Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamam — Local services in Beyoğlu

The place is located beside a mosque and I had mistaken it as part of the mosque compound. After passing through the door, my friend and I were guided to sit at the waiting area where we were served a welcome drink Sherbet (it is a very very refreshing and fruity, I love it) and given our slippers and locker keys. You can wear your own bikini or they can provide you disposable panties where you change out and put your personal belongings in the locker room which is a level up. There is no proper changing room, everyone just change in the locker room area a little like gym style. We then wrapped ourselves with a cloth provided in the locker and proceeded back down to level 1 where we were directed into the hammam area where the whole process took place.

ASIANS NOTE: The Turkish Hammam / Bath is a unique and interesting experience. Wanted to couple it with a massage but they were fully booked. This is a public bath which means everyone sees everyone naked except for the disposable undies. While it is perhaps a common sight by most westerners and perhaps asian countries with hotsprings, it was an awkward and uncomfortable experience for me and my friend to see each other and many others naked. Basically a professional would scrub us from head to toe and wash us with a bubble bath.

First, we were rinsed with a splash of water from head to toe. Then we were guided to the big marble slab in the middle of the compound, where we laid on to warm up and prepare the body for 15 mins. Surrounding the marble slab are the many 'bathing stations' where the scrubbing and bathing take place. This means that while we lie on the mable slab, everyone could view us like an art display which felt a little awkard and intimidating in our culture. We were then moved to one of the 'bathing stations' (where we could view those on the marble slab and those at the opposite 'bathing stations') where we would be scrubbed from from face to toe. After that, we would be fully covered with bubbles that were created by deflating a 'cloth bag' filled with soapy water. I liked this part the most. The process was completed by washing our hair with shampoo and rinsing our whole body clean. The shampoo smells really nice. We were then guided to the drying station where we were towel dried and wrapped before heading back to the common resting area where we could lay on the sofa to rest and relax. Beverages are available at a cost. Once we were done, we headed back to the locker room to change out and take our belongings. The whole bathing process perhaps took about 30 mins and we rested for another 30 mins. Only hair dryer is provided. Do bring along your comb and face moisturizer. We had to head back to the hotel as the hair was so messy and face felt so 'tight' due to the dry climate. Remove make-up before going would be better too.

Service staff were friendly and the place looked clean. Advanced booking is strongly recommended. There is discount if you pay in Turkish Lira. Some tip would be good for the person who bathe you, the cashier would put the tip into a small square white envelope to be given to the staff later on when you make the payment.

Overall I think it is an experience worth trying at least once. But I would probably research to see if there is any private hammam instead if I were to...

While it is pricy, my 10-year-old and I had a wonderful time at this hammam. I was worried about how my daughter would handle the heat but this was perfect for her. First, we went to a dressing room and changed. Women can wear a bikini bottom, their own underwear, or a paper thong provided by the hamman. A cloth wrap (like a large towel) is also provided; I wrapped this around my whole body starting at chest level, bath towel style, but once I went into the hammam an attendant adjusted it so it was around my waist. My daughter felt more comfortable wearing a bikini (top and bottom) Attendants suggested she take off her bikini top but she refused and that was fine. When we entered the hammam an attendant washed us with water, led us into a warm steamy room, and invited us to lie on the heated marble table in the center of the room. There were other ladies relaxing in the hammam - with wraps around the waist but no tops when relaxing on the marble table and in underwear when being scrubbed. The hammam room and marble table were very warm but my daughter didn't get overheated. We were also offered glasses of water. When it was time for our scrubs, they were done at the same time by two attendants, at marble basins along the wall. The scrubbing was not too rough and the ladies were very sweet and kind. They didn't speak much English but we didn't have any trouble understanding each other. Staff at the front desk of the hammam spoke fluent English. After the scrubs we were covered in wonderful soft and abundant bubbles and gently massaged, hair washed, and wrapped in new clean wraps to relax in the cool outer area of the hammam. We were given complimentary tea when we arrived and unlimited cool water. It looked like other items were available for purchase in the relaxation area but we didn't try them.

The hammam was hot and there is nothing like a pool so I wouldn't take a young child, one that didn't want to feel like a grown up lady at a spa, or one that wasn't comfortable with seeing other women's bodies, or being scrubbed. Attendants sometimes moved someone's swim suit/underwear to scrub or rinse part of their bottom so if this is a concern it might be worth asking the English speaking attendants at the front to tell the attendants inside the hammam that this isn't wanted. Everything felt very comfortable to us though.

We also did a non-touristy hamman on the Asian side for a fraction of the price - that scrub and massage were great but the room was not beautiful and everything was a lot hotter - my daughter enjoyed it but I wasn't sure if the scrub mit was clean and she got too hot and had to go out into the waiting area before I finished my scub which I didn't feel as comfortable with; at Kilic Ali Pasa we were able to stay together at all times and the hammam was beautiful so felt...

Having checked a few other, cheaper hamams, they all looked dated and the staff seemed a bit off. Kilic Ali Pasa however felt like a 5 star spa. Both my partner and I went there for a hamam and a body massage, so I can vouch for both the female and male staff. While it costs around twice as much as other hamams in the area, it's worth every kurus! Very friendly and relaxed service, great location, clean and well decorated, strong yet gentle bathers and experienced masseurs. Highly recommended. Things to note: Arrive a bit early to have time to change and drink your sherbet. Bring a pair of underwear to change into afterwards. Your bather and masseur have named envelopes for tips when you get the bill. Tips are cash only, so bring some along.

Read on for the entire process if you are interested in how it all works.

From the moment you walk in, you're greeted with a smile. You're sat down, offered a refreshing sherbet and a hot towel, while their staff ask your shoe size and explain some basics. You are then given a key to your locker, which has your slippers and towel ready.

Now you enter the hamam and are drenched in what seems like the perfect temperature water, and then asked to lie down on the hot marble slab to heat your skin up. Take a moment here to just let your mind wander, staring at the exquisite dome and walls of the place; it's naturally lit until it gets dark, so pick a sunny day.

After 20 minutes or so, your personal bather will show up, greet you and start with exfoliating your skin with the special mit (kise). They check with you to make sure you aren't uncomfortable or in pain. They scrub hard, but are gentle at the same time.

After the scrub comes what was my favourite part: the soap wash. Using a special bag like loofah, they cover you head to toe in thick soapy bubbles and wash you.

Another rinse and you're lead off into the drying area, where they give you dry towels, waft you a bit to cool you down and then wrap your body and head. You are then sent back out to the entrance area to relax to some classical Turkish music and enjoy a nice çay should you so wish.

If you booked a massage, you will be asked to head into the massage room at this stage. The masseurs are very calm, friendly and professional. Soothing music plays and like most people, I dozed off a few times from the relaxation.

You can now change back into your clothes and relax there for a while; they aren't pushy with the bill at all.

You leave clean, relaxed and with...