Armada Hotel
Since 1994 when the hotel was created, and many of the original staff members are still here, this 4 star hotel, with the views of the Blue Mosque and Ayasofya, has offered, a unique experience to its guests’, plus it has the added advantage of being within walking distance of many of the major tourist attractions. As well as the Topkapı Palace, Sultanahmet Square, the Grand and Spice Bazaar, it is also close to the Church of St. Irene, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art and the Archaeology Museums. Traditional Turkish baths, or hamam, are within easy walking distance of the hotel.
Named after the Ottoman Admiral Hayrettin Paşha Barbarossa, the hotel has modern comfort and convenience discreetly incorporated into the design of the hotel. There are period engravings throughout the hotel giving you a look in to Istanbul of yester year.
Named after the Ottoman Admiral Hayrettin Paşha Barbarossa, the hotel has modern comfort and convenience discreetly incorporated into the design of the hotel. There are period engravings throughout the hotel giving you a look in to Istanbul of yester year.
Stepping inside the hotel you first see the spacious Fountain Café, the marble fountain contains a happy family of turtles who enjoy the waters there. With an original Oriental divan seating area it is the perfect place to play a little tavla (backgammon), sit back and read or meet friends and watch the comings and goings of the hotel.
The whole of this establishment are decorated in a simple Ottoman style with decorative painted wooden panels and authentic fabrics, but with modernity throughout the rooms including a personal safe deposit box, hairdryer, television, direct dial telephone, mini bar, air conditioning, a kettle and wireless internet access. Combined with the modern elements there are organic touches too, with natural beauty products in the modern bathrooms with a bathtub, pure cotton fabrics and towels, plus down pillows and comforters. There are also interconnecting rooms and 2 rooms which are fully equipped for wheelchair access.
As you would expect from a hotel of this standard there is a business centre with computers and printers, plus meeting rooms, room service, a laundry and dry cleaning service … but what you might not expect is tango on a Monday night, and an open street bazaar near the hotel each Wednesday, and during the month of May there is the annual Spring Street Festival.
Dining at the hotel is also a wonderful experience, and popular with locals too, with two roof top restaurants, another which is in an open style and also another atrium styled one all offering magnificent views of the area. The open Turkish style breakfast buffet has a wide selection of homemade jams and pastries from the hotel’s own kitchen, served with organic fresh and dried fruits.
There are also two highly recommended restaurants nearby. Sabahattin the Fisherman is a seafood restaurant that has won seven international awards, and is just over a 5 minute walk away from the Armada; whilst just behind the hotel there is the Giritli Istanbul, which serves Mediterranean cuisine and is listed as among the Top 10 restaurants in Istanbul.