Witt Istanbul Hotel in Turkey

SDIstanbul Hotels › Witt Istanbul Review
Updated: April 8, 2021
By Santorini Dave

Essentials
• Location: Defterdar Yokusu, opposite Eski İtalyan Hastanesi (Old Italian Hospital).
• Hotel website: wittistanbul.com
• Hotel phone: +90 212 293 1500
Check prices on Booking.com

Review of Witt Istanbul Hotel in Turkey.

Witt Istanbul Hotel – Chic, contemporary comfort in Beyoglu.

If your dream of Istanbul involves staying in a trendy and modern apartment, head straight to Witt. The eighteen spacious rooms here are designed with comfort, functionality, and above all, a slick and streamlined style. But that doesn’t mean there’s attitude here – in fact, the staff members are so helpful and friendly, they might almost feel like family by the time you leave. Meet other guests over breakfast in the bright, convivial breakfast area, or enjoy it in the comforts of your room. The fabulous rooftop terrace with lounge chairs is a joy at any time of the day (there’s a garden with lavender, strawberries, and more) and the sunsets with lights popping up in the neighborhood and the glow out over the Marmara Sea are not to be missed.

See Also

Witt Istanbul Hotel – Location

  • Address: Defterdar Yokusu No. 26, Cihangir, Beyoğlu, Istanbul.
  • Nearest Metro/Tram: Tophane tram stop (0.2 mile). Şişhane metro station (0.5 mile).
  • Area: Trendy Cihangir is a lazy-take-your-time neighborhood with antique shops and cafes cluttering the sidewalks, lots of colorful street art, and jasmine vines climbing on old buildings. It’s also only a few minutes’ walk to the most bustling parts of Beyoglu and Karaköy, and a quick hop over on the tram to the historic Sultanahmet district.
  • How to Get There: It’s easy to take the tram 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 Museum of Innocence, Istiklal Avenue, Kalic Ali Pasa Hamam.

Witt Istanbul Hotel – The Basics

  • Ages: Mostly young professionals and older guests. The hotel isn’t geared towards families but extra beds are offered to children under seven.
  • View: Rooms have views of the town all the way to the sea.
  • Parking: The hotel will cover the cost of parking at a garage close by (100m) but there’s no valet.
  • Extras: The rooftop garden, with views of the town and Marmara Sea, is absolutely delightful and you can munch on whatever’s in season – from strawberries to perhaps a sprig of fresh mint – while sipping a cocktail. Fresh fruit, coffee, and tea are on offer in the hotel daily.
  • When to Book: The end of April through November plus weekends year-round are busy and require booking a month or so ahead. At other times, a few weeks’ advance booking should be fine.
  • Phone: +90 212 293 1500
  • Email: reservation@wittistanbul.com
  • Website: wittistanbul.com

Witt Istanbul Hotel – Amenities

  • Pool: No pool.
  • Spa: No spa.
  • Fitness Center: No fitness center at the hotel but discounted daily rates are available at a nearby gym for hotel guests.
  • For Disabled Guests: There are no specifically designed wheelchair accessible rooms or features. The basement entry can accommodate wheelchairs and connects to the elevator.

Witt Istanbul Hotel – Food and Drink

  • Restaurant: No restaurant; only a breakfast buffet is served. There are many restaurants only a few minutes’ walk away. Some rooms also have kitchens for self-caterers.
  • Lounge/Bar: There’s a bar in the lobby where you can grab a drink to sip there, in your room, or on the rooftop terrace.
  • Breakfast: An excellent, organic buffet breakfast is included in the rate or you can have it served in your room free of charge. The cheery breakfast area in the lobby has windows that look out onto the street in front of the hotel.
  • Room Service: 24-hour room service available.

Witt Istanbul Hotel – Rooms

  • Room Types: King • King Panoramic • Queen Panoramic With Terrace • King Panoramic With Terrace • Penthouse • List of all Rooms
  • Smoking Rooms: The hotel is 100% smoke-free.
  • Best Room: The Penthouse here is hard to beat at a full 80 square meters with huge windows and sliding doors that offer views and light and lead to the massive private terrace. You can see the old town, Bosphorus, and Marmara Sea from the outdoor table, and the spires and tops of buildings even from the bed. The bathroom is spacious and features five showerheads, and there’s a fully-equipped kitchen too. It’s one of the best rooms in the city, especially if you love Mid-Century Modern style.
  • For Families: The Penthouse is also the best room for families.

Witt Istanbul Hotel – Local Transport

  • Walking: The hotel is an easy walk to the bustling parts of Beyoglu and is also right in the charming and bohemian Cihangir part of town.
  • Metro, Tram, and Bus: It’s a 5-minute walk (0.2 mile) to the Tophane tram stop that can take you over to the historic center of town in 15 minutes.
  • Taxis, Uber, Lyft: Uber operates in Istanbul, or the hotel can call you a reliable taxi.

Witt Istanbul Hotel – What’s Nearby?

Recommended Tours

Best Nearby Restaurants

  • Van Kahvalti Evi – Famous for their Turkish breakfasts, this friendly, down-home neighborhood café is a favorite with locals. (0.1 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. (0.2 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. (0.3 mile).
  • Dandin Karaköy – Cool café-style eatery serving pizzas and sandwiches to start and some absolutely decadent cakes and pastries to finish. (0.3 mile).
  • Hayvore – This old fashioned, very reasonably priced lokanta-style place serves ready-made Black Sea cuisine including soups, pizzas, and pilafs. (0.5 mile).
  • Karaköy Güllüoglu – The most renowned baklava in Istanbul, with a huge selection. (0.6 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. (0.6 mile).
  • 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. (0.5 mile).
  • Sofyali 9 – Known for its delicious mezes, jovial locals flock here on weekends, but weeknights you should be able to get a table. (0.6 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. (0.7 mile).
  • Antiochia – Specializing in dishes from Antakya in southeastern Turkey, the food here is exceptional and enjoyed in a modern, convivial setting. (0.6 mile).
  • Meze by Lemon Tree – This very popular restaurant specializes in modern Turkish fare served in a slick dining area. (0.7 mile).

Best Nearby Cafés

  • 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. (0.2 mile).
  • Coffee Sapiens – Serious coffee lovers should head here for the house-roasted beans and everything from espresso to Aeropress and cold brew. (0.3 mile).
  • Short Black – One of the hippest new coffee places in a lively dining and drinking strip in Karaköy. (0.5 mile).

Best Nearby Bars and Breweries

  • Smyrna – Find the bohemian side of the city here. Drink a glass of wine or a cocktail and discuss art and literature. (0.2 mile).
  • Unter – Grab a cocktail and bite to eat at one of the bars that pioneered hip, located in now very-hip Karaköy. (0.4 mile).
  • Solera – A great place to sample Turkish wines. Over 100 of them are served by the glass at this warm and inviting spot. (0.5 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. (0.7 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. (0.7 mile).
  • Mikla – Elegant rooftop bar and restaurant, atop the Marmara Pera hotel and with the best view in town. (0.7 mile).

Nearby Clubs, Cinemas, and Live Music

  • Baska Sinema – Art house and experimental films are screened at this beloved cinema. (0.3 mile).
  • Galata Mevlevi Museum – Come see a whirling dervish performance in this spectacular hall built in the 15th century. (0.5 mile).
  • Borusan Art – Enjoy performances of classical, jazz, and other music from around the world at this fine music hall. (0.6 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).
  • 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. (0.8 mile).

Nearby Shopping and Cool Shops

  • Hiç – Gorgeous shop selling homeware and crafts by top Turkish designers. (0.4 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. (0.4 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. (0.5 mile).
  • Ali Muhiddin Haci Bekir – The place to buy Turkish delight. This is where the locals go. (0.5 mile).
  • Denizler Kitabevi – Charming book, map, art, and postcard store right on Istiklal Avenue. (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. (0.6 mile).
  • Misela – Lauded, classic, and very stylish handbags by local designer Serra Türker. (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. (0.3 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. (0.3 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. (0.3 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. (0.5 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. (0.6 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. (0.7 mile).
  • Pera Museum – You’ll find excellent exhibits of 17th to 20th-century Ottoman art as well as changing, modern exhibits of international standards. (0.6 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 breathtaking 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. (0.2 mile).
  • Sok – Well-stocked supermarket. (0.6 mile).

Witt Istanbul Hotel – The Hotel

The hotel has a very small entrance.

The entrance is so understated it can even be easy to miss at first.

A cartoon man greets you in the elevator.

This little cartoon man (painted by a local artist) sweats and complains as he pulls you up in the elevator – it’s like a comic strip every time you go up or down.

The room are modern.

Hip, local design firm Autoban can be thanked for this modern gorgeousness.

All rooms have large living areas.

Each room has plenty of hang out space and a flat screen TV that blends into the decor.

The kitchens are bright and spacious.

The kitchen spaces are brightened up with mirror-tiled walls and marble counter tops.

Bathrooms are very modern.

Bathrooms are ultra-plush with marble and modern fixtures.

Rooms feature pleasing decor.

The wall décor is pleasing to the eye.

Rooms come with mid-century modern furniture.

Furniture is of mid-century modern style.

Views are of the river and Old Town.

A common view from most rooms spreads over rooftops to the river and Old Town.

The rooms are like comfortable apartments.

It’s the Istanbul apartment you wish you had and can have, if only by the night.

Rooms have well-stocked bars.

Each room has a well-stocked kitchen and bar area.

Showers come with 5 heads.

Showers have 5 heads for a luxuriously modern bathing experience.

Bathrooms are well-appointed.

Hairdryer, magnified mirror, complimentary toiletries – it’s all there.

Decor is pleasant throughout the hotel.

The decor throughout is beautiful and cozy, even in the common areas.

The rooftop offers panoramic views.

Plop yourself in one of these chairs and just you see how hard it is to leave this fantastic rooftop area.

Strawberries are grown in a corner of the roof.

While you’re on the rooftop, pick a few organically grown strawberries.

The breakfast area is very modern.

Even before coffee, this breakfast area feels hip.

The breakfast area has a small library.

There’s also a small library near the breakfast area where you can cozy up with a good book.

The small bar is very casual.

Order a drink at the casual bar.

The reception is manned round the clock.

Reception is friendly and always available.

Unique lights adorn the lobby.

Don’t miss the details like this bubble light in the lobby.

360 Istanbul Bar offers fantastic views.

That cocktail, breeze, and view seem extra special after walking mostly uphill to get to 360 Istanbul bar. Luckily, it’s all downhill on the way back.

Journey café offers healthy menu options.

Turn right out the door, then make your first right to reach the lovely Journey café with lots of options for those with dietary restrictions.

Mikla bar offers amazing views.

It’s worth the walk uphill and across town to get to the lovely Mikla bar that has arguably the best view in the city.

Balya grocery shop sells organic products.

Balya grocery store selling some of the best organic products in town is directly across the street from the hotel.

Hayvore is a popular local-style cafe.

Walk uphill through scenic lanes to reach the local-style Hayvore cafe.

Kronotrop serves great coffee.

For real coffee, it’s only a quick hop, skip, and jump from the hotel to Kronotrop.

Smyrna is great for a glass of wine.

Feel arty with a glass of wine at Smyrna in Cihangir.

Van Kahvalti cafe is very popular with locals.

For real local-style breakfast, head to this old-time favorite, Van Kahvalti in Cihangir.

Sok is a convenient supermarket nearby.

Forget your toothbrush? Craving peanut butter? Sok Market is close by.

Cuma Cafe is known for its breakfast.

Turn right out the door and take your second left for the best breakfast in town (or go for lunch or dinner) at Cuma Cafe.

Museum of Innocence has a display of cigarette butts.

You’re just a short walk away from the romantic, odd, and wonderful Museum of Innocence which is based on a book. Don’t miss it.

Karakoy Gulluoglu serves amazing baklava.

It’s a short walk downhill to Karakoy Gulluoglu for the best baklava you’ll ever have.

Dandin serves great light meals and desserts.

Turn left out the door, then another left on the main road into Karakoy to get to Dandin for a light meal or epic desserts.

Coffee Sapiens is a great coffee hangout.

Coffee Sapiens is known as one of the best spots for coffee in the city.

Galata Tower is an iconic landmark.

It’s a quick walk across town through wonderful lanes to the iconic Galata Tower. Wait in line if you want to go to the top.

You can see whirling dervishes at Galata Mevlevi Museum.

See whirling dervishes and more right near the Galata Tower at the gorgeous Galata Mevlevi Museum.

Nardis Jazz Club is very popular.

For a wonderful night out, head past the Galata Tower to reach Nardis Jazz Club.

Sofyali Cafe offers great food and outdoor seating.

It’s an easy walk through ancient-feeling lanes to get to the sidewalk tables and cute interior of Sofyali Cafe.

Eleos is a classy Greek restaurant.

Left out the door then up and over onto Istiklala Avenue, the wonderful Greek restaurant, Eleos, offers classy seating and great views.

Corner Irish Pub is very popular.

Guinness lovers rejoice: the lively Corner Irish Pub is close by.

The Casual Cafe Ara offers streetside seating.

A few minutes through Cihangir, right off of Istiklal Avenue, you could hang out half the day answering emails or chatting at the casual Ara café.

Dürümzade was highly recommended by Bourdain.

Walk 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.

Antiochia is one of Istanbul's best restaurants.

It’s well-worth the walk to one of Istanbul’s most reliably good restaurants, Antiochia.

Pera Museum is one of the city's best museums.

Head uphill and past Istiklal Avenue to get to the city’s finest museum, Pera Museum.

Short Black is a hip cafe.

For a lot of hip vibes with your Java, visit Short Black café in the Karaköy area.

Meze by Lemon Tree is a top restaurant.

Walk through the lively heart of Beyoglu to get to the slick Meze by Lemon Tree restaurant.

Topkapi Palace's harem is a must-visit.

From the Tophane tram station, you can hop onto a tram to get to the magnificent Topkapi Palace. When there, don’t miss the harem.

The Basilica Cistern has a cool Medusa pillar.

The Tophane tram station is also the best way to get across to the Sultanahmet and the Basilica Cistern.

Hagia Sofia is magnificent.

Near the Basilica Cistern is the stunning Hagia Sofia.

The Blue Mosque is a must-visit.

The Sultanahmet tram station is also close to the Blue Mosque.

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About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave Author Bio. Santorini Dave was started in 2011 by a guy who loved Greece, travel, and great hotels. We're now a small team of writers and researchers on a mission to deliver the most helpful travel content on the internet. We specialize in Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and Greece and recommend the best hotels, best neighborhoods, and best family hotels in top destinations around the world. We also make hotel maps and travel videos. I can be contacted at dave@santorinidave.com.