The meeting of East and West, the cradle of the oldest civilizations of the world, Istanbul... Unchanged residence of past and present...
When "Orient Express" reached Istanbul five years after its operation in 1883, the first hotels of Istanbul had already begun to appear, in the very cosmopolit westernized section of the city called "Pera". One of those hotels was "Hotel Buyuk Londra" or "Gran
d Hotel De Londres", which soon after its opening took its place among the best hotels of Istanbul, together with Tokatliyan and Pera Palace. Hotel Buyuk Londra is one of the few establishments managing to survive from that era to our time. Passing through many renovations, the hotel nevertheless still graciously reflects the atmosphere of the 1900's. With some of its rooms overlooking the Golden Horn and a lively bar, Hotel Buyuk Londra is the meeting point of many people – local and foreign- looking for something different and special...
"This hotel is one of the most famous and popular in Istanbul, and certainly the best in its price-range. The beautiful building dates back to 1892 and is very tastefully and ornately decorated, with such oddities as parrots, gramophones and other strange items (portable coal burners!). The hotel attracts the artsy-fartsy crowd, including writers (Hemingway himself in 1922), artists and actors. The normal rooms are clean, the suites are quite plush with jacuzzis and nice thick carpets." The rooms are small and comfortably worn, the furnishings heavy and traditional. The dark woods and velvet drapes used in the high-ceilinged lobby and dining room evoke an Ottoman Victorian era." FODOR'S
"Grand Hotel de Londres (Büyük Londra Otel), was the most prestigious establishment of Pera (Beyoglu) for ages. This luxury hotel was built in 1892 by a Levantine family which was called Glavani. The hotel was decorated with the same style as that of "Orient Express" and is the only example which is still alive today. Some of the 54 rooms in the hotel have a splendid view of the Golden Horn and the old Stamboul. The hotel is particularly well situated. it is just a few steps from the Galatasaray Square and it is in the middle of the Main Street (Istiklal Caddesi) between Taksim and Tünel. It is situated in the center of the old district of the Latins Christians. The theatres, the opera, the cinemas, the cafes, the taverns and the restaurants are all around the hotel in this district. Why not try time this unique atmosphere” Turkeytravelplanner.com
