Witt Istanbul Suites

A city of unfaltering change, Istanbul well deserves its hip and cosmopolitan image—as rich in history and traditions as it is dynamic in its design, art, and political scene — and Witt Istanbul Suites aptly reflects the city’s thrilling energy.

Istanbul’s Cihangir neighborhood is often referred to as a hotbed of emerging trends, thanks to its eclectic nature and a flourishing contemporary art scene. It’s a fitting location for the hotel that became a showcase for contemporary Turkish design.

Witt Istanbul Suites is housed in what used to be an unassuming office building, transformed into an elegant hotel thanks to the design firm Autoban—a darling of Istanbul’s design scene as well as a global success.

Autoban signature

There was only one creative team behind the Witt Istanbul Suites project, and the result of their work is a complete, consistent design experience.

The eight-floor building’s modernist sandstone façade subtly refers to the area’s traditional designs, in a delicate floral motif. The floral decoration is referenced inside, too. Laser-cut into wood and iron, running along the walls and doors, it decorates the entire hotel and adds a personal touch to the design.

Interiors utilize marble, wood, steel, leather, custom furniture, and even mirror bricks to create a sleek, retro-modern look.

Open-plan layout

The Witt Istanbul blurs the line between home and hotel. The 17 spacious suites comprise a living room, fully-equipped kitchenette (complete with Nespresso machine) and bedroom. The bathrooms are clad in Marmara marble with bespoke Corian sinks and custom-designed pebble-shaped showerheads.

Each suite feels like a cool friend’s swanky holiday apartment, rather than a standard hotel room—especially the four suites on the top floor. Their large windows and terrace offer a fantastic view over the rooftops of Istanbul.

There is no restaurant at Witt, but the front desk can order and deliver from local restaurants, and they will offer excellent advice on all the best bars and restaurants in the area. And so we dined out every night, this being in one of the most vibrant districts of Istanbul we couldn’t help ourselves but be out, exploring the city.

in our opinion

Excellent location, great design: it’s the kind of place that appeals to a discreetly chic clientele who shy away from the overtly glitzy, typical five-star hotels.

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What we love

• Seamless, understated design with classy pieces from the famous Autoban studio
• The rooms are spacious and well laid out, and the bed, custom-designed for the hotel, is very comfortable
• Superb service and well-trained staff. The front desk personnel is helpful and informative
• Great location, close to the Sultanahmet (old city), in the lively and arty Cihangir area, filled with bohemian cafés, bars, and restaurants
• Tasty breakfast served in-room or in the ground floor lobby. We loved the homemade yogurts with dried fruit, organic jams, and honey from Bodrum

What you should know

• Insider's tip: Book the top floor suite for fantastic views over Istanbul’s old city, and the best privacy
• The hotel is perched on a steep hill. It’s quite a climb!
• The lower-floor rooms have somewhat less desirable views (at the neighboring buildings), and are less private
• We learned this one the hard way: Istanbul is vast and taxi drivers will not know the location unless you have the exact address, including the Istanbul’s district
• The hotel does not offer twin rooms (in case you’re planning to share with a business partner)
• The bathrooms have no bathtubs
• The hotel has no swimming pool nor spa
• The small and elegant bar in the ground-floor lobby can serve great coffee and simple cocktails but breakfast is the only meal served in the hotel.