ALATURKA TURKİSH BATH — Restaurant in Fatih

● AVOID AT ALL COSTS!!!! ●

ALSO KNOWN AS LADY DIANA SPA!

Date of Visit: September 30th, 6:00 PM

Warning: Avoid this establishment if seeking a traditional Turkish hamam experience.

I'm appalled by the Lady Diana Hotel's misrepresentation of their "hamam" as traditional. My experience was marred by disorganization, discomfort, and disrespect.

Upon arrival, our reservation was delayed by 30 minutes due to their error. The "hamam" itself was far from authentic, lacking the serene atmosphere and privacy expected of a traditional Turkish bath.

For 55 EUROS (85 CAD), I received:

A cramped, poorly designed changing area with no privacy (visible from the lobby to men!) A relaxation room where men freely walked in and out An unheated marble slab for the scrubbing process Rushed service, clearly prioritizing turnover over customer experience A lingering musty smell in the scrubbing room.

When I voiced my concerns, the manager responded insensitively, implying my sensitivity was due to not being a hijabi. This remark was not only unacceptable but offensive.

The Lady Diana Hotel's "hamam" fails to meet basic expectations:

Lack of privacy Untraditional practices

For me to advertise as a traditional turkish hamam is to get the authentic, and in my case spiritual experience where woman can be free. This traditional has existed for 100's of years and it's unfair I was made uncomfortable the whole time especially after I voiced my discomfort and I assured there would be accomdations made but weren't.

Hamams were made for relaxation & destressing, it should be a calm, thorough process. Instead, I felt like cattle, I was brushed down on an UNHEATED marble slab and then quickly worked through all the stages in quick vigior. It was as if they were trying to get us out of the hamam as quickly as possible. Maybe due to the fact that there were over 5 clients that were delayed by over at least a half hour waiting.

Finally, after the process was done, we were escorted to the same changing room that is visible by anyone standing in the lobby, including men. The room was packed with women, and both the washroom and shower room were locked and busy, so I had no choice but to huddle in a corner, hoping not to be spotted while changing.

If the owners of this place dare deny any of these claims, please check my review history. I love praising small businesses and supporting them. I took the time out of my very busy day to write this as I think it's important for transparency in business. DO NOT CALL THIS A TRADITIONAL HAMAM. This place at its best is a PUBLIC model MIXED HAMAM. For this price please spend your dollars elsewhere!!!!

I also have a sneaking suscipion they are exploiting the women working here as their Indonesian and several complained how little they get paid. SUPPORT REAL TURKISH BUSINESSES THAT EMPLOY TURKISH INDIVIDUALS OR PAY THEIR...

It was okay. My friends had raved about the experience so, we had high hopes. Overall, it was a decent experience but I wouldn't go back.

Myself and my partner paid for the full package with a one hour massage. It cost us close to 100 euros each. We opted for the massage first as we wanted the Hamam to wash the oil off so we could walk out clean-as-a-whistle.

Firstly, the massage beds didn't support your head properly and there wasn't enough attention by the staff to put towels around our heads to stop them from drooping into the hole. It made us both a bit uncomfortable, thw opposite of what we wanted in a massage. Secondly, I'm one of these people who need support under their shins so that my knees don't get hurt. I had to stop the massage and find a spare towel in the room to prop my legs up. The massage itself was 6/10. I have travelled through SE Asia. The massage part was on par with a $20AUD massage from Laos. I'm confident that I could pay the equivalent amount in Australia for the massage portion and get a 8.5/10. It seemed like the staff were not really trained properly. I would advise to others not to do the massage again, considering we paid €50.

Next was the Sauna, Steam room, followed by the Hamam. Sauna and Steam room were "free extras". Similar to ones in fancier hotels. I sweated like crazy. It would have been nice to have some additional cold water as I sweated more than the small cup that they gave us. I didn't feel confident to enjoy the experience as I became dehydrated very quickly. If I was in control, I would have taken a 1L bottle of water in with me.

The Hamam was decent. They scrubbed us down. In a nice marble room. It was a good experience. We couldnt smell the lavender as advertised. It was great we did it in a nice establishment such as this one. Everything was pretty clean. Overall, the Hamam part was about 8/10. I went in there with the expectation that I would feel cleaner than I had ever felt before. I don't feel like this was the case unfortunately.

It sadly didn't meet my expectations noting this place has 4.9 stars with...

Review of Sultan's Hammam

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Sultan’s Hammam, a traditional Turkish bath located in the heart of the city. From the moment I stepped inside, I was enveloped by the warm and inviting atmosphere. The interiors are beautifully decorated, capturing the essence of Ottoman architecture with intricate tile work and grand arched ceilings.

Upon arrival, I was warmly greeted by the friendly staff who guided me through the process, making it easy even for a first-timer. I opted for the full traditional experience, which included a steam room session, a vigorous scrub, and a relaxing foam massage.

The steam room was perfectly heated, allowing me to unwind and sweat out any impurities. The kese (scrubbing) session was invigorating, leaving my skin feeling incredibly smooth and rejuvenated. The highlight, though, was the foam massage – a truly luxurious experience that melted away all my stress.

Following the bath, I relaxed in the lounge area with a cup of Turkish tea and some traditional Turkish delight, a delightful way to end the experience.

Overall, Sultan’s Hammam offers an authentic and revitalising experience that I would highly recommend. The skill and hospitality of the staff, combined with the beautiful setting, made it a memorable visit. I left feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Rating: 5/5

Recommendations: Arrive early to avoid the rush and enjoy a more peaceful experience. Bring a change of clothes and toiletries if you plan to freshen up after the bath. Don’t hesitate to ask questions if it’s your first time; the staff are...