Istanbul is the only city in the world that straddles two continents, Asia and Europe, and pretty as a picture, the Sumahan sits on the very edge of the water on the relatively quieter Asian side of this city. This waterside hotel in the Çengelköy suburb is a perfect example of an architectural makeover. The mid-19th century Ottoman distillery, which produced suma – the unadulterated spirit used to make the favourite Ottoman tipple, raki – was transformed nearly nine years ago into a charming address for travellers by its owners. The hotel derives its name from the words suma and han, the word for inn during the Ottoman era.
Inside the Sumahan on the Water Hotel, Istanbul
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