Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet has emerged from an extensive refurbishment, cementing its position as one of the city’s ultimate destinations for genuine hospitality paired with unrivaled luxury.
Responsible for the careful redesign was award-winning London firm, Goddard Littlefair, which counts the likes of Villa Copenhagen, The Gleneagles and The Biltmore Mayfair in its impressive hotel portfolio. For this project, the design house looked to the hotel’s surroundings to guide its new interiors, with heavy inspiration taken from the historic culture and art found in the city’s Old Town.
“Our designers researched styling, pattern and details from antiques, fabrics and architecture and distilled these influences through a contemporary filter to create designs that feel completely in tune with the building and setting,” says Martin Goddard of Goddard Littlefair.
[See also: The 12 Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Istanbul]
In the light-filled guest bedrooms, this has manifested as a calm yet vibrant décor, with muted color schemes allowing carefully selected Turkish artwork and ornate furniture to take center stage.
“Inspired designs will be driven by storytelling, meaningful experiences as well as Istanbul’s rich culture and history, furthering our journey as Old City’s only five-star luxury hotel,” says Tarek Mourad, enior general manager of Four Seasons Hotels Istanbul.
Related
As well as all of the 65 guest rooms and suites, the refurbishment has also breathed new life into the inviting outdoor terrace, which has been landscaped to create distinct zones, adding a touch of privacy. The hotel’s new restaurant, Avlu, has also opened its doors, with chef Özgür Üstün crafting refined Anatolian cuisine.
Up on the top floor, the famous rooftop bar has re-opened as Süreyya – an al fresco drinking spot serving signature cocktails and Turkish wines, with unrivaled views across Istanbul Old Town’s most impressive landmarks.
[See also: The 10 Best Hotels in Istanbul]
Content from our partners
Elsewhere in Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, the function rooms and event spaces have also been upgraded. This includes an expansive ballroom, which now benefits from enhanced lighting and acoustics, as well as a design facelift.
The hotel’s wellness offering has also been bolstered in the refurb, with the creation of a new spa and fitness area featuring a beauty salon, Turkish barber and gym, as well as a marble Hamman, promising an authentic taste of traditional Turkish wellbeing.
The hotel is the second of two Four Seasons destinations in the city, with the larger Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus located less than five miles north of the Sultanahmet, in a 19th-century Ottoman palace on the banks of the epic Bosphorus river.
