Bayezid Han Konak - Adults Only — Hotel in Hacı İlyas Mahallesi

Upon arrival, the cutest cat awaits in a window to welcome you. Like most cats, she’s a tender, volatile soul who will now rub against you, begging for affection and the next moment she’ll abruptly unleash her rage and violence. After a whole day wandering around town, getting back to the konak and meeting her makes you feel like returning home to someone who both loves and hates you!

The entire konak is a work of art, from the overall design of private and public spaces, to the individual objects thoughtfully placed in different spots around the hotel. Stunning ceilings which made me imagine the workshops of the artisans who created such unique woodwork. Many design choices seem minor but they transform your experience of the space and your interaction with the space. The chandelier with flickering golden lights makes you feel surrounded by candles, taking you to a world way before electricity was the norm. Or the bed-side lamp which you can turn on/off and modulate the light intensity by just touching it (no buttons or switches).

The restaurant, lobby and garden are beautifully designed; there’s so much attention to detail in how the space was renovated: a combination of materials (different types of wood, glass, metal, stone and other minerals, ceramics, textiles, plants) and an eclectic blend of styles/aesthetics. The space is spotless: zero dust and not even the tiniest streak on windows or mirrors – token of how skilled and dedicated the hotel staff is. Often round dinner time and until later in the evening there’s live music in the garden, an opportunity for foreigners to learn more about Turkish culture and arts, and about different music instruments which aren’t that common in the West.

Delicious breakfast with many vegetarian options and very kind staff greeting you with a smile each morning and open to adapting to your dietary needs and preferences. Complimentary water, tea and coffee through the day/evening. When I told restaurant staff I don’t drink black tea, they prepared for me linden and fennel tea instead. Wi fi and AC worked well; large shower cabins with many water massage options, and great water pressure. In each room there's a mini fridge to keep your drinks and snacks, and an electric kettle to make tea or coffee. My room had sheer curtains alongside a thin blue curtain; they looked beautiful, but in the morning the light gets in and awakes you round 5/6 am (for those sensitive to light like myself). Thick, opaque drapes would be more useful, even if they’re not as pretty.

The konak is a few meters from the Yeşilırmak river and within a few seconds or minutes you’ll find many restaurants, bakeries, cafes, stores with fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs, spices, handicrafts. Gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains, delicious food, heat and sunshine (without the excessive humidity typical on the Black Sea coast), and many friendly locals. My only complaint as a non-smoker (my eyes, skin and nose are hyper-sensitive to smoke) is that the rooms get easily contaminated with smoke from the garden/restaurant where many customers smoke. Especially in the bathroom, smoke gets in through the ventilation system. This unfortunately has been a problem throughout my stay in Turkey, because people smoke everywhere and the smoke gets in, even with windows closed and AC on.

I had a wonderful time during my days at the konak and can’t wait to come back. Thankful to the hotel staff, to the designers, artisans and builders who so skillfully renovated the space, and to the naughty feline at the Public...

“The hotel is located in what I believe is the best spot in the city. Being right by the street might make you worry about noise, but that’s not the case at all! It’s a beautifully restored old house turned into a boutique hotel, with free parking and Wi-Fi (though the internet quality isn’t great). The place is spotlessly clean, and the staff are genuinely friendly and always greet you with a smile (in Turkish, of course). The river runs right in front of the hotel, and a short walk across the bridge takes you to the old town center and then to the entrance of the incredible rock-cut tombs carved into the mountain. I highly recommend being at the tombs between 8-8:30 AM to catch the stunning sunrise as it lights up the city, mountains, and tombs. Also, head to the bridge between 5-6 PM for a magical sunset view over the river. The room was on the smaller side but equipped with everything I needed. It was impeccably clean, with charming old-style wooden windows that you lift upward to open, offering lovely views of the river, Ottoman houses, and more. Breakfast is served individually with a fixed menu—it pretty much had everything I could want and was of excellent quality. One more thing: the call to prayer (adhan) is audible five times a day, which is part of the local culture. The muezzin’s voice here is actually quite pleasant, but because it’s a mountainous area with powerful speakers, the early morning one (around 5 AM) can be a bit loud—especially if you’re a light sleeper. Totally personal, though! Considering the price (especially with the discount), it was great value. I haven’t seen other hotels in the city, but overall, this is a fantastic place to stay. Don’t pay too much attention to the star rating—it’s definitely a top-tier 3-star...

A lovely Konak hotel near the river and very good location, nicely renovated, no elevator, the staff do not speak english at all, difficult to communicate with and not welcoming. Our room was small, it was renovated with modern furniture, comfortable bed, however hard pillows, and the wooden floor was noisy to step over. We Reserved river front room and given side river view, so we hardly can see the river. No blackout behind the curtains, TV very small and the fridge not cold. Only 2 pillows on bed one per person and single rough light cover. We asked for extra pillows and bed sheet and was told not available first but after arguing with them they brought. There were 2 WiFis but both of them don’t work! We informed them but the problem was not solved ! The toilet is very small and tight with very small washing basin and the toilet is squeezed between the shower and the washing basin, difficult to use comfortably, a single tiny hand soup were found in toilet, no tissues, the towel hanger and toilet paper hangers both came out in my hand and fell on floor when I touched them! in addition to all of this from 8 pm to midnight everyday we could hear a very disturbing strong music and drums sounds with people singing and shouting !! We could not sleep. The breakfast was ok however we asked the waiter to make the bread toasted and he said I can not ! Really strange! Not...