.jpg)
With an unmarked glassy entrance in the charming Istanbul neighborhood of Galata, Georges Hotel is a haven for visitors seeking quiet and understated luxury while still remaining at the heart of the city’s most desirable location. A historic apartment building renovated and converted with a French sensibility, the hotel invites you to experience Istanbul as a local, but wrapped in an blanket of comfort and style.
As a recent guest of the hotel, we enjoyed two evenings within its walls. A small lobby with original Turkish tile work, a reception area and bar instantly informs guests that they are someplace truly unusual and unique. There is no bustling reception area, no concierge desk, no large flower arrangement. These usual markings of a luxury property are useless here – because Georges believes their customers can see past these trappings and straight to the cool details that prevail.
Once checked-in, the hotel manager showed us to our room. Up a beautiful curved stairwell lit with candles, we were led to a small glass elevator which took us to the 3rd floor. Room 10 was our home away from home – a large space with soaring ceilings, all white, stark and modern. All of this was juxtaposed with a brilliantly blue tiled bathroom boasting sexy glass walls. Outside on the large terrace overlooking the Galata neighborhood and over to the Bosphorus, we found a quaint iron table and chairs where we could enjoy a cup of coffee provided by the complimentary Nespresso pods in the room. The bed was a large king, the floors wooden and the crown molding visually stunning. You felt as if you had stumbled into an impossibly chic apartment owned by an international friend who used it on occasion as their Turkish crash pad.
Aside from the rooms, there aren’t too many other amenities offered by the hotel. They do provide beautiful robes and in-room features like a mini bar, coffee, tea and concierge services. On the rooftop, where breakfast is served, there is a beautiful little restaurant with incredible views over the neighborhood and water. Here, you can cozy-up with a Turkish coffee, small snacks and enjoy a sunny afternoon. It all feels very “Soho House” – but in a less pretentious way.
Staying with Georges is opting to feel like a true local in Istanbul. If you’re a lover of predictable luxury, this may not be your cup of tea. But, if you are someone bored with the “norm” and want a place you can stay for a while and truly integrate yourself into the local scene and culture – in comfort – Georges is for you. We’d definitely visit again.
