Ecole St Pierre Hotel

École St Pierre sits on one of Galata's most characterful streets, just a few minutes from Galata Tower. The whirling dervishes perform at the nearby Galata Mevlevi Lodge, designer boutiques line Serdar-ı Ekrem, and Karaköy's cafés and waterfront are a short walk downhill. Şişhane metro is five minutes away, and the tram from Karaköy reaches Sultanahmet in around 15 minutes.

This is a hotel with a real story. The building began life as the Collège des Frères St Pierre, a French school founded in 1842 and designed by architect Gaspare Fossati, which taught until 1935. Rare fragments of the 13th-century Genoese walls survive inside, while contemporary design gives the interiors a sophisticated edge.

The 17 rooms occupy the old classrooms, each marked with a small abacus. They feel calm and contemporary, with high ceilings, warm natural tones, and carefully chosen furnishings; many have French balconies overlooking the courtyard. At the top of the building, the Galata suites add private terraces with views of the tower.

Set in the school's old refectory and leafy courtyard, Il Cortile wraps around the ancient Genoese walls. Its Italian cooking, from fresh pasta to wood-fired pizza, is excellent, and a long lunch or dinner here is an integral part of the stay.