Boutique design hotels in Istanbul are few and far between however there are a couple leading the way. The Sofa is one such hotel, located in the hip Nisantasi district it’s ideal for those who want a gentle introduction to the magnificent mayhem and madness that the city centre offers. The hotel counts Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hermes and Prada as its neighbours, in fact you’ll even find a Topman up the road. There are stylish bars serving champagne cocktails, cafes for smoked salmon brunches and international restaurants known for their pizzas – yes there is no danger of hearing the words “good price” here, nor will you find any grand bazaars or knock off bags.
The Sofa blends in perfectly with its surrounds, designed by renowned Turkish architect Sinan Kafadarbut the 82 room hotel has Art at its centre with one off pieces on display throughout. The lobby is huge and inviting, Cafe Sofa the informal dining space is located just off it and here is where you will find a huge buffet breakfast. There’s even a little bookshop; Patika which sells hard to find collectors books.
Downstairs you’ll find the uber sexy, sensual Sanitas spa with pool, sauna, steam room, Turkish bath and gym in case you want to work up a sweat. Upstairs are the rooms and suites, ours was a Deluxe double and funny enough it had its very own sofa, all mod cons, rainshower, personalised stationary and a magic button which we could press anytime, night or day to request pretty much anything we wanted as long as it’s legal. Those who do want to move it up a notch should check out Umar’s Suite with a round bed, indoor and outdoor jacuzzi and steam bath on the Terrace
Whilst Art maybe at the heart of the hotel’s decor, we soon found out the real heart of the hotel was actually up on the roof at the rooftop restaurant Frankie (that’s the name of the restaurant, not an actual person) with it’s views over the Istanbul skyline. The restaurant is popular amongst the local crowd with DJ’s, acoustic performances and a decent cocktail list to attract the fashionistas from below. The fine dining Mediterranean menu is influenced by local flavours, we didn’t try the food instead opting for a chicken shish kebab from a market restaurant downtown, well you’ve got keep it real sometimes.
Tesvikiye Caddesi No:41-41A
34367 Nisantasi Istanbul Turkey
www.thesofahotel.com
