Review: Adahan DeCamondo Pera, Autograph Collection Hotel
Located right in the city center of Istanbul, the Adahan DeCamondo Para, Autograph Collection Hotel offers a boutique stay in a historical building. During my layover between Kuala Lumpur and Chicago, I had about 24 hours before my next flight on Turkish Airlines’ 777-300ER Business Class to Chicago, which was enough time to stay in Istanbul’s city center and explore the city.
It was my first time in Istanbul, so I wanted to try to capture as much of the area’s culture and atmosphere as I could while I was there. Situated in the Karaköy neighbourhood of Istanbul, the hotel is right in the center of the city’s most historical developments.
Booking & Check-in
Marriott had quite a few hotels around the city, so there was quite a selection of properties I could have stayed at. Fellow writer Kirin previously stayed at the Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul, Autograph Collection, so I decided to book something north of the Golden Horn Waterway.
Arriving from the airport on the subway was a bit of a hassle, including the endless escalators, 10- to 15-minute walks to transfer between subway lines, and getting scammed by sleight of hand at one of the transfer points. The alternative to this would have been to take a taxi from the airport, which had a notorious reputation for scamming tourists. Uber services in Istanbul were just taxi cabs called through the app, which were subject to the same taxi scam.
The walk from the subway station to the hotel’s front door only took a few minutes. However, with narrow sidewalks and uneven concrete tiles, it can be a bit of a struggle if you’re bringing a roller bag up from the station. The main entrance leading to the door was also a steep set of stairs, with the doors opening outwards above the stairs.
The lobby was quite small, which was really just a hallway between the two entrances. My room had been upgraded from a Deluxe King to a Camondo Suite without the use of any free night upgrades. The decor of the hotel really reflected the neighbourhood’s historical nature, reflecting the building’s build year of 1874. I had a great conversation with the front desk clerk about what to do and how to make the most of my short layover in the city.
Location
Being near the city center and having access to public transportation was definitely a big factor in choosing the hotel’s location. Just steps away from the Şişhane subway station, most of Istanbul was accessible through the city’s metro, tram, and bus networks. There are a few shopping centres nearby as well, about a 15-20 minute walk east of the hotel.
Parking
Parking is not available at this property due to the urban density and development of the area, leaving guests to figure out their own parking solution. There are a few public parking areas nearby, though hours, pricing, and restrictions are unknown.
Public Transportation
As previously mentioned, taxis in Istanbul are well known to scam tourists. However, alternative options for getting to the property differ in experience and quality from each other.
Using the metro, the journey from Istanbul took about 1 hour and 15 minutes. However, most stations, including interchange stations, had extremely long walkways and multiple escalators just to get to the metro from street level. Be aware of pickpockets and scammers, to whom I fell victim to, losing about $30 CAD while transferring between trains at Gayrettepe station. Regardless, the public transportation network in Istanbul can get you to most places, on both European and Asian sides of the city. A metro trip from the airport was $3.45 CAD converted from 119.39 Turkish Lira. You’ll also always find Istanbul’s furry citizens at almost all metro stations.
Alternatively, there is a publicly operated airport shuttle, HAVAIST, which runs from the airport to a stop about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Although it saves 10 minutes compared to the subway, a one-way trip is about $14 CAD, converted from 470 Turkish Lira. Online reviews note a mixed reaction regarding this service, with frequent delays, delayed departure times so that the bus is full instead of leaving on schedule, and payment problems from the company’s own website.
If you want to try to avoid all these risks and don’t mind spending a pretty penny, the hotel is able to arrange a private car service from Istanbul airport, at a cost of 120 EUR one way, with an estimated drive time of 50 minutes according to Google Maps.
Room – Camondo Suite, 1 King
The Camondo Suite opens right into the living room area of the suite. As a welcome amenity, a chocolate muffin and a strawberry were placed on the living room table.
The minibar and fridge were stocked with a selection of both recognized and local snacks and drinks. As well, you’ll find mugs and glasses for hot beverages from the in-room Nespresso machine.
In the bedroom, everything was quite compact. The desk had a leather desk mat with envelopes and the property’s letterhead for any letters or important messages you wanted to write. You’ll also find the hotel restaurant’s QR code menu.
In front of the bed was a small balcony that sat above the adjacent alleyway, with not much to see other than other buildings.. With a couple of iron chairs and a table, it would have definitely been a nice place to enjoy a coffee or tea in the morning.
The bathroom was sizeable with lots of counter space and extra toiletries if needed.
The shower was large with the property’s own branded soaps.
Restaurants & Bars
Beatrice Restaurant – Marriott Elite Complimentary Breakfast
The Adahan DeCamondo Pera has a rooftop restaurant, with complimentary breakfast options for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite members and above. Not feeling very hungry from a big dinner the night before, I tried to choose the least filling options for breakfast. However, it turned out to be a lot for myself. I went up at around 7 AM with no other patrons in the restaurant.
Breakfast goers receive the entire Morning Composition plate, a basket of bread, one signature masterpiece and a drink. I chose the “Crispy Composition” which I thought was sausage and a hashbrown, but turned out to be sausage and fries. The morning composition plate was quite filling and flavourful with different kinds of foods like a charcuterie board.
If you were to stay for a longer period of time, the lunch and dinner menu definitely looked very appealing and culturally inspired from local Turkish cuisine. The restaurant is open from 7 AM to 1 AM on most days, with 2 AM close times on Fridays and Saturdays.
Clarisse Bar and Lounge
On the lobby level, the hotel has its own cocktail bar and social lounge. The hours of operation are 9 AM to 6 PM every day.
Facilities
Fitness Center
The fitness center is open 24 hours 7 days a week, with a standard selection of equipment. Equipment includes treadmills, free weights, and other fitness machines you’d see at most hotel properties. Unfortunately, there are no on-site pool or spa services.
Conclusion
Staying in the centre of Istanbul the Adahan DeCamondo Pera, Autograph Collection, provides a convenient and elevated stay. With quick access to nearby transportation services, historical sights and attractions, and shopping, this property integrates guests into Istanbul’s history and culture. Despite the few hurdles and risks of getting from the airport, the Adahan DeCamondo Pera, Autograph Collection is a convenient place to stay if you’re looking to indulge in Istanbul’s history and culture.
