SD › Istanbul Hotels › Tomtom Suites Review
Updated: April 7, 2021
By Santorini Dave
Essentials
• Location: Boğazkesen Caddesi Tomtom Kaptan Sokak, opposite the Italian consulate.
• Hotel website: tomtomsuites.com
• Hotel phone: +90 212 292 4949
• Check prices on Booking.com
This all-suite hotel features spacious and luxurious rooms with elegant furnishings, modern bathrooms, cozy lounge areas, an excellent restaurant with magnificent views, and colorful art everywhere.
Tomtom Suites Hotel – Enchanting blend of history and contemporary chic in Beyoglu.
Bright modern art and slick styling make this one-time-Franciscan nunnery a beautiful and calming blend of old and new. All the rooms and common areas are exceptionally spacious and bathed in the perfect amount of natural light. The Neoclassical bones of the building have been retained but touches like marble bathrooms, mid-century modern sofas, and brightly-colored rugs take away all somber feelings. Service is equally convivial, yet professional, and the top-floor restaurant with its exquisite views over the town and out to sea is quite the spot to start and end the day. Meanwhile, the sophisticated, central neighborhood of embassies is the perfect setting for such a quietly elegant hotel.
See Also
Tomtom Suites Hotel – Location
- Address: Boğazkesen Caddesi Tomtom Kaptan Sokak No.18 Beyoğlu, Istanbul.
- Nearest Metro/Subway: Odakule tram stop (0.2 mile). Sishane metro station (0.3 mile). Beyoğlu funicular stop (0.3 mile).
- Area: Surrounded by foreign embassies, this is one of the classiest areas of Beyoğlu and is a few steps from some of the city’s best shopping, restaurants, galleries, and the bustling Istiklal Street. Trams from Tophane take you to all the sights of the Sultahnamet.
- How to Get There: The tram, metro, and funicular are equally handy options from here, and the hotel can also 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 Museum of Innocence, Istiklal Avenue, Pera Museum.
Tomtom Suites Hotel – The Basics
- Ages: The hotel has an adult feel to it and most guests are travelers in their 30s and 40s on weekend breaks, though children are welcome.
- View: Rooms have views of the surrounding streets and the higher-end rooms facing Tomtom Kaptan Street get views of the city and out to sea.
- Parking: No parking on-site, but there’s a private lot close by (0.1 mile).
- Extras: The featured modern art is a constant treat at this hotel and the top floor restaurant is exceptional. Hang out in the common areas downstairs to enjoy the very good library.
- When to Book: April through June and the month of November are the busiest months. It’s advisable to book at least 3 weeks in advance any time of year.
- How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
- Phone: +90 212 292 4949
- Email: info@tomtomsuites.com
- Website: tomtomsuites.com
Tomtom Suites Hotel – Amenities
- Pool: No pool.
- Spa: No spa, but in-room massages and treatments can be arranged.
- Fitness Center: No fitness center.
- For Families: Extra beds are free for children under seven.
- For Disabled Guests: There’s one specifically designed wheelchair accessible suite and the hotel’s good-sized hallways and elevator mean that it’s fairly well-suited for those with mobility issues.
Tomtom Suites Hotel – Food and Drink
- Restaurant: Nicole Restaurant is a stunning place with modern, white furnishings and huge windows that frame views of Old Town, Prince Island, and beyond into the Marmara Sea. Many ingredients are organic and sourced locally to create innovative Mediterranean cuisine. The wine list is one of the best in the city. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 6.30pm; reservations essential. $$$.
- Lounge/Bar: There’s a full bar at the top-floor Nicole Restaurant.
- Breakfast: A buffet breakfast with Turkish and a few international choices are served at the light and view-filled Nicole Restaurant. Eggs are also available, served any style.
- Room Service: 24-hour room service available.
Tomtom Suites Hotel – Rooms
- Room Types: Standard Suite • Classic Suite • Deluxe Suite • Luxury Suite • List of all Rooms
- Smoking Rooms: Tomtom Suites Hotel is 100% smoke-free.
- Best Room: The top-floor Luxury Suite is more like an apartment and has a massive terrace, jacuzzi, and kitchenette, plus one of the best views of the Sultanahmet area and out over the Marmara Sea. In cooler months, the wooden floors warm the place with radiant heat.
- For Families: The Luxury Suite can connect to an adjacent Deluxe Suite, creating a 2-bedroom flat that’s perfect for families.
TomTom Suites Hotel – Local Transport
- Walking: The hotel is in a great location that’s an easy walk to the most bustling parts of Beyoglu.
- Tram, Metro, and Bus: It’s only a 6-minute walk (0.3 mile) to the Tophane tram stop that gets you quickly over to the historic old town center and its many sights.
- Taxis, Uber, Lyft: Uber operates in Istanbul, or the hotel can call you a reliable taxi.
Tomtom Suites Hotel – What’s Nearby?
Recommended Tours
- Istanbul Small Group Luxury Day Tour – See all the top sights of Istanbul in 1 day and in style. Not your usual crowded tour and much more personal. Start location: Hotel pick-up.
- Bosphorus Tour from Eminonu Pier – A relaxing, 90-minute cruise up the Bosphorus and back with views of Europe and Asia. Start location: 1 mile.
- Whirling Dervishes at Hodja Pasha Cultural Center – A one-hour show of the Mavlevei Ceremony in a 550-year old hamam. Start location: 2 miles.
- Topkaki Palace & Harem Tour With Historian Guide – Get deeper into this fantastic palace complex with a local historian. Bonus: You also get to skip the line. Start location: 2 miles.
Best Nearby Restaurants
- Eleos – Blink and you’re in Greece at this upstairs restaurant swathed in blues and whites and serving delicious Greek food. The view over the Bosphorus makes it particularly romantic. (0.2 mile).
- Cuma – The breakfasts here are a modern, healthy, and luxurious version of Turkish breakfast spread that’s served in a garden terrace or in the boho chic interior. (0.2 mile).
- Sofyali 9 – Known for its delicious mezes, jovial locals flock here on weekends, but weeknights you should be able to get a table. (0.3 mile).
- Kafe Ara – Hidden just enough off Istiklal Avenue to feel relaxed, this casual, slightly Parisian-feeling café spreads out over the pavement and offers a selection of salads, Turkish food, sandwiches, and more. (0.3 mile).
- Meze by Lemon Tree – This very popular restaurant specializes in modern Turkish fare served in a slick dining area. (0.3 mile).
- Antiochia – Specializing in dishes from Antakya in southeastern Turkey, the food here is exceptional and enjoyed in a modern, convivial setting. (0.3 mile).
- Hayvore – This old fashioned, very reasonably priced lokanta-style place serves ready-made Black Sea cuisine including soups, pizzas, and pilafs. (0.4 mile).
- Van Kahvalti Evi – Famous for their Turkish breakfasts, this friendly, down-home neighborhood café is a favorite with locals. (0.4 mile).
- Dandin Karaköy – Cool café-style eatery serving pizzas and sandwiches to start and some absolutely decadent cakes and pastries to finish. (0.5 mile).
- Journey – A great choice if you’re searching for vegan or gluten-free Mediterranean food, but good enough that everyone will enjoy a meal at this cozy café. (0.4 mile).
- Dürümzade – Made famous by a visit by Anthony Bourdain, the dürüm here is still good, though perhaps not as good as when Tony came by. That said, it’s friendly, well-priced, and a good stop for a quick and delicious meal. (0.5 mile).
- Karaköy Güllüoglu – The most renowned baklava in Istanbul, with a huge selection. (0.7 mile).
Best Nearby Cafés
- Mandabatmaz – Many claim this place serves Istanbul’s best Turkish coffee. (0.3 mile).
- Kronotrop – This place roasts its own beans sourced from around the world. Any way you like your coffee, chances are, they serve it, including good Turkish coffee. (0.3 mile).
- Café Grand Boulevard – Central and always busy, this traditional tea garden has street-side seating plus a lovely courtyard. (0.3 mile).
Best Nearby Bars and Breweries
- Solera – A great place to sample Turkish wines. Over 100 of them are served by the glass at this warm and inviting spot. (0.2 mile).
- Mikla – Elegant rooftop bar and restaurant, atop the Marmara Pera hotel and with the best view in town. (0.3 mile).
- 360 – A lovely place for a chic sunset cocktail with an outstanding view. If you stay late on Fridays and Saturdays, it turns into a hip dance club. (0.3 mile).
- Corner Irish Pub – Always busy and always fun, get a pint of Guinness and classic pub food here alongside all the revelry that entails. (0.4 mile).
- Unter – Grab a cocktail and bite to eat at one of the bars that pioneered hip, located in now very-hip Karaköy. (0.5 mile).
- Smyrna – Find the bohemian side of the city here. Drink a glass of wine or a cocktail and discuss art and literature. (0.4 mile).
Nearby Clubs, Cinemas, and Live Music
- Borusan Art – Enjoy performances of classical, jazz, and other music from around the world at this fine music hall. (0.2 mile).
- Galata Mevlevi Museum – Come see a whirling dervish performance in this spectacular hall built in the 15th century. (0.3 mile).
- Salon – All kinds of live music is performed here – and it’s usually amazing. There are also dance and theater performances as well as occasional conferences and talks. (0.5 mile).
- Baska Sinema – Art house and experimental films are screened at this beloved cinema. (0.5 mile).
- Nardis Jazz Club – The best place for live jazz in Istanbul has performances by everyone from up and comers to big names. Book in advance if you want a table. (0.6 mile).
Nearby Shopping and Cool Shops
- Denizler Kitabevi – Charming book, map, art, and postcard store right on Istiklal Avenue. (0.2 mile).
- Alaturca House – This is the best antique shop in an area known for antique shops. Find beautiful kilims, furniture, textiles, and much more in this dreamy spot. (0.3 mile).
- Misela – Lauded, classic, and very stylish handbags by local designer Serra Türker. (0.4 mile).
- Hiç – Gorgeous shop selling homeware and crafts by top Turkish designers. (0.4 mile).
- Mephisto – There’s a great ambiance at this book and music store. The helpful staff can direct you to Turkish artists and there’s a café upstairs. (0.4 mile).
- Ali Muhiddin Haci Bekir – The place to buy Turkish delight. This is where the locals go. (0.6 mile).
- Nahil – Buy all your soaps, Turkish crafts, and children’s toys here, all made by disadvantaged women in Turkey’s rural areas. (0.7 mile).
Nearby Attractions
- The Museum of Innocence – A unique museum that parallels Pulitzer-Prize-winning writer Orhan Pamuk’s novel, The Museum of Innocence. The museum is both, a moving glimpse into Istanbul in the last half of the 20th century, and a romantic romp through the storyline of the novel itself. If you haven’t yet read the book (it’s excellent), you can buy one on the premises. (0.1 mile).
- Çukurcuma Hamam – Less grand than Kilic Ali Pasa but elegant, newly renovated, lesser known, and more economical, this is one of the city’s best hamams. It’s also one of the only ones whose baths are open to men and women at the same time. (0.2 mile).
- Pera Museum – You’ll find excellent exhibits of 17th to 20th-century Ottoman art as well as changing, modern exhibits of international standards. (0.3 mile).
- Kiliç Ali Pasa Hamam – This is the most luxurious hamam in Istanbul and it took over 7 years to restore its glory. The service is very professional and a treatment here will make you feel like Byzantine royalty. (0.4 mile).
- Istiklal Avenue – This impressively busy, grand, and mile-long pedestrian street is lined with shops and restaurants – some international and others local. It leads to Taksim Square, a transport hub surrounded by high-end hotels, fast food restaurants, and important buildings such as the Opera House. (0.4 mile).
- Museum of Turkish Jews – An interactive museum full of videos, sound recordings, photos, and more that lead you through the fascinating history of Turkey’s Sephardic Jewish population. (0.5 mile).
- Galata Tower – This 70m, circa 1348 tower defines the Istanbul skyline, and you can go to the top for fine views out over Old Town and the Marmara Sea. You can find better views at rooftop bars and the queues to get into the tower are long, but it is a thrill to be inside one of the city’s iconic landmarks. (0.5 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. (2 miles).
- 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. (2 miles).
- 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. (2 miles).
- 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. (2 miles).
Nearby Markets or Grocery Stores
- Balya Organik – Organic market with plenty of products for special diets. (0.4 mile).
- Sok – Well-stocked supermarket. (0.6 mile).
Tomtom Suites Hotel – The Hotel
The chic building has an understated entrance.
There are lots of spaces to hang out on the ground floor and every one of them has gorgeous art.
It almost feels like an art gallery.
Grab a book or play chess in the library.
There’s a great space for corporate events as well.
The stairway is one place where you can get a feel that this was once a Franciscan nunnery.
All bathrooms are decked out in fine marble.
Furnishings are modern and beds are not too soft or hard.
As the name of the hotel suggests, all rooms are suites at Tomtom and have sitting areas.
There’s calming natural light in every suite through sheer white curtains.
Amenities include tea and coffee making facilities.
If you’re in Istanbul on business, the large work desks make this hotel a good choice.
The wooden floors are almost as nice to gaze at as the art.
Other details like beautiful ceramics add a classy, homey feel to the rooms.
The view from the restaurant is one of the best in the city.
The view from the Luxury Suite rivals that of the restaurant.
The bedroom with ensuite bathroom in the Luxury Suite.
The Luxury Suite also has some basic cooking facilities making it an even better choice for families.
There’s also tons of space to run around in the Luxury Suite.
View of the neighborhood from the Luxury Suite.
The bathroom of the Luxury Suite has a large jacuzzi.
All of the suites are graced with bright modern art.
A right turn out the door, then the first left, and straight up the hill will lead you to the view-filled 360 Istanbul bar and restaurant.
You can dine with all your dietary restrictions in mind at Journey.
To grab a drink with the best view in the city, turn right out the door and keep going till you reach the Mamara Hotel, then take the lift up to the top for the Mikla restaurant and bar.
Special dietary foods and organic products are nearby at Balya grocery store.
Walk uphill through scenic lanes to reach the local-style Hayvore.
For real coffee, walk past the Museum of Innocence and into the Cihangir neighborhood to Kronotrop.
Feel arty with a glass of wine at Smyrna in Cihangir, an easy walk from the hotel.
For real local-style breakfast, head to this old-time favorite, Van Kahvalti in Cihangir.
Forget your toothbrush? Craving peanut butter? Sok Market is a short downhill walk.
Turn right out the door, cross the first road, then keep going straight for the best breakfast in town (or lunch or dinner) at Cuma Cafe.
You’re only a few minutes from the romantic, odd, and wonderful Museum of Innocence which is based on a book. Don’t miss it.
It’s a downhill walk to Karakoy Gulluoglu for the best baklava you’ll ever have. Plus, the walk back uphill will help you burn it off.
Turn left out the door, make your first right, and keep on going till you get to Dandin for a light meal or epic desserts.
For a wonderful night out, head past the Galata Tower to Nardis Jazz Club.
See whirling dervishes and more right near the Sishane Metro Station at the gorgeous Galata Mevlevi Museum.
It’s a mostly downhill walk to the iconic Galata Tower. Wait in line if you want to go to the top.
It’s an easy walk through ancient-feeling lanes to get to the sidewalk tables and cute interior of Sofyali Cafe.
Right out of the hotel then a left onto Istiklala Avenue, the wonderful Eleos Greek restaurant offers beautiful views and classy seating.
Guinness lovers rejoice; the lively Corner Irish Pub is nearby.
Off Istiklal Avenue, you could hang out half the day answering emails or chatting at the casual Ara café.
Go up and over the hill to follow in the fork prints of Anthony Bourdain and get a mighty good and inexpensive meal while you’re at it.
It’s a quick downhill walk to reach one of Istanbul’s most reliably good restaurants, Antiochia.
The city’s finest museum, Pera Museum, is close by.
Meze by Lemon Tree nearby is one of the city’s top restaurants.
The quickest way to get to the magnificent Topkapi Palace is to walk down to the Tophane tram station in Karaköy and take a tram to Sultanahmet.
The Basilica Cistern is close to the Sultanahmet tram stop.
Follow the signs to reach the stunning Hagia Sofia from the Sultanahmet tram stop.
The Blue Mosque is close to the Sultanahmet tram stop as well.
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