Alemdar Mahallesi Catalcesme Sok No:21, Istanbul, Turkey | 90212 526 0019
Boutique Hotel in Istanbul's Old City walking distance to most attractions
Elegant, traditionally decorated rooms with modern amenities
Rooftop dining room and terrace with stunning views
Free breakfast with fresh fruits
Business center
24-hour room service
Wi-Fi and parking are free
Free welcome drink for guests
Pets allowed (no fee)
No fitness center or spa
No tubs in rooms
Rooms can be
noisy
The White House Hotel is a 22-room, boutique hotel in
the heart of Istanbul’s Old City. Built in 2000, this upscale property
manages to convey a much longer history thanks to its traditional Ottoman decor and its rooftop
dining room with views to the Aya Sofia, a former mosque that's now a museum.
Like many hotels in the most ancient part of the city, the White House has windows that open to a
busy street, so noise may be an issue for some travelers. Guest rooms feel feminine and elegant, and have modern amenities, though they're somewhat small. Breakfast, including
the fresh fruits plentiful in the region, is free and served on the
terrace. The hotel accepts pets with no fees, a boon for an Old City property. If the White
House Hotel is booked, visitors could try the significantly less expensive, upscale Cela Sultan Hotel, which has Hagia Sophia views.
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
Traditional, romantic atmosphere with gilded details
On a sunny day in Istanbul’s Old City, the White House Hotel shines crisp and clean among the colorful, magpie lairs of shops and cafes
surrounding it. Built in 2000 of white-painted masonry, the five-floor hotel
has a columned entrance that leads to a lobby with a vaulted, dome ceiling and a white gilded reception desk. The traditional decor includes a color scheme of
various tones of beige with gold-leaf accents. A sofa flanked by armchairs
before a small table has a view of the street -- this is where each guest is welcomed with a free beverage upon arrival. Couples are drawn here, as there's a romantic sensibility, although the hotel
offers family-size rooms, too. An elevator and stone staircase and red carpets lead to guest rooms. The star of the hotel is its rooftop
dining room; ornately carved chairs and white tablecloths lend a crispness to
the lush setting of topiary roses and greenery in clay pots beside floor-to-ceiling windows, which are left open on warm days. There's also an open-air terrace with
cream umbrellas and wicker tables and chairs. From here, there are views to the
Aya Sofia and the rich tableau of rooftops, minarets, and domes.
Location
In the heart of the Old City
The White House Hotel is located on a busy street of other
hotels and restaurants in the most ancient part of Istanbul. The streets wind
up cobblestone roads where drivers navigate narrow passageways. One advantage
of the White House Hotel is its proximity to Istanbul’s most popular
attractions. Fans of the classic James Bond
movie “To Russia With Love” will recognize narrow channels of the Basilica
Cistern, an ancient waterduct that's three minutes' walk from the hotel. The Aya
Sofia, visible from the hotel, is a four-minute walk. The compound that is the
Topkapi Palace is about a 10-minute walk; visitors should plan to spend at least
three hours at the sight to take in its majesty and cope with the long lines. The
Blue Mosque, where guests must remove their shoes and women must cover their
heads and shoulders, is an eight-minute walk. The Grand Bazaar, a maze of shops
as colorful as their shopkeepers, is an 11-minute walk. Galata Bridge, an eight-minute drive, still
feels like old Istanbul, replete with fisherman and restaurants with carnival
barker hosts. Istanbul Modern, on the opposite side of the Golden Horn, is 12
minutes away by car; its terrace is a wonderful place for a drink or lunch for
its view of Istanbul across the Horn. Attaturk International Airport is a
31-minute drive without traffic; but visitors should plan on traffic -- and lots of
it.
Rooms
Traditional decor with a feminine touch
There are Single, Double, Superior, Triple, and Family Rooms
at The White House Hotel, all decorated with traditional furnishings with partial views
of Istanbul’s sights or, if in the back of the hotel,
the side street. The color scheme is various shades of cream and beige with
touches of gold leaf or red. There are traditional Oriental carpets, small
chandeliers, patterned drapes with sheers, and delightful gilt-painted rotary
phones, together amounting to a delicate, feminine vibe. Bigger rooms have armchairs and small tables. Yet some Single Rooms,
quite snug in size, have terraces with small tables and wicker chairs. All rooms have air-conditioning, safes, minibars, flat-screen TVs, coffee/tea facilities, and slippers. Bathrooms are modern and small with beige painted walls, floral-patterned beige
tile, counter sinks, and wall-mounted hairdryers. There are no bathtubs, and showers -- no
tubs -- with curved glass doors and power showerheads.
Features
A free welcome drink and breakfast buffet in a rooftop dining room
The White House Hotel offers free breakfast and a free
welcome drink. Its dining room, where breakfast is served is located on the roof with sliding glass panels and
an open-air terrace with umbrella tables. There's no full restaurant serving lunch and dinner, but room service is available 24 hours. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and there's a 24-hour business center with computers, copiers, and fax
machines. The hotel has air-conditioning and airport transfers
for a fee. The property does allow pets for free, although
with the many friendly cats and dogs roaming Istanbul, guests won't lack for animal companionship.
