AJWA Sultanahmet Hotel Review: A Lovely 5 Star Hotel in Sultanahmet, Istanbul
When we had the opportunity to utilize another American Express Fine Hotel Collection credit on our honeymoon in Istanbul, the AJWA Sultanahmet was the clear choice and boy, was it a good one! It was like stepping into a lavish Ottoman mansion that truly made it difficult to want to leave to explore the city.
In this review, Iโm sharing just how lovely this 5-star hotel in Sultanahmet, Istanbul really was including what to expect from your room, our experience with their Azerbaijani restaurant, and more!
Where is it?
AJWA Sultanahmet is located in its namesake. Sultanahmet is a neighborhood in the Fatih District and is also known as the Old City in Istanbul.
Itโs where youโll find iconic attractions like Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, and the Blue Mosque, which Iโm sure youโll visit on any Istanbul itinerary even if you only have just one day in Istanbul.
How to get to AJWA Sultanahmet
From the IST or SAW airports, you can either take a taxi or the Havaist bus to the tram lines in the city center.
We found that taxis were easier when hauling our luggage around, but itโs totally up to you.
The closest tram stop is รemberlฤฑtaล on Tram Line 1.
Related read >> Tips for getting around Istanbul
Parking Availability
There is free parking on site should you need it. We didnโt use it given that we got around solely on public transportation and taxis.
Valet is also available.
First Impressions
Lobby
Before you even make it in the lobby, you canโt help but find the building impressive. It looks like an Ottoman mansion with a beautiful and intricate doorway on the corner.
The lobby itself has been curated with items either from or inspired by the Ottoman Empire. And they are stunning!
Youโll quickly notice the mother-of-pearl inlaid furniture, silk Tabriz rugs, and hand-painted ceilings. And the chandeliers! Ah! They are exquisite!
Now, Iโm not sure if we were treated to a welcome gift because of our American Express benefits or if everyone gets this. But, we enjoyed a lovely welcome treat of dates from Sukkari, the on-site patisserie, and a glass of Sherbet, an Ottoman drink made in house with rose, sugar, and herbs. Yum!
Overall, Turkish hospitality was overflowing from the second we approached the door. It made us feel instantly at home in this luxury property, which weโd normally feel a bit out of place in.
Food and Drink
Zeferan Restaurant
This on-site restaurant on the uppermost floor celebrates Azerbaijani cuisine with beautiful views of the Old City.
Inside the restaurant, youโll dine surrounded by Turkish and Azerbaijani arts and artifacts, including an exquisite collection of antique Ottoman spoons. I especially loved the traditional Azerbaijani serving dishes with their vibrant colors.
We tried the stuffed vegetables, Gรผrzำ (Azerbaijan style dumplings), and mixed kebab, which came with lamb, beef, and chicken.
While everything was delicious, the Gรผrzำ were my favorite! You canโt go wrong with dumplings! The stuffing was flavorful, the dough melted in your mouth, and I loved the sumac on top.
I also tried their chocolate ice cream for dessert because I have no restraint. It was the perfect endcap to the meal.
Sukkari Patisserie
Also within the hotel is Sukkari, a patisserie with homemade cakes and pastries.
Unfortunately, since we were only staying for one night and there was sightseeing to be done, we missed their opening hours.
Should you find yourself craving a sweet treat, just be sure to visit before the afternoon hits as theyโll be closed.
Fun fact: Both โajwaโ and โsukkariโ are types of dates!
Breakfast Buffet
If thereโs one thing I loved most about Istanbul it was that Turkish breakfast is a serious affair. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day so discovering this little fact made me fall in love with Turkey.
We stayed at 3 hotels over the course of our time in Istanbul and every single one had the most lavish breakfast buffet and AJWA Sultanahmet was no exception.
There were olives, cheeses, meats, Turkish eggs (menemen), breads, pastries, fruit, vegetables, juices, yogurts, and more! Plus, they made eggs to order and had the most delicious Turkish coffee and tea.
Iโll never stop missing breakfasts like that!
Amenities
Afiya Spa and Fitness Center
Bathing and wellness are tradition in Turkey and date back to the daily lives of Ottomans. At Afiya Spa, you can participate in a hammam experience, which is a traditional cleaning ritual.
They have a full menu of spa options with massages and body treatments.
There is also a pool and fitness center for use.
Note that the facility is open to women from 6 am to 8 am, to men from 8 am to 3 pm, and to women again from 3:30 pm to 10 pm.
While we didnโt opt for the spa services here as they were beyond our price range, we did experience a hammam while in Istanbul and it was one of the most memorable parts of our trip.
I highly recommend splurging on this experience whether you do it at AJWA or beyond!
Internet
The WiFi at AJWA was easy to use and the connection was strong. We had no problem streaming and downloading what we needed.
Accessibility
The hotel is fully accessible, although itโs location beyond the front steps of the property is perhaps not.
For example, the hotel has a ramp to the front doors, two pretty spacious elevators (by European standards), and wide hallways and doors.
However, Istanbul in general we found to have limited accessibility. The streets by AJWA Sultanahmet are very hilly where the sidewalks are incomplete or broken and the streets are made of cobblestone.
Room Review
We stayed in one of 48 Deluxe Rooms, which had a king bed and water views. Similar to the lobby, the furniture and dรฉcor were luxury at its finest.
We had the most beautiful hand-woven silk carpet, walnut furniture, mother-of-pearl inlaid chairs, gilded ceilings, and a marble bathroom with stunning blue tiles.
Still, modern luxuries and amenities were abundant including a 4K Ultra HD TV, automatically controlled curtains, and air conditioning and heat control.
The closet space was ample for our needs and certainly larger than most European hotels.
One of my favorite features was their pillow menu. As a 29-year-old woman with a 70-year old womanโs back, I was very excited that I could โorderโ an ergonomic contour pillow just like I have at home! Neck pain from random hotel pillows be gone!
The mini bar was stacked with non-alcoholic beverages and there were plenty of snacks to enjoy including Godiva chocolate bars, pistachios, M&Ms, and more.
A word for the bathroom because it spoiled us. Aside from the abundance of amenities, the bathtub was so lovely, especially in the winter when we visited. I could have stayed submerged in there far longer than was probably healthy.
Who this hotel is best for
In my opinion, this hotel is best for couples or solo travelers looking to splurge. While groups and families will certainly enjoy it, the luxury furniture, especially the mother-of-pearl furniture and silk rugs, are begging to be respected and protected.
Not to mention the spa is lovely for adults looking to relax and unwind and there isnโt much in the way of entertainment for kids.
Overall, AJWA Sultanahmet is catered to adults.
How much it costs to stay at AJWA Sultanahmet
Rates start at $300 USD a night and increase from there given day of the week and seasonal popularity (summer is peak season for Istanbul). Book your room here.*
*Note that you cannot use Booking.com when actually in Turkey, so itโs best to book ahead and print your confirmation should you choose to use them to book.
Quick facts:
- Fully accessible once inside the property.
- Breakfast is extra unless a package was purchased, and itโs worth it!
- No smoking in rooms, but designated smoking area available.
- No pets allowed.
Check out these other Istanbul posts:
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