Hotel Armada

The Armada hotel is situated in the working class, historical area of Sultanahmet, in a small street parallel to the boulevard that runs along the seafront of Marmara. The Blue Mosque, the Saint-Sophie mosque and the Topkapi palace are very close, about 10 minutes by foot. Allow 20-25 minutes to get to the airport (11 miles).

Located along the walls of ancient Byzance, the hotel is on the very site where Grand Admiral Hayrettin Pasha built quarters for his ship's company in the 16th century.

The Armada was rebuilt in 1994 on the site of an ancient Ottoman residence from the 19th century, in the working class, historical area of Sultanahment. Its painted wood facade is in the style of the ancient buildings in Istanbul. The vast reception hall is prettily decorated with Ottoman-inspired works of art. In the centre there is a pool with a little smooth marble fountain with some turtles (carnivores). The hotel's 92 rooms are set over two floors with lifts. On the 3rd floor, the lift opens out onto a small room decorated with boxed filled with multicoloured spices. From there you can get to the panoramic restaurant.

The rooms are pleasant and are tastefully decorated, with paintings on wood. Comfort is standard: air conditioning, mini bar, satellite TV and a free safe. The bathroom has a tub (some have a shower), toilet, hairdryer and large mirror. Note that the soap is real olive oil soap made in Turkey. Some rooms have a view over the sea of the Blue Mosque. Choose the latter and avoid those on the first floor which has a view over the roof of the ground floor.

In winter, you can have breakfast buffets in the main restaurant of the hotel in the Istanbul style typical of the turn of the 20th century. On the 3rd floor you can eat in the panoramic restaurant, that is bright thanks to its large window facing the sea of Marmara; the first rays of sunlight allow you to enjoy its magnificent terrace opening up over the historic quarter towards a breathtaking view of the mosques. Lunch is copious: hard boiled or scrambled eggs, cereals, yoghurt, cheese, fruit, different breads... The menu offers a whole range of Turkish specialities: 16 starters, 4 fish, 7 meats, 5 grills, 3 salads and 5 desserts. The cuisine is of excellent quality. The hotel's restaurant is known as one of the best in Sultanahmet.