|
The Orient Express Hotel is
right on the Zeytinburnu-Kabatas
tramline between the Gülhane and Sirkeci stops.
It’s
a very convenient location
(Google
map),
only a few minutes’ walk downhill
to the Sirkeci
train station and Eminönü
ferries, and just a 10-minute uphill
walk to Old
Istanbul and the Topkapi
Palace,
Archeological
Museums, Blue
Mosque and
Aya
Sofya.
This is a delightful small hotel whose
54 immaculate guest rooms are decorated
in a cheerful, homely style. They come
with small tub-equipped private
bathrooms,
comfortable beds, televisions with
English-language programming, and plenty
of space to sit and ponder the day’s
sightseeing. All the rooms have Wifi
Internet access and some are set
aside for non-smokers.
The rooftop Imbat Restaurant offers
a great view out over the Bosphorus towards
the Galata
Tower in one direction
and towards the Topkapi
Palace in the
other. It serves mainly Mediterranean
cuisine interspersed with some Turkish
choices. There’s a good choice
of wines as well.
An open-buffet breakfast with plentiful
choices is served in the basement breakfast
room where guests also receive complimentary
copies of the hotel’s own Sirkeci
Daily Express full of sightseeing tips
and other useful information.
Also in the basement is a small swimming
pool with poolside
bar, a great place
to wind down after a hot day’s
sightseeing.
The ground floor features the delightful
Wagon Bar which has
been designed to imitate the interior
of one of Istanbul’s
famous and much-loved ferries – they
still leave from the Eminönü
docks not far from the hotel.
The reception
area is decorated with posters
which recall the glory days of the
eponymous
Orient
Express trains that
used to steam into Sirkeci
station nearby.
(The historic station is due to receive
a facelift as part of the ongoing Marmaray
railway tunnel project, due
for completion in 2011).
The Orient Express is a hotel which
prides itself on its service and attention
to detail. Forgot your multi-fit
bath plug? Never fear, reception can provide
one for you. Need guidance on what
to see? Ditto.
The Orient Express Hotel is
part of the Sirkeci
Group Hotels,
owned by Mr Faruk Boyaci, which includes
the nearby Erboy
Hotel and Sirkeci
Konak Hotel. It’s
a good choice if you’re after
comfort without too steep a price tag.
When you make a reservation, please
mention
TTP. Here’s why.
Orient Express Hotel
Hüdavendigâr Caddesi No.
34 (Google
map)
34110 Sirkeci, Istanbul, Turkey
Tel +90 (212) 520 7161
Fax +90 (212) 526 8446
info@orientexpresshotel.com
www.orientexpresshotel.com
|
