Pera Palace Hotel, Istanbul

The history is amazing! Loved the atmosphere!

The best breakfast I have so far in a hotel restaurant

The breakfast buffet is the best I have found in any hotel anywhere. And the Cafe has lots of character, due to the historic photos of famous past guests.

The lobby and furnishings could use some sprucing up!

You travel in time in the glorious days of the Orient Express, expecting to meet Agatha Christie, while having all the comfort of the 21st century. Ideal location close to various shopping areas and excellent restaurants (Yeni Lokanta, Aheste), as well as the metro (access to the airport with one change). The staff is super friendly, special thanks to Esmanur. The spa is very nice too.

Beautiful architecture and classic design!

The location. The housekeeping and maintenance staff were very good. The staff at breakfast were very nice. Reception staff were friendly and helpful. The view was good. The public spaces are very interesting and attractive.

We were unable to open the door of our room on two occasions. Maintenance staff had to remove the lock mechanism to repair the door. The heating didn’t work in our room. Again, maintenance staff had to come to our room and repair the system. We had a twin room. The beds were too narrow. It’s a luxury hotel. There was room for wider twin beds in our room. The seating area - a desk chair and a small chaise lounge - was not comfortable. There was room for two comfortable chairs and a coffee table. We would have sat downstairs in the lounge but the lighting was very dim and the piped music was so loud. Breakfast was a bit patchy. The fried eggs were delicious but the mezze, salad and fruit options were limited.

A real palace experience with outstanding staff at perfect location.

Amazing hotel. History location and staff amazing time

This atmospheric hotel is just a short walk away from the Istiklal street and Galata tower. The taxi drive from Sabiha airport took just 50 minutes (after 8 PM Friday night). We liked everything: the location, the building/interior, the room, the beds, the breakfast, the spa. Basically, nothing to complain about, despite the longer text I wrote below with dislikes. Those are minor issues you can easily avoid, benefits are much more sound. We'll certainly come again!

Hotel's own airport transfer service is too expensive compared to the local taxi. Through booking.com we got very convenient transfer from Sabiha for just 55 euros, whereas the hotel charges 130e for the same Mercedes Vito van. When booking a room with the Golden Horn view, keep in mind that the view comes with street noise caused by a very intense traffic. Anyway, it's worth having this view. What I did not understand at all is that in the end mu credit card was charged 15 euros more than I was supposed to pay based on the invoice issued by the hotel. When asked by email afterwards, I was given a non-convincing explanation that it may be due to "exchange rate variations applied by your bank at the time of posting the transaction, as well as possible foreign currency conversion fees". It's not a big deal, but it leaves a bit of a sour taste.

It has a history and ambiance. It can not be measured with money. Staying there itself is a memory.

Historical, classy, warm and comfortable. Very professional and friendly employees throughout.

The hotel is amazing , full of historical artefacts. Comfortable and a great location.

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Loved my stay at Pera Palace! Great location close to the city center, quiet despite the nearby road, and spacious room. Staff were excellent, New Year’s decorations were stunning, and room service cocktails from the bar were perfect! Highly recommend!

One time, housekeeping forgot to leave the large towels in the room

The hotel is exceptional——the location, the service and the unique oriental culture. Within 8 min you can reach the main tourist attractions and wonderful restaurants. Here I’d like to express my special thanks to Selim who helped my check-in, which is the biggest welcome the city Istanbul can bestow to a tourist. Thank you for your hospitality and I’ll recommend this hotel to those reading this comment:))

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Location, room, restaurant, everything

Everything was perfect

Room was large and clean and breakfast was excellent with lots of variety of choice. The staff thoughout the stay were very kind, warm and welcoming. I liked the professionalism it was refreshing to see. and a credit to the organisation.

It's the grand dame of Istanbul hotels. What a pleasure it is to stay here. Room was large, comfortable and quiet and I loved the marble Turkish bath like shower.

No complaints.

The hotel is just beautiful — the lounges are breathtaking and the rooms are lovely. Staff are professional, pleasant and helpful. The breakfast is amazing. The location is good, too. Plus — the history of the Pera Palace! It was a pleasure to stay at this hotel.

We were greeted upon arrival with a very confusing upgrade offer. I was not up for any wheeling and dealing after a long journey, and our original room was satisfactory anyway. Plus honestly it was already a splurge. This was not the best welcome, but after that we loved everything about the hotel.

Beautifully maintained historical building.

a grateful environment and perfect staff with perfect services

Breakfast was excellent. Place was ideal. Some of the personnel at the reception were exceptional. Stunning views from our room.

Some of the personnel at restaurant were not well trained. Most of the television channels in Turkish. No channel with movies in English.

Everything was great! We went there for Xmas. The hotel vibe is extraordinary! Our room was huge and very comfortable with quality bath products. They offered us a Xmas treat upon arrival. Breakfast was excellent, the personnel was polite and friendly at the same time! The spa area was nice and vey well maintained despite of the fact that the hotel is close to the sea.

From the very first day an unpleasant odour was coming from the bathtub. By the end of the third day of our stay , water was coming out of the bathtub. We didn't say anything but we reported the problem to the reception upon check out!

Beautiful, historic, very comfortable and excellent staff. Everyone was super helpful. Emrullah greeted us and helped us with taxis. They allowed us to have a late check out (2:00 pm) when one kid was sick and needed to rest longer. And we were able to check in super early (10 AM) because our rooms happened to be ready.

It was farther from the more touristy areas than was ideal, and about 0.5 mile walk to the Metro. In all, getting to the Blue Mosque area required about 30 minutes each way. But once we learned our way around it was not a problem!

You just plunge back into the early 19th century. The hotel is full of memories and the rooms are surprisingly quiet, despite being in the center.

If I have one minus, it was the breakfast area. We came 30 minutes before breakfast time was over and it was a little obvious that that staff wanted to close up - taking food away, not preparing tables for guests, literally giving zero attention to guests.

The history, the grandeur and the general ambiance of the Pera Palace make it a truly unique hotel that the staff help to embody. A total 10/10.

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This hotel is perfectly located in Beyoğlu close to Şişhane Metro in Istanbul. This metro station offers easy access to many Istanbul locations including Taksim and Old City. The staff went out of their way to make the stay enjoyable. The rooms are well sized and beds very comfortable. Bathrooms are also a great size with great amenities. The hotel is a hundred meters from Istiklal Avenue and around 750 meters from Galata Tower. There is also an amazing view over the Golden Horn from around 100 meters away. If you’re coming to Istanbul and love historical hotels this is a must stay. We spent four days in this neighbourhood and there is a lot to see and do either walking distance or via metro around the hotel.

Cannot fault this property at all.

We had a wonderful stay. Hotel, staff, attention to detail are remarkable. Hotel is very centrally located, a lot of bars, shops and cafes around, convenient to explore the region. Room has a historical vibe, yet is modern and comfortable, which is valid for the whole hotel. We had also a great view to the Golden horn. Stay was related to a personal holiday and we had additional nice treat form the hotel, which makes the day even better and unforgettable, for which I would like to express again my sincere gratefulness and appreciation!

nothing to complain from

Marvellous place. All the staff were great. Slightly disappointed that I didn’t get to run into Agatha Christie or Hemingway at the bar

I want to start with the highlight of our stay at Pera Palace. Ms. Esmanur was the most caring and knowledgeable person I met at the hotel. She gave us a tour of the Atatürk Room, explaining us the objects in the room and the history of how Atatürk found the Republic of Türkiye in great detail. She explained everything in Turkish as well as English for my family. She took us on a tour of the hotel, showing us the first electric elevator in Türkiye, the ballroom where Atatürk danced, and many more. She explained us the history of the hotel in great detail and even the history of the previous owners. I came to this place in hopes of learning about the great history of Pera Palace and Ms. Esmanur definitely fulfilled my wishes. She even gave us a souvenir as a gift for us to take home. The hotel was very clean and well taken care of. The bar atmosphere was very cozy and the signature cocktails were so good. I don’t even have words to describe how good the patisserie was. I couldn’t be more happier with my stay at Pera Palace and will be visiting again soon.

This was my second stay at the hotel, and I also visited it many times during the two years I lived in Istanbul. Pera Palace is a truly special place where history is not displayed but felt. It carries the quiet elegance of a refined way of life long gone, yet still deeply missed. Staying here is as much about atmosphere as it is about comfort.

The Agatha restaurant could perhaps benefit from a menu that more closely reflects the hotel’s overall standard. In addition, the hotel hosts many events, which are of course understandable and important. At times, these events may limit guests’ access to certain facilities, and louder occasions such as weddings can also affect the calm and discreet atmosphere that many guests seek when choosing Pera Palace. Finding a balance that preserves this unique ambiance while still accommodating events would further enhance the experience for in-house guests.

everything was perfect, hotel even treated us with the complementary sweets for my birthday)

nothing, everything was fine

Beautiful building, steeped in history and so elegant. Loved it.

Can’t think of anything negative.

Gorgeous hotel and a fantastic, unique experience. Well worth it! Thanks to Salim for going the extra mile

Absolutely enjoyed our stay at Pera Palace. The hotel’s history is incredible and you really feel it the moment you walk in. It’s not just about staying somewhere nice, it’s about being part of Istanbul’s history. The staff made our experience special. Everyone was friendly, helpful, and went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask the name but we were even offered a historical elevator ride by a very kind and friendly member of the staff. He was also very helpful to my elderly mom. Our room was beautiful with an amazing view of the golden horn. Everything was spotless and well-maintained. The blend of historic charm with modern comfort was a perfect mix. If you’re visiting Istanbul and want somewhere with character, excellent service, and a touch of old-world elegance, this is the place. Highly recommend!

Only there 5 hours but good hotel

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The location, the facilities and the breakfast was of excellent value

The Internet need improving

Breakfast was fantastic 😋 👌 Everything inside was perfect,old but so beautiful i desire to visit back

Nothing to dislike

Living history yet still fully up to date. It brings the diverse charm of Istanbul to life.

Fantastic building and view. Nice room. Very comfortable bed. Charming historic atmosphere. Good location.

In my case, the luggage was not handled with care upon arrival, and my cabin suitcase fell down five steps in the lobby. Luckily, I didn’t have my laptop inside that day.

Incredible staff team at Pera, that went out of their way to make our stay ( and anniversary) truly memorable. The hotel is great, staying at Pera is like a step back in the glamourous old times, but it’s the people that make this gem shine. Hats off to the management!

nothing not to like / except that the time passed too quickly :)

The service was truly excellent. Each of the staff went way out of their way to understand and create a real experience. Everything including tour, guide and restaurant recommendations were spot on.

Beautiful historic hotel with lovely ambience. Very good buffet breakfast with lots of variety. Room well equipped and spacious. Nice spa!

Since our last visit pre Covid, I assume a lot of staff had turned over. Many this time had quite limited English which made for some communication issues. Also, after a week it became quite annoying as a paying guest that every time you were in the lobby or public areas, multiple people were wandering in off the street to take a selfie! quite large groups of people would come in, snap a photo of themselves or the interior, hang around for 5 or 10 mins and go out again. But sometimes so many people doing that, redoing photos for their social media etc and blocking corridors it was really annoying.....

The authentic historic original atmosphere.

Nothing. Everything was great.

Such a beautiful place!! We loved it so much. We had a balcony and had our coffee on the balcony every morning. It was magical! The bed was very comfortable, the amenities were excellent. The staff was so helpful and welcoming. I can't say enough good things. The location was great so close to so many restaurants. We can't wait to go back!

Not a problem for us but the shower was a claw foot tub in a shower. It was beautiful but if you had any mobility issues it might be a challenge. I thought it was lovely though.

Pera Palace is truly one of the go to hotels in Istanbul. If you are searching for a real 5* treatment this is the place to go. All the praises to the staff who work there - they make the whole experience truly unforgettable!

Everything

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The orient express atmosphere

Pera Palace is an historic establishment in the heart of Istanbul. I was delighted with my room which oozed with memories of Greta Garbo who stayed there. The soundproofing was fairly efficient in eliminating the noise of this busy, bustling city. A special thank you to Rachel and Selim at reception for their kindness.

Bar prices were rather steep - around double what I would have paid for the same in France. Unfortunately I couldn't have breakfast as I had to leave for the airport too early. However the staff did offer to prepare something if I had wanted.

A beautiful and carefully renovated hotel with a rich history. The staff were warm and welcoming. The lady at the spa reception was particularly sweet and went out of her way to offer wonderful service. Lovely breakfast and the bar was the perfect place for an aperitif before dinner. We only spent our last night in Istanbul here and it was so worth it!

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Big but mattress needs turning