Hotel Ibrahim Pasha in Istanbul, Turkey

SD › Istanbul Hotels › Ibrahim Pasha Review
Updated: April 7, 2021

Essentials
• Location: Sultanahmet, opposite the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts.
• Hotel website: ibrahimpasha.com
• Hotel phone: +90 212 518 0395
• Check prices on Booking.com

Review of Hotel Ibrahim Pasha in Istanbul, Turkey.

A boutique hotel that feels more like a home with cozy and bright rooms, Turkish decor, modern bathrooms, and a rooftop with a view of the Blue Mosque.

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha – Intimate retreat in the historic heart of Istanbul.

Cozy up by the fireplace in winter or lounge on the rooftop with a view of the Blue Mosque in warm months at this elegant abode in the heart of Sultanahmet. It feels like a Turkish dream home: the wooden floors, Persian rugs, and a mishmash of lux sofas are exactly where they need to be to please the eye and create a streamlined yet utterly relaxed atmosphere. Chances are you’ll meet the owner Mehmet in the lobby and chat over drinks. Rooms are on the small side but are window-lit and decorated in a lovely mix of traditional to modern patterns and comforts.

See Also

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha – Location

  • Address: Terzihane Sok 7, Sultanahmet, Istanbul.
  • Nearest Metro/Tram: Sultanahmet tram stop (0.3 mile). Vezneciler metro station is 1 mile away.
  • Area: Right in the heart of Sultanahmet, off a calm and safe street.
  • How to Get There: The tram is the handiest option from here, although the hotel can arrange taxis and drivers.
  • Private Transfer: We use and recommend Welcome Pickups car service. Booking through a private car service will cost only a bit more than a taxi – about €40 from Istanbul Airport – but can be worth it to avoid the long taxi queue and for the convenience of paying ahead.
  • Handy to: The Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkaki Palace.

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha – The Basics

  • Ages: Visitors to this hotel are quiet-loving people of all ages – from families to retired travelers. Children are welcomed by the lovely staff and the convenient location makes this a good choice for families.
  • View: Rooms look out onto the streets or over the city to the water – the rooftop terrace has one of the best views in the city of the Blue Mosque.
  • Parking: No parking on-site, but there’s a private garage nearby that charges €15 per day.
  • Extras: The owner is passionate about Istanbul and is a wealth of information. Guests are given an Istanbul orientation at their leisure and provided house-made maps with fantastic recommendations of restaurants and things to do away from the tourist crowds, as well as of practical stuff like ATMs and pharmacies. There’s also an exceptional library open to guest use.
  • When to Book: May, June, September, and October, plus the Easter and Christmas holidays are the busiest periods, and you should book 1 to 3 months in advance. At other times of the year, you may even be able to find a room last minute.
  • How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
  • Phone: +90 212 518 0395
  • Email: contact@ibrahimpasha.com
  • Website: ibrahimpasha.com

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha – Amenities

  • Pool: No pool.
  • Spa: No spa.
  • Fitness Center: No fitness center.
  • For Disabled Guests: Small wheelchairs will fit in the elevator which can be reached via a temporary ramp over a couple of steps.
  • For Families: Babysitting available on request, plus DVDs and games for children.

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha – Food and Drink

  • Restaurant: No restaurant, but there are dining options nearby and the owner can make recommendations.
  • Lounge/Bar: There’s a small bar that serves drinks, and free coffee and tea are served all day. Take your drink to an armchair to read the paper or a good book.
  • Breakfast: An excellent Turkish buffet breakfast is included in the rate. You can dine in the restaurant area, your room, or on the rooftop terrace.
  • Room Service: 24-hour room service available.

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha – Rooms

  • Room Types: Standard • Deluxe • List of all Rooms
  • Smoking Rooms: Guests can smoke on balconies but not indoors.
  • Best Room: Room 305 has a walk-in shower and a balcony and is the only room with a view of the Blue Mosque.
  • For Families: Adjacent rooms can be booked. Four of the Deluxe Twin rooms have sofa beds that can sleep one.

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha – Local Transport

  • Walking: The hotel is an easy walk to all of the historic sights of the Old Town.
  • Metro, Tram, and Bus: The Sultanahmet tram stop is a 5-minute walk (0.3 mile) away and provides easy transport to Beyoglu and other areas of the city, usually in around 20 minutes.
  • Taxis, Uber, Lyft: Uber operates in Istanbul, or the hotel can call you a reliable taxi.

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha – What’s Nearby?

Recommended Tours

Best Nearby Restaurants

  • Çigdem Pastanesi – Central, long-running, and popular spot for delicious cakes and pastries. There’s also tea and decent coffee. (0.2 mile).
  • Sedef Iskender – In the running as Istanbul’s best doner kebap. Dine in the simple café or get your food wrapped to go. (0.2 mile).
  • Sultanahmet Köftecisi – Expect to queue with locals at lunch for this famous place’s meatballs and bean salad, washed down with an ayran yogurt drink. (0.3 mile).
  • Pudding Shop – This place was the epicenter of the 1960s and 70s hippie trail and today you’ll find bland food but plenty of nostalgia. It’s worth stopping in for a tea if you’re into this era of Istanbul’s history. (0.3 mile).
  • Deraliye Ottoman Cuisine – The dishes here were once served in Ottoman palaces and each comes with its own history. There’s a good wine selection, great service, and a cooking school as well. (0.4 mile).
  • Matbah – Another restaurant specializing in Ottoman palace cuisine, Matbah has a fresh, seasonal menu served in a magnificent, modern indoor-outdoor setting with views of the Zeynep Sultan Mosque. (0.4 mile).
  • Aslan Restaurant – Hidden upstairs near the Grand Bazaar, this friendly place has crisp white tablecloths, a well-priced menu of Turkish favorites, and truly fantastic deserts. Waiters speak English and are happy to cater to the few tourists who find their way here. (0.4 mile).
  • Cooking Alaturka – Sample Anatolian specialties in multi-course meals and learn how to cook them at the school here if you fall in love with the dishes (you might). (0.5 mile).
  • Balikçi Sabahattin – A famous fine dining seafood restaurant, where you choose your own fish from a display. Enjoy in a beautiful garden setting, although the service can be a hit or a miss. (0.5 mile).

Best Nearby Cafes

  • Dervis Aile Çay Bahçesi – Stop in for a coffee, tea, and toast, with a view of the Blue Mosque and great people-watching. Shady outdoor seating with comfortable chairs. (0.3 mile).
  • Café Turing – Comfortable coffee house right off the Hippodrome, serving traditional Turkish coffee and tea. (0.4 mile).

Best Nearby Bar

  • A’Ya Rooftop Lounge – Grab a cocktail and mezze with the best view on this side of town (in the summer). It’s atop the Four Seasons Hotel. (0.4 mile).

Nearby Shopping and Cool Shops

  • Galeri Kayseri – Excellent English language bookseller with lots of books about Turkey. (0.2 mile).
  • Arasta Bazaar – A low-key alternative to the Grand Bazaar, this small, traditional market has some classy shops mixed among cheap souvenir stalls, carpet sellers, and more. (0.2 mile).
  • Cocoon – One of the best textile shops in Arasta Bazaar that sells silk scarves, cushion covers, and more from Central Asia. (0.3 mile).
  • Jennifer’s Hamam – Jennifer has some of the finest hamam items, from Turkish towels to soaps, in the city. (0.3 mile).
  • Iznik Classics – For high quality, handmade ceramics, this is one of the best options in Istanbul. (0.3 mile).

Nearby Attractions

  • Museum of Turkish & Islamic Arts – An astonishing collection of antique carpets, calligraphy, and many other artifacts dating from the 8th through 19th centuries are on display at this excellent museum. Note that because it’s less visited than other major sites, this is a great place to pick up an Istanbul Museum Card (discounted rates if you visit several museums), without having to queue. (100m).
  • Hippodrome – Now a central square and city park (with an incredible view of the Blue Mosque), this was where chariot races took place in the time of the Byzantine Empire. Check out the pink granite Obelisk of Theodosius, brought from Egypt in AD 390, at the center of the Hippodrome. (100m).
  • The Blue Mosque – Easily the most photogenic building in the city, the best way to take in the elegant domes and minarets of this mosque are by walking towards it from the Hippodrome. The interior isn’t as breath taking but is worth a visit. (0.1 mile).
  • Museum of Great Palace Mosaics – 250 square meters of an estimated 3,500-square-meter mosaic pavement is found at this museum. The colors and images are definitely worth the visit. (0.3 mile).
  • Hagia Sophia – The history here is incredible: consecrated as a church in 537 AD, converted to a mosque in 1453, and made into a museum in 1935. The interior inspires audible gasps. Don’t miss the mosaics on the upper level. (0.3 mile).
  • Basilica Cistern – The largest surviving Byzantine cistern in Istanbul is a dark, cool respite from the city streets. Walkways lead by subtly-lit columns to the Medusa head column base. (0.3 mile).
  • Carpet Museum – Learn about Anatolian carpet making via examples from mosques around the country. (0.5 mile).
  • Istanbul Archaeological Museums – Three museums hold the treasures of Topkaki Palace: The Museum of the Ancient Orient holds large pre-Islamic statues, reliefs, and more; the Archaeology Museum has sarcophagi and a huge display on Istanbul’s history; and the Tile Pavilion has some beautiful ceramics and tiles among its collection. (0.5 mile).
  • Topkapi Palace – This ornate, grand complex was the court of the Ottoman Empire from the 15th to 19th centuries, and vies with Hagia Sophia as the city’s top sight. It’s a huge place, so give it at least a half day, and don’t hesitate to pay a little extra to get into the harem with its hallways, exquisite tiles, and fascinating history. (0.5 mile).
  • Grand Bazaar – A labyrinthine, centuries-old, chaotic, and colorful shopping bazaar where sellers hawk everything from Turkish Delight to old books. (0.5 mile).

Nearby Market or Grocery

  • Greens – There are quite a few simple markets all around town, but this grocery store has a particularly good selection of fresh goods and even sells wine. (0.4 mile).

Hotel Ibrahim Pasha – The Hotel

The hotel has a discreet entrance on a quiet backstreet.

The hotel’s building was originally 2 town houses that were linked together. The entrance is discrete and on a quiet backstreet.

The common area is very cozy.

The living room/common area is incredibly comfortable and feels like home.

The rooftop gives great views of the Blue Mosque.

The view of the Blue Mosque from the rooftop terrace is a highlight.

Rooms are flooded with natural light.

Rooms are bright with plenty of windows. Mirrors are used in some rooms to create more space and light.

All rooms have good audio-video.

All rooms have flat screen TVs and good sound systems.

Bathrooms are compact but luxurious.

Bathrooms can be small in the less expensive rooms but are luxurious with marble tiles and countertops.

Some rooms have walk-in closets.

Some larger rooms have walk-in closets.

The lovely sitting rooms are traditional.

The sitting areas in rooms are extremely comfortable and have lovely Turkish touches.

Rooms with twin beds are good for families with kids.

Stairways still have the original tiles.

Original tiles in the stairways are one of the historic touches of the hotel.

Turkish art adorns all the rooms.

Each room features unique Turkish art.

Deluxe rooms are spacious and comfortable.

The space, light, and furnishings of the sitting areas in the Deluxe rooms are extraordinarily comforting.

Rooms are a mix of modern and Turkish.

Each room has its own style that’s at once modern and Turkish.

Rooms have either queen or twin beds.

There are both queen and twin bedrooms available.

The Blue Mosque is just steps away.

The Blue Mosque, one of the city’s best-loved sites, is literally around the corner.

Sedef Iskender is known for its kebaps.

Craving kebap? You’ll find some of the best in the city at Sedef Iskender, a short stroll up the road and through the Hippodrome.

Cigdem serves delicious cakes and pastries.

The main road passes through the Hippodrome from the hotel and has some excellent places to eat, including Cigdem for delicious cakes and pastries.

The Basilica Cistern has a cool Medusa pillar.

A beautiful stroll past the Blue Mosque, cafes, parks, and more brings you to the Basilica Cistern, where you have to go underground to learn more about its eerie history.

The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts is just steps away.

You can get to the fantastic Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts in about a minute from the front door of the hotel, and that’s without walking fast.

Aslan restaurant is very cozy and friendly.

Aslan is a great, hidden little restaurant in Grand Bazaar. Keep a close eye out for the entrance that’s easy to miss.

Topkapi Palace's harem is a must-visit.

Along a pedestrian boulevard past the Blue Mosque and parks is Topkapi Palace, where you should spend at least half a day. And don’t skip this part – the beautiful harem.

Turing serves good Turkish tea and coffee.

Along the promenade, past the Blue Mosque, and almost near Topkapi Palace is the delightful Turing cafe for Turkish tea or coffee.

Arasta Bazaar has some good shopping.

Head around the Blue Mosque for a relaxing bazaar shopping experience with some high-quality shops.

Cocoon sells fine textiles.

Within Arasta Bazaar, you can shop here for legitimate, quality textiles at Cocoon.

Iznik sells fine ceramics nearby.

Iznik Classics is the best place to buy fine cermaics and it’s a quick walk around to the side of the Blue Mosque.

Pudding Shop is a 1960s style restaurant.

If you’ve come to seek out some 60s’ nostalgia, go to Pudding Shop across the Hippodrome and on the main drag to find your happiness.

Sultanahmet Koftecisi is very popular with locals.

Across the Hippodrome and the street on the main drag, you can queue up at lunch with the locals for famous Istanbul meatballs at Sultanahmet Koftecisi.

Cruise boats depart from the Eminonu Pier.

You can catch a Bosphorus river cruise from the Eminonu Pier.

Hagia Sofia is magnificent.

The promenade that goes past the Blue Mosque leads to the magnificent Hagia Sophia.

The ancient Grand Bazaar is always busy.

Wind through backstreets and cross the main street at the Column of Constantine and take the cobblestone road up from here; it becomes increasingly frenetic till you reach the Grand Bazaar.

All Istanbul Hotel Reviews

Read More

Get All New Content

• My Travel Newsletter