Hotel Sari Konak Istanbul Boutique Hotel

Detailed Review

Istanbul Hotel Sari Konak, ideally located in the center of the old city , is a family-run boutique hotel in Istanbul Turkey , offering its guests comfortable accommodation and a personal service.

Sari Konak , which means "Yellow Mansion", is an old Istanbul house renovated as a boutique hotel in 1996 . Furnished comfortably like a stylish house , the interior of this small Istanbul hotel is enveloped by an authentic ambience .

Istanbul Hotel Sari Konak , set in the historic district of Sultanahmet , is a small boutique hotel , taking pride in offering its guests a charming "home away from home" in Istanbul ; with many guests returning on a regular basis.

The great monuments of both empires, such as the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque ,Hippodrome and Topkapi Palace are clustered around Sultanahmet District. Archeological Museum, Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum, Mosaic Museum, Underground Basilica Cistern , as well as the famous Grand Bazaar are also within walking distance...

Istanbul Hotel Sari Konak is ideally located in the district of Sultanahmet , the historic district of Istanbul, for those wishing to explore the old city. Being able to walk from the hotel to so many historical places makes your stay less fractious than in cities where transport is necessary for a day out.

The traveller who feels lost in a big Istanbul hotel can experience the comfort and pleasure of home in such a small scale Istanbul hotel, where guests can establish friendships outside the boundaries of the classic customer relationship.

At Istanbul Hotel Sari Konak you can be sure that you will not feel like just another room number...

Press Quotes

"For comfortable lodgings steeped in history, try Sari Konak, or Yellow Villa, where breakfast is served in an ancient courtyard that was once part of the Grand Palace of Byzantium." Sydney Morning Herald 03

Independent Reviews

Sari Konak Oteli
By Tom Brosnahan

The Sari Konak Oteli (’Yellow Mansion’) is a fine, comfortable, moderately-priced small Ottoman-style inn on a relatively quiet street less than five minutes’ walk from the Blue Mosque and Hippodrome. Best of all, it’s run by one of the friendliest families in Istanbul, making it a good choice for female travelers, single or traveling with others. The materfamilias of the Okan family supervised the decoration of the guest rooms. Their muted tones and understated patterns add to the quiet comfort of the rooms. The public rooms are pleasantly uncluttered and decorated tastefully with Ottoman antiques and Turkish crafts. For a small inn with only 28 rooms on three floors, it’s a welcome surprise that the Sari Konak has a lift (elevator)! Mr Hakan Okan, who oversees the hotel most days, was a tour guide, so he knows what it’s like to travel like a tourist in Turkey. "I wanted to make a hotel that was better than all the ones I stayed in," he says. "So we included all the normal comforts and conveniences such as TV and air conditioning, but we also installed double-glazed windows for quiet. The little refrigerators in the rooms are not filled with overpriced drinks. You can fill them with whatever you like, or order drinks from the lounge bar." When it was still Constantinople, this part of the city was covered by the Byzantine Great Palace. The Okans discovered part of a wall from the palace behind the hotel, preserved it, and made it the backdrop for their small open-air garden terrace. With its tinkling marble fountain, it’s a great place for a quiet breakfast (the only meal served) or contemplative afternoon cup of tea or a drink. If you’re feeling expansive, ascend to the roof terrace, from which there are fine views of the Sea of Marmara and the minarets of the Blue Mosque. Walk up the gentle slope of Mimar Mehmet Aga Caddesi from the Sari Konak for a few minutes and you’re right in Sultanahmet, the sightseeing center of Old Istanbul. All in all, one of the best hotel choices in the district--indeed, in the whole city.

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• Sari Konak
  By Vanessa Kaoukji

  A lot of thought has been put into this simple family-fun b&b. A five minute walk from the Blue Mosque, the position on a small cul-de-sac ensures a quiet stay. The Okan family have run the Sari Konak since 1996 – Mrs Okan overseeing the décor and her sons Umit and Murat managing the hotel. The overall style of the hotel is simple and pleasant; country farmhouse blended with occasional anqtiques. And although many rooms along with the breakfast area are to be refurbished this winter, its unlikely the hotel will loose its unique calm and friendly atmosphere. An enclosed patio on the ground floor makes a pretty setting for breakfast surrounded by geraniums and large earthenware jugs. Mrs Okan is clearly adept at making the best of small spaces. The hotel has less than 20 rooms which overlook the little patio or the street, both aspects are equally quiet. At the time of reviewing there was one deluxe room which was larger than the rest, with a bay window seating area and pleasingly decorated. Standard rooms are a good size and come with telephones and air-conditioning. Decoration and atmosphere is more European than Turkish which comes as a welcome break after the intoxication of sightseeing. Prints of whirling dervishes and dancing girls in the bedrooms are the only hint touch of old Istanbul to be found. Rooms are distinctly green with hand painted wooden furniture and stencilling. Bathrooms are surprisingly modern. Rooftop terraces may seem to be two-a-penny in Istanbul, but the top of the Sari Konak is worth seeing. This is the most elegant part of the hotel. Cool white awnings hang above the few wooden tables and cushioned stone benches make for perfect lounging whilst looking out to the sea of Marmara. And to top all of this – the hotel has a lift which is a rare bonus in Istanbul. This winter (2004-2005) the hotel is undergoing extensive renovations to the rooms and breakfast area. 3 Standard rooms will be converted into Deluxe rooms (there will be 4 in total) and the remaining rooms are to be made more ‘Turkish’. The rooms are due for an update and the renovations will bring up the standard of the hotel a great deal, but there will be no changes to the roof terrace – the Okan family are savvy enough to retain the atmosphere than brings back repeat guests time and time again.

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• "This chic Ottoman mansion, managed by the dashing Okan brothers, is charming and friendly and in a great central location."