Sumahan, a five star boutique hotel, sits on the very edge of the Bosphorus Straits which separate Europe from Asia and link the cold waters of the Black Sea to the warm waters of the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean beyond.
The Bosphorus feeds the heart and spirit of the city.
It was built in the mid-nineteenth century to produce "suma" the unadulterated spirit used to make "raki", the Ottomans favourite tipple.
Where today a motorised launch ferries hotel guests to and from downtown, barges laden with figs would arrive to keep the stills of the Sumahan busy.
It is a rare Bosphorus-front property that has remained in the hands of the original family.
Turkish-American owner-architects Nedret and Mark Butler have transformed an unlikely family heirloom - a derelict late Ottoman alcohol factory, into a design hotel and a special retreat for visitors to the modern city.
Its aim is to provide the highest degree of service to the independent traveller in the intimacy of a family-owned hotel.
Status in Istanbul has long been determined not by the horsepower of your car but the magnificence of your living room view.
Every bedroom in the luxury hotel offers an ever-changing seascape of fisherman and ferryboats and ships gliding through the night; it’s a view of myth and of history.
Odysseus, Jason and his Argonauts all passed in front of the Sumahan as did Soviet submarines.
In a list that includes Topkapi Palace and the Maiden’s Tower, the Guardian newspaper cites Sumahan as the only hotel among Istanbul’s five best waterside views.
The busy city of Istanbul is there on display - on a clear day, close enough to touch - but guests of Sumahan Hotel enjoy this panorama from the elegant, comfortable and quiet privacy of a secluded waterfront.
The romantic Sumahan Hotel is just outside Cengelkoy, a part of the city that still preserves its air of an authentic Bosphorus neighbourhood; it is a village of wooden houses, fish restaurants and seaside promenades.
The Bosphorus-front mansions nearby are among the stately homes of Turkey, and include the residence of Abdullah Pasa, the son of a Cengelkoy boatman who went on to become the Grand Vezir.
Cengelkoy was famous for its fruit orchards and market gardens and had a royal palace where the last Ottoman Sultan was raised.
The properties of light and water, different at every time of day and in every season provide the instant attraction of staying at Sumahan Hotel in Istanbul.
There is a choice of accommodation from a total of 13 unique
suites and rooms, each with its own personality, with fireplaces and magnificent views.
The twin level loft suites have their own Bosphorus-side garden.
Waterfront is a casual-chic restaurant that starts the day off with a rich open breakfast buffet between 07.30h - 10.30h followed by an all-day Turkish and International cuisine a la carte menu.
The waterfront terrace is a perfect place for winding down with
an afternoon tea, sunset drinks or celebrating a special event.
Small groups can also enjoy specially crafted menus that cater to their needs for brunch, lunch or dinner.
Turkish and International
The Turkish Hamam within Sumahan Hotel in Istanbul is a deeply aesthetic way of keeping clean. Historically, it was at the center of Turkish culture and at Sumahan the hotel's team have tried to capture the spirit and architecture of this ritual.
It depends as much on the quality of light seeping through the domed ceiling, the echo of running water, the application of warmth and cool, the smooth feel of marble, as it does on soap.
First you wrap your body in a soft pestemal (towel) and adorn your feet with wooden takunya (slippers).
Your next step is into the hamam itself where you are enveloped by the heat of the hararet (warmth) under a traditional dome that bathes the Marmara marble floor in warm light.
A raised marble platform, gobek taşı (raised marble platform), centers the room where you can choose to wash yourself from one of the carved kurnas (basins) with an ornate copper tas (bowl).
However, the ultimate indulgence is to enlist the services of a specially trained masseur or masseuse.
She will suds and exfoliate your whole body with kese, a traditional rough cloth mitt.
Following this deep-scrubbing and thorough washing, you will be treated to a professional foam massage, the kind that loosens your muscles as the hot waters continue running and steam rising.
Now you are ready for sogukluk, the cooling-off section where you can lounge on a large divan listening to the soothing sound of the marble fountain while you sip your cool water with fresh mint leaves and enjoy healthy bites and refreshed by lavender cologne.
Never was taking a bath so warm, so luxurious, so relaxing or so much fun.
Surrounded by the lavender, orange, mint, bergamot and rose aromas of essential oils in a dedicated room lit by candles and set to relaxing music, guests may select from a variety of specialized treatments such as Swedish and Deep Tissue Massage, Reflexology, Aromateraphy, Cellulite Treatment or Bali Massage.
One of the most popular massages. It is applied with different natural aroma essences and oils. Depending on how you wish to feel after the treatment, the therapists offer five different kinds of oils.
With the relaxing and rejuvenating effects of scents personalised for each guest, a Bali massage promotes both physiological and psychological well-being. If you want to spoil yourself, this is one of the best ways to do it.
Body scrub and foam massage, face mask and localized massage.
This intensive, targeted treatment oxygenates and remineralizes the skin in order to specifically reduce the appearance of cellulite and redefine the contours of the body.
A strong total body massage to relieve body tensions resulting from sports and busy working days.
For those who wish to keep fit, the hotel's team offers a well-lit environment with state of the art equipment; two Treadmills, a Recumbent Bicycle and an Arch Trainer all with individual television monitors.
Localized massage treatments focus on certain problematic body areas such as head - neck, nape - shoulder - back, back - waist, arm and legs. This treatment is administered if a specific discomfort is identified or if recommended by a physician.
A Chinese - inspired reflexology massage, pressure is strategically applied to points on the feet to promote optimum health and well-being.
Body scrub and foam massage, body peeling, face mask and qromatherapy.
Rhythmic, soothing hand movements relieve muscle tension and promote a peaceful sense of deep relaxation. Renowned massage that uses light to medium pressure.
Sumahan’s own private hamam polishes the ritual to a level of refinement hard to find elsewhere. Upon entering the Sumahan Wellness you are greeted by a marble fountain, fresh fruit, walnuts and dried apricots.
Whether it’s for an emergency meeting or a company retreat, Istanbul’s leading business are discovering the secluded and scenic atmosphere of Sumahan’s meeting facilities as a convenient place to get ideas flowing and quietly get the job done.
Menu options, service, decorations and all organizational details are included in the service to make your dream invite.
The hotel has a capacity of 50 people in the seating area, 150 people in the standing cocktail and prolonge style in the garden area by the Bosphorus.
For the invitations to take place in this area, 13 rooms of the hotel are allocated for the use of the invitation owner.
The word guest is not a euphemism at Sumahan.
The hotel's team will press a pleated skirt, find a guide who specialises in Byzantine mosaics or arrange an experienced driver to get you through a busy schedule of meetings - and do just about anything to make your stay a pleasant one.
The hotel's team have compiled a list of local things-to-do around Sumahan on the Water, which the hotel's team thoughts you'd enjoy.
Also, check out New York Times's article and video 36 Hours in Istanbul, Asian Side to learn more about Sumahan on the Water and additional hidden gems on the Asian side of the Bosphorus.
The main landmark of the neighborhood is the 19th century imperial "Beylerbeyi Palace", however a lovely imperial mosque and several restaurants on the Bosphorus add more charm to this neighborhood.
This 19th century palace is a great example of the changing Ottoman architecture of the 19th century when the Ottomans were striving to become more European. It was built as a summer palace for Sultan Abdulaziz.
The hotel's team can arrange for private sea taxi service across the Bosphorus and private tours for the guests who are keen to explore Istanbul on water. Please check with reception to arrange sea taxi and for further private boat tour information.
Beside the Bosphorus, Sumahan hosts an ideal environment for unforgettable occasions, hosting special events such as weddings, graduation meetings and wedding anniversary.
This lovely humble fish restaurant is right on water. It serves both summer and winter, except during the month of Ramadan. Here you can try the national Turkish drink "raki" also called "lion’s milk" and have "meze".
Stop by this local restaurant that dates back to 1933 to try their delicious haricot beans.Kanaat Restaurant has many traditional dishes that are beautifully displayed at the chef’s counter- a delight to the eyes and the stomach.
It is certainly one of the most famous landmarks on the Bosphorus. Even though you cannot visit the interiors, you can stroll along the coast where most people come to fish to admire its grandiose exteriors.
Famous for its narrow, cobble stone streets lined with wooden, colorful and historical houses, this is a neighborhood where the residents know each other and collaborate on important matters such as keeping an orchard.
The guests often browse the Library while waiting in the lounge, but the hotel's team also encourages the books to be enjoyed anywhere else in the hotel -dining area, garden, or your room. Happy reading!
This customs station from the Byzantine era, lying on a small island located off of the coast of Uskudar, has been associated with many urban legends about an emperor who imprisoned his daughter in order to protect her from death as the oracle had prophesied.
This former bathhouse was converted into the lively Mimar Sinan Bazaar in 1962, and is the named after the celebrated architect Sinan who built it in 1574-83. This bazaar offers everything from vegetables and fruits to fish, clothing and antique objects.
Pikaphane is a charming and tiny store on a side street in Kuzguncuk where you can buy or fix gramophones and purchase old records.
One of the oldest neighborhoods on the Asian side of Istanbul, UskUdar, has been an important site since the Byzantine era as a main custom’s point. During the Ottoman era, it became the place where the holy pilgrimage to Mecca started.
SUMAHAN ON THE WATER - SPECIAL CLASS
Kuleli Caddesi No:43CengelkoyIstanbul Turkey