AJWA Sultanahmet

AJWA Sultanahmet is the old-city hotel that takes Ottoman decor the furthest. Its 61 rooms and suites are furnished by hand: solid walnut, silk carpets, painted ceilings and Marmara marble bathrooms with tiles inspired by the mosques of the architect Sinan. It belongs to Preferred Hotels & Resorts, a network of independent upscale hotels, in its most luxurious LVX collection.

A handmade interior

The hotel was designed by Gülab to fit the architecture of the historic peninsula, blending Seljuk and Ottoman styles. The double-height lobby is furnished with handcrafted pieces and Persian rugs. In the rooms, every bathroom borrows from the hammam: marble, tiles, a marble basin fountain, and copper fittings in the suites.

Choosing a room

The hotel's website describes nine types of rooms and suites; the rooms table lists the main ones.

What sets the Deluxe rooms apart is which way they face: the atrium side, with its green wall, is the quietest; the street side has the painted ceilings; the sea side looks out over the Sea of Marmara. Families should take a Family Suite, which is larger but looks onto the atrium, with no outside view. For a special occasion, the Sultan Suite on the 7th floor has its own hot tub and sauna.

Accessible rooms are available on request.

Zeferan, Afiya Spa and Bentleys

Zeferan, the top-floor restaurant, serves Azerbaijani cuisine, with original recipes and refined presentation, overlooking the Sea of Marmara. The Afiya Spa has a traditional hammam and a heated indoor pool, a rarity in the old city. The hotel also hires out its Bentley limousines for getting around Istanbul, and offers a 24-hour concierge, two meeting rooms and a library. For more hotels with a spa, see spa and wellness.

Location

The hotel stands on Piyerloti Caddesi in the historic peninsula, between the Grand Bazaar and Sultanahmet square, both within walking distance. The upper floors look out over the Sea of Marmara. Istanbul Airport (IST) is about an hour's drive away without traffic, Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) about 45 minutes.

Rates

In October 2026, for two nights from 1 to 3 June 2027, the cheapest room was offered at €340 a night for two adults, €680 for the stay, room only and non-refundable, including taxes and fees.

Sabaro's view

For whom: travellers who want a large old-city hotel with a pool and hammam on site; lovers of Ottoman craftsmanship; families in the Family Suites.

Strengths: the spa with indoor pool; the handmade interiors; the rooftop restaurant facing the sea; a Google rating of 4.7 out of 5; rates well below those of the nearby Four Seasons.

Good to know: the Family Suites and the atrium rooms have no outside view. For a more intimate hotel in the same area, see Hotel Ibrahim Pasha; for a whole Ottoman mansion, Hagia Sofia Mansions.