Two weeks ago we flew from London to Mumbai to spend the Diwali holidays with my parents in law. On the way there, we had the chance to stop over in Istanbul for a couple of days, a chance I took up immediately! Our visit was short but nonetheless special, as we had a wonderful stay at a stylish boutique hotel in the city’s district of Beyoglu: Georges Hotel.
Georges Hotel is located in a heritage building in the heart of Istanbul’s chic cultural centre, minutes away from Galata Tower and the lively Istiklal Street and a short walk to Taksim Square. The entrance to the hotel is hidden away on a narrow street surrounded by shops and bars, so that it could easily go unnoticed. Luckily we arrived by taxi from the airport, so we didn’t have to carry our heavy luggage up and down the hilly streets of Galata.
The bathroom is separated from the bedroom by a glass panel with dark venetian blinds. The wardrobe is part of the open space, made with a steel pole hanging from the ceiling.
The view ranges from the nearby Galata Tower to the historical peninsula, with the city’s highlights clearly visible (Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque).
Le Fumoir is also were hotel guests can have breakfast, choosing dishes from the a la carte menu.
I had “menemen” (Turkish scrambled eggs) both mornings, they were a little bit spicy for me but I couldn’t resist them! The breads served with them was also very good, including the traditional “simit” (a circular bread encrusted with sesame seeds).
Overall is the location of the restaurant that you just can’t beat. Le Fumoir is open to any guests, so you don’t need to stay at the hotel to enjoy this space, food and view.
Georges Hotel is the perfect base to explore Istanbul: apart one tram ride, we just walked everywhere in the city. The hotel’s location is also perfect to explore the city’s best restaurants and bar near Karakoy and Istiklal street. I would definitely love to stay here again and I would recommend it to anyone. It was my first experience in a boutique hotel and I loved it!
Special thanks to Tailored Turkey for recommending Georges Hotel and arranging my stay. I will share photos of our private Istanbul City Tour soon!
Disclaimer: we stayed at Georges Hotel on a complimentary basis. All opinions are my own.
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Wow, what a great looking hotel. I need to go back to Istanbul :-)