Characterised by a decidedly maximalist design ethos, a zany colour scheme and plethora of Turkish lamps set the tone of this charmingly off-beat hotel in Sultanahmet...
Telephone: +90 (0) 212 511 7766
Url: www.kybelehotel.com
Price: from 120 YTL to 170 YTL
A small hotel run by the friendly Akbaryrak family just up the road from the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque distinguishes itself from myriad other small Istanbul hotels by being charmingly weird.
Its bright turquoise, yellow and purple exterior colour scheme sets the tone. Inside and throughout the hotel hang thousands of coloured-glass Turkish lamps, which can be found in any of the bazaars, the highpoint of a decidedly maximalist interior design, with armchairs, sofas and antiques of various periods all vying for attention.
A small, very red, pink and ornate lounge area with original late 19th-century features is especially eye-catching. The Kybele’s 16 rooms are fairly small and not especially modern (there is no internet or TV) but they have lovely en-suite bathrooms, and plenty of coloured illumination.
