The Unstoppable Rise of Sultanahmet and The Komana Binbirdirek

Posta / June 2025

In his column “The Unstoppable Rise of Sultanahmet”, published in Posta on 15 June 2025, Bekir Saçar looks at how Sultanahmet has changed in recent years and features The Komana Binbirdirek as one of the new addresses behind that change.

Saçar recalls that when the Generation of '68, also known as the 'flower children', set out from Europe to discover the Eastern philosophy they admired, Sultanahmet was one of their most important stops. A major draw for travellers, especially from Europe, throughout the late 1960s and the 1970s, the district has, in his view, transformed rapidly in recent years and become a favourite destination for the world's wealthy and for white-collar workers rather than hippies. He notes that the luxury hotels and restaurants opening one after another have played a major part in this transformation.

The Komana Binbirdirek

The column describes how the massive cistern built in the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine I gained a new identity as Ottoman mansions grew up around it from the 16th century onwards. One of these mansions, restored by architect Neslihan Zeynep Uysal, began serving guests as The Komana Binbirdirek, in the column's words, “15 days ago”. Saçar singles out the Stone Room as one of the most special spaces of the hotel, which blends its historical atmosphere with modern touches. According to the column, the Binbirdirek, Cistern, Oak and Chinar suites, designed with elegant details, bring together luxury, historical fabric and modern comfort, while the rooms named Linden, Pine, Cedar, Florentine, Fleur De Lys, Acanthus, Chestnut, Mulberry and Maple stand out for their spaciousness and serene atmosphere.

Flavours with a View

The column also covers the hotel's restaurants. L'entrée, which combines café, bar and brasserie concepts, appeals to every palate with its rich menu. Sentez Restaurant serves guests with views of the Sea of Marmara, Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, presenting local flavours with a contemporary interpretation through a menu inspired by Anatolian and Mediterranean cuisines. Saçar closes by urging readers whose path leads to the Historic Peninsula to discover the changing face of Sultanahmet.

Source: Posta