About this hotel
General information
AJWA Sultanahmet is a five-star hotel of 61 rooms and suites in Istanbul’s Old City, in the Sultanahmet quarter. Its architecture draws on both Seljuk and Ottoman forms, and the interiors are conceived like a private mansion: carved marble, hand-painted ceilings, tiles made to order, mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture, silk Tabriz carpets and original canvases by contemporary Azerbaijani artists.
The hotel follows halal principles and serves no alcohol; smoking is limited to a designated area. Butlers and a Les Clefs d’Or concierge team look after guests, and in-room dining runs around the clock. On the mezzanine, a library stocked with English-language books on Turkish and Istanbul culture and history doubles as a quiet business corner with a laptop and printer. The top floor holds Zeferan restaurant with views over the Sea of Marmara, and two rooms, Amber and Serq, host meetings.
Location
The hotel sits on Istanbul’s historic peninsula, within the Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and the Basilica Cistern are a short walk away, with Topkapı Palace close by; the nearest T1 tram stop is Çemberlitaş. The upper floors look out over the Sea of Marmara and the Princes’ Islands. Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport are each about 44 km away, and the hotel’s own fleet, including vans and S-Class cars, handles transfers.
Spa
Afiya Spa & Fitness is built around the Turkish bathing tradition, with a hammam, an indoor pool, a steam room, a sauna, a snow fountain, massage and treatment rooms and a gym. The hammam offers the classic scrub and foam massage on a heated marble slab, as well as the signature AJWA Special, a scrub and foam with brown sugar, honey, Turkish coffee and aromatic oils, followed by fruit and sherbet. Balinese, aromatherapy, Swedish, deep-tissue and sports massages, reflexology, hot stones, a four-hand massage, facials and body treatments complete the menu, along with dedicated rituals for expectant mothers, brides and grooms. Men and women use the spa at separate hours, and late in the evening it can be reserved for private use by a family or a couple.
Sports & leisure
The gym is part of Afiya Spa & Fitness, with early-morning hours reserved for women. The concierge plans routes through the Old City and beyond, from Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, Topkapı Palace and the Basilica Cistern to the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, Dolmabahçe Palace and a ferry trip to the Princes’ Islands, and points the way to the Grand Bazaar and the city’s street markets. Cars from the hotel’s own fleet are available for getting around town.
Restaurants & bars
Dining is alcohol-free and leans towards Azerbaijani cooking:
- Zeferan — the top-floor restaurant, seating up to 120, with panoramic views of the Old City and the Sea of Marmara; mostly Azerbaijani cuisine, from kebabs, rice dishes and pastries to roasted vegetables and plenty of greens, alongside Turkish and international plates
- Feijoa Pâtisserie — a pastry shop in the lobby with house-made desserts
- In-room dining — around the clock, with a menu of freshly prepared Turkish dishes
Swimming
The indoor pool lies within Afiya Spa; a swimming cap is required and can be bought at the spa for an extra charge.
Rooms
There are 61 rooms and suites: 48 Deluxe Rooms, 5 Corner Suites, 7 Family Suites and a single Sultan Suite on the seventh floor. Solid walnut furniture, hand-woven silk carpets and marble bathrooms with handmade tiles modelled on historic Istanbul originals run throughout.
Air conditioning, automatic curtains, a 4K interactive television, IP telephones, a Nespresso machine and kettle, a selection of teas and coffees, complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and snacks in the minibar, a pillow menu, a hairdryer, quality bath products and linen, free Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping and evening turndown on request.
Deluxe Room
A room averaging 32 m² with a double or twin beds and street or sea views depending on the room, furnished in solid walnut with hand-woven silk carpets and a gilded ceiling in turquoise and ochre. One extra bed or a baby cot can be added.
Corner Suite
A corner suite in purple, lilac and pale green with Ottoman couches, mother-of-pearl inlaid seats and a marble bathroom; a double bed and street or sea views. There is room for an extra bed and a baby cot.
Family Suite
A two-room suite whose windows face the hotel’s atrium and its vertical garden rather than the outside: a main bedroom with a double bed, a second room with a single bed and one bathroom. Velvet sofas, walnut furniture and headboards with Seljuk motifs.
Sultan Suite
The hotel’s signature suite on the seventh floor, in three parts: a dining and living area in burgundy with a chandelier, antique mother-of-pearl furniture and a hand-painted ceiling; a bedroom in deep greens; and a bathroom with turquoise tiles, twin marble basins, a jacuzzi, a sauna and a separate shower. Arched windows look over the Old City and the Sea of Marmara.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.