A'JIA HOTEL
Coolly glamorous boutique hotel on Istanbul’s waterfront. STANDING PROUD ON THE ASIAN SHORES of the Bosphorus, boutique hotel A’Jia is a sleek and stylish Ottoman mansion with minimalist interiors and
stunning views across the water.
Blissfully remote from Istanbul’s famous hustle-bustle, A’Jia commands fabulous waterfront views in a
secluded spot on the city’s edge. Behind its vintage Ottoman facade, complete with classic columns, new-age interiors are cool, crisp and utterly contemporary.
Elegant and exclusive, this
former pasha’s mansion has clean-cut lines and ceiling-high windows that make the most of the dazzling views. Smooth ivory walls contrast with polished wood floors, scarlet rugs, crisp cotton bedlinen and huge white-on-white bathrooms. Sculptural vases of tall lillies set off the vast lobby, with its tub chairs and gleaming marble floor.
Hit the spot Beside the Bosphorus strait, on the Asian side.
Pillow Talk Splash out in the sprawling Pasha suite, or take one of the mezzanine suites with its sleeping gallery and bedside bathtub.
Be savvy You’re 40 minutes by cab from the Old City and its sights – so allow time for Istanbul’s notorious traffic.
Be smitten Ottoman original with new-age interiors.
Palatial Pasha Most rooms have wonderful views. Glamorous suites range from the sprawling Pasha suite, where you can fling open the double doors to a huge terrace above the Bosphorus. We loved the three
mezzanine suites, with their upstairs sleeping gallery and freestanding bath perfect for indulgent soaks beside the bed.
Spacious bathrooms at A’Jia – some with baths, others with showers and some with both – gleam in tile and marble. All are generously stocked with Molton Brown toiletries.
If the sun’s shining, you can’t beat
breakfast, lunch or dinner on A’Jia’s fabulous waterside terrace, with its views aross the glittering Bosphorus. It’s the perfect place to kick back with a bottle of wine and watch an array of fishing boats, ferries and cruise liners making their way towards the Black Sea.
A’Jia makes a stylish Istanbul sanctuary for those keen for a different take on a city known for its crowds and irrepressible energy. Here, you’ll find
lush gardens, parks for picnicking and waterside mansions. You’ll need to allow the best part of an hour to get into Sultanahmet – the hub of the city – though it’s a pleasure hopping aboard A’Jia’s free speedboat to cross the Boshorus strait. Do make time for a candlelit dinner à deux on the terrace beside the water on your return – magic.
A'jia hotel was reviewed by
Room For Romance
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Dining in The views alone from A’Jia’s waterside restaurant – a real treat on summer evenings – are reason enough to stay here. If it’s too cool for al fresco dining, the vista is almost as good from inside the chic restaurant. Look forward to a modern Mediterranean menu with an accent on Italian cuisine.
Turkish flavours blend with Mediterranean classics to create mouth-watering mains such as
five spiced duck and caramelized rib of beef. Kick off the evening with a cocktail on the glamorous terrace bar.
Breakfast Breakfast (considered by some the best in Istanbul) is served until midday. A'Jia's take on the traditional Turkish breakfast features a beautifully served mezze of local cheeses, olives, fruit and fresh pastries.
Room service Available 24 hours.
Where? A’jia's waterside restaurant.
What’s cooking? Mediterranean classics with a Turkish twist, plus plenty of fresh-landed fish such as sea bass, octopus and cod.
Top Table? On the terrace – candlelit on warm nights. If it's too breezy, take a windowside table in the restaurant for twinkling views across the Bosphorus.
See & Do Don’t miss the blockbuster sights in Sultanahmet, the Old City. Istanbul's jewels include the signature Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace, with its opulent harem. Look down over the city and the boat-filled Bosphorus from the Galata Tower, explore the trendy bars and galleries of downtown Beyoglu, or try a real Turkish bath at Cagaloglu Hamami. Explore the local village of Kanlica, with its timbered mansions and waterside parks. For a day out of town, take a ferry to te Prince's islands, and ride around in a horse and buggy.
Spa Thai-style massage can be arranged in your room. Spa lovers should head to one of the many hammams in town for an authentic Turkish bath experience.
Diary Dates July Istanbul International Jazz festival is one of the biggest gigs in the world, attracting musicians from all over the world.
GETTING THERE Location Ahmet Rasim Pasa Yalisi, 34812 Kanlica, Istanbul.
Parking There is free guest parking. However, we don't recommend driving in Istanbul. Take a cab into town instead or hop aboard the hotel's free boat shuttle to Emirgan, on the European side. Take a taxi from there and you'll be in the Old City in around 40 minutes.
Trains Sirkeci station – 20 minutes.
Taxis EUR 30-35 from the airport. Bear in mind that few local cabbies know the city well, so do carry a map and know where you're going.
Airport Ataturk International – 35km. EasyJet flies to Istanbul (Sabiha Gökcen) from London Luton and Gatwick airports. British Airways and Turkish Airlines also fly to Istanbul from London.
Rooms and suites 16 rooms and suites.
Special features Rooms have kingsize beds, goose feather pillows, multi-channel flatscreen TVs, a DVD player, safe, aircon, wi-fi and luxury toiletries. Most have Bosphorus views.
Also… Five of the Deluxe rooms have a private balcony while three suites are split level with a bathtub by the bed. Many rooms have jacuzzi baths.
ESSENTIAL INFO Rates guide EUR 260 - 860
Open/closed Open all year.
Check-in 14:00
Check-out Midday
Minimum night stay? No.
Children Welcome.
Pets Welcome.
Air conditioning Yes – though it can be temperamental.
Wedding License? Civil ceremonies and receptions for up to 400 guests can be catered for.