Soho House Istanbul

The bohemian yet sophisticated rooms at the Soho House feel like a very cool friend’s apartment, but the property offers such pampering amenities as a spa, bar and rooftop pool.

• The beautifully restored Palazzo building’s buzzy bar and lounge areas
• The rooftop bar and plunge pool with sweeping views of Istanbul
• The vintage Ottoman-style details in the rooms

Located in the hip Beyoğlu neighborhood, this members club-cum-hotel has 87 guest rooms, making it the largest Soho House yet. Accommodations range from a tiny 200-square-feet to a very comfortable 600-square-feet before entering the top suite category. All are homey and comfortable, with enviable Anatolian kilim rugs, beautiful wood flooring and a vintage radio dialed to a local station. The bathroom is stocked with full-size organic Cowshed products, as well as travel-sized containers of practically any bath product one may have left at home.

The property’s defining feature is the historical palazzo building that it occupies. The structure dates back to 1873, when it was commissioned by Ignaxio Corpi, a powerful Genoese shipbuilder. He imported marble from Carrara and commissioned famous artists to paint frescoes and Greek mythological scenes on the ceilings. Upon his death, the building was leased to the American ambassador and it continued to be occupied by the U.S. government for nearly 100 years. In 2014, Soho House began restoring the original palazzo detailing to a glory that is in keeping with the spirit of the city. The bones are elegant in an aged, slightly subdued way, but the grand exterior gives way to the lush, youthful interior spaces like the impeccably-designed bar and lounge, rooftop restaurant and plunge pool.

Like at any Soho House property, there is a set of house rules, including restrictions on photography and speaking on cell phones in public spaces. It is important to note that flawless service is not the highest priority here, and one should really think of it as renting an apartment with excellent amenities.

Young couples and singles who enjoy a scene and don’t need round-the-clock pampering. First-time visitors to Istanbul and families with a full touring schedule may be better off elsewhere.