We review The Bank Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey: a heritage stay that promises all the creature comforts (and then some)
Historic style awaits.
Historic style awaits.
If you’re looking to settle in to a slice of history in the Turkish capital, then we know where to go. Offering epic views of the city, one of the best restaurants in town, and exceptional service, find out why we adored our time at The Bank Hotel in Istanbul’s Karaköy neighbourhood.
While this stay was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own.
The Bank Hotel is impressive even before you learn about its past. Standing majestically over a street in Karaköy – one of Istanbul’s coolest neighbourhoods, the original Neo-Renaissance exterior tells you exactly what the hotel used to be.
And the building is brimming with history: known as the Sümerbank Building, it was built in 1867 and created by Italian Architect Antoine Tedeschi to be a bank for the likes of Crédit Général Ottoman and Deutsche Bank. Luckily for us, it was later turned into a hotel and restored by architect Han Tümertekin, with its marble, high-ceilinged interiors scattered with nods to its heritage, such as old-fashioned calculators, and telephones, offset by all the modern amenities we know and love.
Rooms at The Bank are akin to entering your own miniature palace. Our Deluxe King room had impossibly high ceilings decorated with intricate patterns, parquet floors, and large windows overlooking the street below – but don’t worry about nosy neighbours, as the curtains are remote controlled.
The king-sized bed was as soft as a cloud, with huge pillows and optional goose feather duvet on request. There’s also a comfy sofa, and a large desk that hides a glass cabinet of tasty snacks. Not forgetting the Carrara marble bathroom with a rain shower, L’Occitane toiletries, and fluffy robes. The interiors, by Sinan Kafadar, are all executed in soft browns, whites, and greens, with photos from the building’s heyday bringing it all together along with modern lighting.
To elevate your stay further, there are even bigger Executive Suites with a unique blue colour scheme offering the addition of a cosy fireplace and living room, while Duplex Suites cover two floors and feature a kitchenette and Brazilian marble bathroom.
You can enjoy three meals a day at The Bank Hotel, but the spot I was most excited about was the rooftop bar (main image), regularly listed as one of the best in Istanbul. Disappointed we were not, thanks to the incredible sunset views over the Bosphorus and the minarets in Sultanahmet in the distance. The bar is a small but stunning space with comfy outdoor furniture facing the water and a long, long list of wines and cocktails.
Just downstairs, Serica Restaurant enjoys the same stellar views from behind floor-to-ceiling windows and has an incredible menu created by Chef Yiğit Alicioğlu. Inspired by the textures, colours and tastes of every ingredient, it’s a journey across Turkey from the Aegean to the Black Sea, with dishes such as tabbouleh tartar, lamb shoulder with apricot puree, and–our favourite– mushroom couscous with fresh thyme. We suggest opting for the tasting menu if you can’t decide.
Finally, the Lobby Restaurant serves an extensive buffet breakfast each morning paired with eggs or pancakes to order, along with drinks from the bar all day and evening, occasionally accompanied by a live pianist.
No trip to Istanbul would be complete without a trip to a hammam, and The Bank Hotel has its very own white marble hammam in the downstairs spa, which also hides a fitness centre, sauna and steam rooms, plus treatment rooms for massages, wraps, and facials.
Staff are on hand at the drop of a hat and ready to point you in the direction of Karakoy’s many buzzing restaurants, shops, and galleries and the location simply doesn’t get better, just a few hundred metres from the waterfront and the Galata Tower, or you can hop on the tram and be in trendy Taksim or the mosques of Sultanahmet in no time.
Learn more about The Bank Hotel or Book through Booking.com
But wait, there’s more…
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