Orhaniye Street No 14, Sirkeci, Istanbul, Turkey | (618) 248-8274
Attractive Ottoman-style facade and interiors
Walking distance from historical city center
Two minutes' walk from Sirkeci train terminal
Rooftop terrace with views over the Bospherus
Free daily rooftop meze and drinks at sunset
In-room amenities including pillow menu and free
minibar
Free access to swimming pool, whirlpool, and traditional
hammam
Free reliable Wi-Fi throughout
Most bathrooms
are on small side
Some rooms prone to a
little traffic noise
The Neorion Hotel
is an upscale, boutique-size property with a prime location within minutes' walk of
Istanbul's historical center. Although relatively new, the building features
traditional Ottoman styling inside and out, including in the decor of its 53
guest rooms. While the spa is impressive for the level of hotel, its the rooftop
terrace that really wows with superb views accompanied by free drinks and
meze at dusk. Prices are fair for the category (the comparable Hotel Sultania nearby has similar rates), and super-friendly staff and general charm ensures the Neorion remains one of the
most popular choices around.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Attractive Ottoman revivalist facade and super-attentive staff
Although opened
as recently as 2011, the Neorion Hotel is a veritable celebration of the region's
rich historical legacy. It is named after the great Byzantium
port, and its facade is a striking and attractive piece of Ottoman revivalism
complete with arched windows, latticework, and arabesque paneling. After stepping
through the charming carved wooden entrance, the hotel's lobby continues the
theme with a colorful stained glass ceiling and an exhibit of over 100 replicas of pieces from
Anatolian civilizations. Despite the museum-like displays, the space is warm
and welcoming with particularly friendly staff and plenty of comfy,
velvet-upholstered seating. A single elevator ferries guests to one of five
floors, or to the hotel's superb rooftop terraces with panoramic views over the
Bosphorus and beyond.
Location
On quiet side street five minutes' walk from the city's historical center
The hotel is set
on a relatively quiet side street in the neighborhood of Sirkeci, within easy walking distance of plenty of
restaurants and cafes on cobblestone streets. It's just north of the historical center of the city, Sultanahmet, home to most of the Istanbul's main attractions: the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace (all under a 15-minute walk). It's south of the Golden Horn and a 20-minute walk to Galata Bridge; the famous, bustling Grand Bazaar is also a 20-minute walk. Just a couple minutes away on foot is Sirkeci train terminal which
connects to Ataturk International Airport in about an hour (with an
interchange), or its 45 minutes by taxi.
Rooms
Traditional decor with a Turkish feel and a good choice of amenities
The hotel has
just 53 rooms in all, each decorated with large Orientalist artworks above the
bed, surrounded by wood paneling. Rooms also have polished wooden floors, patterned wallpaper,
and homey furnishings. White flat-screen TVs provide an interesting contrast to
the largely traditional styling while other amenities include free Wi-Fi, minibars with free soft drinks, and tea/coffee facilities. Beds are topped with crisp white linens while a pillow menu is also available. Bathrooms are clean and well-maintained,
if a little small, though robes and slippers come as standard. Top floor rooms
are also more spacious and feature some excellent city views, though most just overlook
neighboring buildings and some traffic noise can be heard during the day. Family Rooms accommodating two adults and two children (or three adults and one child) are available, as are larger Family Connected Rooms with a separate living room with sofa bed.
Features
Sunset rooftop meze and traditional hammam
A lobby-side
breakfast and dining area serves a morning buffet of largely Turkish dishes
including cheeses, eggs, olives and fresh bread. During the day a lunch menu is
on offer, while evenings can be spent on the roof terrace where the hotel
serves free meze and drinks daily accompanied by lovely cityscape views and
sunsets. Also available to guests is a swimming pool -- just long enough for a
few strokes -- whirlpool tub, and traditional hammam steam bath (facilities are free to use, unlike at Hotel Sultania); a
range of massage treatments are also available. Wi-Fi is also available free of charge and seems
reliable.
