Open up a world of Turkish inspiration with a Cornucopia digital subscription

Buy or gift a stand-alone digital subscription and get unlimited access to dozens of back issues for just £18.99 / $18.99 a year.

Please register at www.exacteditions.com/digital/cornucopia with your subscriber account number or contact subscriptions@cornucopia.net

Buy a digital subscription Go to the Digital Edition
Find it

Sirkeci Mansion

Hoca Paşa Mh., Taya Hatun Cad. No:5, 34120 Istanbul / TURKEY → Book Now


Situated next to Gülhane Park near Topkapı Palace and the Archeological Museum, Sirkeci Mansion offers a tranquil place to stay in the bustling historic centre. Although it was built in 2007, the hotel’s architecture evokes a sense of Istanbul’s past. The 52 guest rooms are tastefully decorated with rich fabrics and Turkish carpets and provide all the expected comforts including plush bedding, luxury linens and modern bathrooms. For those looking to indulge in a Turkish experience, Sirkeci Mansion has its own hamam. There’s also an indoor pool, fitness centre and sauna. The rooftop terrace offers a wonderful place to relax and enjoy stunning views of Sultanahmet.

A writer’s view, by Pat Yale

History doesn’t get much closer than to Sirkeci Mansion, a lovely, nothing-is-too-much-effort hotel across the road from Gülhane Park, the wonderful green oasis that was once part of the Topkapı Palace gardens. Land one of the topmost rooms and you will be able to eyeball the herons’ nests inside the park from your balcony.   At Sirkeci Mansion the comfort of guests is always uppermost in the owner’s mind so you’re guaranteed a warm welcome and all the little extras that add up to a great stay: copies of Time Out Istanbul in the rooms, the hotel’s own four-page newspaper at the breakfast table, a welcoming bowl of lokum (Turkish delight) on arrival, the owner’s phone number in case of an emergency.   Rooms are spacious and comfortable with big beds and underfloor heating in the bathrooms. A particular plus is the small swimming pool in the basement, a lifesaver in the heat of high summer. The breakfast spread makes a wonderful introduction to the great Turkish tradition of getting the day off to a good start with a multitude of choices, both hot and cold. In the evening it metamorphoses into a pukka restaurant, again with plenty of choice. An inviting lounge on the ground floor makes the perfect place to down an afternoon çay (tea) while browsing the books in the hotel’s small library.   The sights of Sultanahmet are a 10-minute walk uphill, the Bosphorus ferries a 10-minute walk downhill. The tram is a hop and a skip from the front door.

Pat Yale is a writer and journalist based in Cappadocia. She is the co-author of Istanbul – The Ultimate Guide and winner of the 2015 Ancient and Modern Prize for her ongoing project to explore Turkey in the footsteps of Gertrude Bell.


Good places to stay
Buy the latest issue
Or, browse the back issues here
Issue 66, December 2023 Turkey’s Centenary Issue
£ 15.00



Cornucopia Digital Subscription

The Digital Edition

Cornucopia works in partnership with the digital publishing platform Exact Editions to offer individual and institutional subscribers unlimited access to a searchable archive of fascinating back issues and every newly published issue. The digital edition of Cornucopia is available cross-platform on web, iOS and Android and offers a comprehensive search function, allowing the title’s cultural content to be delved into at the touch of a button.

Digital Subscription: £18.99 / $18.99 (1 year)

Subscribe now