Elegant and considerately restored, the House Hotel Galatasaray occupies the historic 1890s Zenovitch Apartment – so-called for the Serbian pianist and former resident, whose name can still be seen on the hotel’s 19th century stone façade. With an eye to retaining the original building’s aura of cosmopolitan chic, many period features remain; there are still shutters on the windows and the original marble staircase is a dominant and useful feature, since the hotel doesn’t actually have a lift.

Designed with the help of the award-winning firm, Autoban Design – a longtime collaborator of the House Hotel projects – the guest accommodations at the House Hotel Galatasaray are all suites (no measly “rooms” here) with high ceilings, goose down bed linens, and marble bathrooms with Lokum Istanbul products. And spacious, to boot, with many suites having separate living areas with LCD televisions and comfortable sofas for reclining. But, while the freestanding showers found in some of the suites are curvaceous and modern in design, their location – perched right next to the sumptuously comfortable beds – leaves something to be desired.