Witt Istanbul Suites

Rooms

Tuncel Toprak appointed Autoban - an award-winning Istanbul-based architecture, interior and product design firm - to capture his vision.

The result is 18 open, airy suites dressed in a fascinating collage of textures, including hardwood floors, marble slab, leather upholstery, faux walls laser-punched with fluid swirl designs, all bathed in natural light from 4 sets of double-doors.

Crisp white bed linens and wrought iron flourishes add definition to warm earth tones. All the furnishings are from Autoban’s own minimalist line, including the cosiest of king- or queen-sized beds with a leather-upholstered wingback-style headboard.

Another first in any hotel: Ross Lovegrove’s Istanbul bathroom series, a high style update to the traditional marble Turkish bath that includes a bouquet of showerheads raining from the ceiling of a shower roomy enough for two. You also get spoiling Molton Brown toiletries.

Categories are assigned by view and terrace space. All suites - except the King - have panoramic vistas of the bustling traffic on the Bosphorus, as well as a handful of major landmarks. The King and Queen with Panoramic Terrace and the Penthouse suites have a glorious wraparound terrace, too; do note that the Queen suite is by far the smallest room, but we'd certainly be happy here for a long weekend. Each comfortable cocoon comes complete with individually controlled air con, WiFi, flat-screen TV, and a Nespresso machine.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Enjoy breakfast in your room at no extra charge. Or head for the buffet set in the lobby from 7.30-11am each day. Choices range from Turkish standards (tomatoes and cucumbers, marinated olives, white cheeses, yoghurt with dried fruit) to more international fare including dry cereals, eggs, breads, pastries and fresh seasonal fruits.

King and King Panoramic rooms have a well-equipped marble kitchen island, with a large sink, microwave and mini-bar/fridge. Some King Rooms also have an oven with stove top. With utensils - from a cutting board to an electric kettle - and serving ware, you can prepare snacks and small meals. The mini-bar (stocked with the standards) doubles as a refrigerator roomy enough for purchases at neighbourhood markets.

You get complimentary room service; the front desk can recommend restaurants in the neighbourhood or farther afield, and make reservations or arrange to have dinner delivered to your room.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Dinner by arrangement
• Kitchenette
• Lunch by arrangement
• Microwave
• Restaurants nearby
• Room service

Activities

• Join neighbourhood artists and intellectuals at corner cafes in Cihangir; Beyoglu is the heart of modern Istanbul and home to a thriving arts scene, bars, and some of the best restaurants in the city. A 12-minute walk from Taksim Square - Istanbul’s Piccadilly Circus - where you can catch a metro to anywhere
  
• Take a taxi across Galata bridge to Sultanahmet (10-15 minutes away); home to one of the richest concentrations of ancient relics in the world, among them the Suleymaniye and Sultanahmet (or Blue) Mosques, Hagia Sophia (a 6th century Byzantine marvel) and the Topkapi Palace, you could easily spend two days there
  
• Take to the water: cruising up and down the Bosphorus on a ferry or a tourist boat is one of the best ways to see the city, and all the main docks - Karakoy, Eminonu and Kabatas - are within easy distance of the hotel
  
• Go shopping: From the haggles of the Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carshi) (10 minutes by tram) and Spice Market to the high-street stores that line the mile-long pedestrianised Ýstiklâl Caddesi, or the designer boutiques of Nistantasi, Istanbul is a shopaholic's dreamland
  
• Go party: Beyoglu is Istanbul’s club central and many of the better night spots are within walking distance. Try Nardis Jazz Club, Istanbul 360 (a cool rooftop terrace bar) or Babylon (for world music)
  
• Do the museums and galleries circuit: the Pera Museum in the nearby Tepebasi district is housed in a lovely Victorian building (once the Bristol Hotel); or Istanbul Modern (Istanbul’s answer to Tate Modern) is housed in a converted waterside warehouse at Kabatas (a five-minute walk)

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Shopping / markets
• Traditional cultures

Kids

The hotel’s residential location and kitchen facilities are convenient for families, but there are no extra beds (only baby cots) so it's best for infants or self-sufficient teens.

Family friendly accommodation:

Cots Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Set on a steep hill in quiet Cihangir - a charmingly gentrified residential neighbourhood off the tourist track - but close to the action of European Beyoglu. Once you’ve arrived, you’ll get a pocket-sized brochure with a map and detailed directions to the hotel in Turkish for taxi drivers. The nearest tram station is Tophane, a 5-minute-walk from the hotel and the nearest subway station is Taksim Square, a 12-minute-walk from the hotel.

By Air:
The nearest airport is Istanbul Airport (40km away).

From the Airport
It’s a 45-minute taxi ride from Istanbul Airport to Beyoglu, though the journey can grow rapidly during rush hour. The hotel can arrange a transfer. If you are driving, the hotel can pay for parking in a nearby car park. See Rates.

By Ferry:
The nearest ferry services (for boats across the Bosphorus) are at Karakoy (to the south) and Kabatas (to the north).

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.

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