Sumahan on the Water

Ottoman-era distillery turned romantic waterfront boutique
Word to the wise: The hotel runs a boat service to Kabataş on the European side, leaving in the morning and returning in the evening.

This former raki distillery is perched on the Asian shore in the peaceful Bosphorus village of Çengelköy, where traditional wooden houses and fish restaurants line the waterfront promenade.
The building dates from 1875 and was derelict before being sensitively restored by its Turkish-American owner-architects, who’ve used its inbuilt industrial chic to great effect. Exposed brickwork, stone walls and steel beams add character to the sleek, light-filled rooms. Most have fireplaces, some have Turkish-style baths but all have cool, contemporary furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular views over the Bosphorus.

Dine at Sumahan’s Waterfront Terrace Restaurant – the menu’s a modern take on Ottoman cuisine – while watching the ebb and flow of life on the Strait.