mix of urban cool modern design, luxury and playfulness and caters to a crowd of trendy and young design aficionados, as well as couples, single and business travellers and families alike. The refurbished building is located on a quiet side street not far from the historical landmark Galata Tower and was once abandoned and used as an underground graffiti and street art exhibition center. This historic building sits in the vibrant Galata area, in the immediate vicinity of an abundance of cosy sidewalk cafes and just a short walk from SALT Galata and the Pera Museum, part of what makes this whole corner of the Beyoğlu borough such a lively commercial district. Much of the underground vibe remains today, albeit a much more polished and cozy version of it: the décor is tasteful with exposed brick walls, concrete columns, natural stones and wood floor and there is a resident local artist presenting original artwork in the Café and Lounge areas. The first glance into the hotel exudes hip coolness to no end and is right up my street, a genuine unique blend of old-world charm and today’s modern-day comforts.

My room at Bankerhan hotel was located on the top floor and was quirky, comfortable and offered the best view I have seen of Istanbul so far, looking over the Bosphorus Strait and the Old Town. It’s this excellent location, central and convenient at once, that made the hotel’s location the highlight of my whole stay: lovely sea views, a great view over the rooftops, and a genuinely comfortable stay to come back to after a full day out walking. The sunset was breathtaking and there was even a chair conveniently placed right by the window to linger and daydream over this wonderful cityscape.

My room was surprisingly large and had a super comfy bed with scrumptious white linens, fluffy pillows, modern furnishings and tasteful decoration – I loved the photograph of the projected Iznik tile pattern on a naked body on the wall, gorgeous.

All in all, it was a super sleek room with a lot of charm and warmth, wooden floors and modern furnishing. As you’d expect from a recently opened hotel, everything was new, crisp and clean. The quirky bathroom had only glass walls, but it is located behind the bed with a small separating wall, so none-exhibitionists fear not – and voyeurs rejoice! I kid. But peeping Tom jokes aside, the rain shower was absolutely heavenly.

The room next to mine had a huge outdoor balcony and other rooms are a little smaller and more like little lofts, with Japanese style beds low on the floor. Some bathrooms are also fully closed if you’d rather that. There are a total of 36 rooms of all shapes and size at Banker Han for all budgets, all with the same sleek and hip elegance. Other amenities included electric blinds, USB ports by the light switch, big TV, room safe and fridge. I was welcomed with water, fruits and nuts on my desk, which was lovely.

The complimentary buffet breakfast is simple but varied, filling and most importantly vegan-friendly, with a great selection of bread, jam, fruits, nuts, vegetables and free-flowing tea and coffee. It is served in the lounge area which opens onto the street and is conducive to meeting the cool crowd that visits Banker Han while lingering a while over a few extra cups of tea, watching life slowly go past the window and admiring the graffiti across the street. I haven’t tasted the restaurant’s menu for other things than breakfast, but the lounge area was a lovely place for me to hang out and do a little bit of work and I was surprised with a complimentary cup of tea by the lovely staff on a few occasions.

Which leads me to my next point – the staff at Banker Han was literally the sweetest I have ever met. I was made to feel like home from the moment I stepped in and it felt more like staying at a friend’s gigantic home rather than another factory-made hotel. The manager Sandra is truly a gem and she gave me great recommendations on what to see and do around town – and, echoing with the hotel’s underground vibes, her recommendations were spot on and off the beaten path.

I didn’t want to leave! Istanbul is an exciting city to explore and Banker Han is such a wonderful mid-range option that you’d wonder why bother paying extra money for any other type of accommodation. The Wi-Fi was at time a little patchy in my room the sixth floor, but it worked at charm in the lounge, and that is where I did most of my work, so it wasn’t a problem for me. As an added bonus, pets are also allowed, but unfortunately there was no puppy in sight during my visit. There’s always next time!

Karaköy and Galata turned out to be a great home base for exploring the rest of the city too, an easy tram ride from Sultanahmet’s Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace, and an easy walk up into Beyoğlu toward Taksim Square. If you’re still figuring out where to stay for your own trip, I’ve broken down the whole neighborhood question, Sultanahmet versus Karaköy versus Galata versus Taksim, in my Istanbul trip itinerary guide.

Many thanks to BankerHan hotel Istanbul for their hos­pi­tal­ity. As always, all opin­ions are my own regard­less of who is foot­ing the bill.

Amélie

Amélie is a health and wellness junky. Certified yoga instructor with Yoga Alliance in the Vinyasa and Ashtanga styles, she has a Yoga Instructor Certification – Level I (300 hours) and Yoga Instructor Certification – Level II (200 hours) under her belt. She also has a certified Open Water Diver certification with PADI and SSI Scuba Schools International Freediving Level I certification with SSI Scuba Schools International. She’s been vegan for over 15 years and is obsessed with anything wellness-related.