Levni Hotel & SPA - Special Category

Levni sits on Ankara Street in Sirkeci, a lively district with traditional restaurants, kebab houses, and busy shops at the foot of the historic peninsula. The tram and Marmaray stations are just outside, and the grand Sirkeci Station, once the terminus of the Orient Express, is moments away. Gülhane Park, Topkapı Palace and Hagia Sophia are all within easy walking distance.

The hotel is named after Levni, the most celebrated miniature painter of the Ottoman Tulip Era, and carries that artistic spirit into a crisp, contemporary style. A marble lobby with an open staircase sets the tone, and a glass-roofed winter garden fills the restaurant with natural light.

Rooms are bright and modern, with comfortable furnishings, bathrobes and coffee makers. Executive rooms include Jacuzzis, and some overlook the Bosphorus. Family rooms and Triple rooms are perfect for families travelling together.

The restaurant serves Turkish and international dishes beneath its glass atrium, with a generous breakfast buffet and a made-to-order omelette station each morning. On warmer days, breakfast moves out to the terrace, where the views across the old city are a highlight, and the bar is a relaxed spot for an evening drink.

The spa is surprisingly lavish for a city-centre hotel, with wood-and-marble floors and a calm, contemporary feel. Its indoor pool, framed by marble columns, offers a welcome escape from the busy streets, while a traditional Turkish hammam, sauna, steam room, couples' treatment room, and fitness centre complete the facilities.