While other Istanbul hotels emphasize the city’s ties to antiquity, Witt Istanbul Suites is every inch the ultra-modern contemporary-design boutique hotel. Formerly an ad agency HQ, it’s close by to the central business district, as well as some of the best shopping, dining and nightlife in this modern quarter — and Roka, the ground-floor brasserie, ensures that the Witt gets its own share of the nightlife action.
The design is by Autoban, the local firm that’s responsible for quite a lot of the contemporary-style interiors you’ll see around town. Their look for the Witt is modernist-inspired but also lush and luxurious, space-age lines expressed in rich textures of wood and leather — and in many places they’re using their own furniture designs, thus avoiding the off-the-shelf look of too many boutique hotels.
As for the suites there are just fifteen of them, each one outfitted with apartment-style comforts, including separate living rooms and kitchens as well as standards like flat-screen entertainment centers. We’ve seen “residential” hotels before, to mixed results, but Witt is the rare exception — it’s got not just the bells and whistles but character too, enough that you could actually imagine yourself calling it home for a while.
How to get there: Witt Istanbul Suites is approximately a 30 minute drive from Ataturk International Airport. This can take much longer during rush hour. Alternatively the nearest metro stations are Tophane or Taksim Square, both within 10 minutes of the hotel.