Luxury in the Old City: A Review of Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul, Autograph Collection

Istanbul, Türkiye, is a significant and historic city straddling the continents of Europe and Asia. Over the years, it has quickly shot up the list of my favorite cities worldwide.

I was set to fly Turkish Airlines business class to South Africa out of Istanbul Airport (IST). Since I had a day to spare before the flight, I decided to spend a relaxing night in the city and thought this would be an excellent opportunity to book a nice hotel.

However, Istanbul has a ton of incredible hotels, making the decision where to stay more difficult. Ultimately, I booked the Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul, Autograph Collection, a highly regarded Marriott property in a fantastic location.

Read on for my full review of this hotel and why you should consider it if you travel to Istanbul.

Booking the Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul

Since I had a 35,000-point Marriott free night award (courtesy of a Marriott co-branded credit card) and no plans on where to use it, I thought Istanbul would be the perfect place to take advantage of it.

Fortunately, Istanbul has many Marriott properties offering reasonable cash rates and points redemptions. I began by looking at properties around the city that could be booked for around 35,000 points.

Marriott allows members to top off free night awards with Marriott Bonvoy points, in case I needed to. However, I wanted to book a property without needing to do so.

There were several properties right around the 35,000-point mark, including some with fantastic reviews.

After some mapping and comparing points rates to cash rates, I ultimately booked the Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul, Autograph Collection, a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Istanbul’s Old City.

A standard room at the property could be booked for 32,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, meaning my free night certificate would cover this stay. I was surprised to see that cash rates were relatively high at €248 ($286). I knew this would be an excellent use of the free night certificate, considering the value per point was nearly 0.9 cents per point, slightly higher than our valuation of Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents per point.

I could book a king room with no view or a superior queen room with a street view. I reserved the queen room since I was traveling alone and preferred having a view over a larger bed. I was hopeful I would get upgraded as a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member.

I made sure to select the free night award for this redemption instead of Marriott Bonvoy points.

I was excited to stay at the property, as I am a massive fan of Marriott’s Autograph Collection hotels.

Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul Location

The Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul is in the heart of Istanbul’s Old City. There are numerous restaurants, shops, and bazaars around the hotel in every direction.

The property is less than a 15-minute walk to many of Istanbul’s most iconic sites and attractions, including the Sultanahmet Camii (the Blue Mosque), the Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, the Basilica Cistern, Süleymaniye Cami (Suleymaniye Mosque), the Grand Bazaar, and the spice market.

It is also less than a 10-minute walk to the Eminönü and Sirkeci ferry terminals and the Galata Bridge, which connects the Eminönü and Karaköy neighborhoods.

Getting There

The hotel is about an hour by car from both Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW). Istanbul is notorious for its atrocious traffic, which can affect the total time needed.

You can also reach the property using public transportation. From Istanbul Airport, you can take the HVİST-11 bus (in the Sultanahmet direction) to Eminönü İskele. The hotel is less than a 10-minute walk from the bus stop. The journey takes 75 minutes and costs ₺275 ($6.75).

From Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, you can take the M4 metro line to Ayrılık Çeşmesi and then take the B1 train to Sirkeci station. The hotel is a 10-minute walk away.

Checking In

Since I was already staying at a local hotel in Istanbul, I headed over to the Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul slightly before 11 a.m. The hotel was relatively easy to spot thanks to the sign near the entrance.

I entered the hotel lobby and was immediately greeted by a hotel representative (who turned out to be the front desk manager). He welcomed me to the hotel and asked me if I was checking in, to which I said yes.  

As I walked toward the check-in desk, he politely asked me to take a seat and if I wanted a complimentary welcome drink. I accepted and requested a Coke Zero.

He stepped away for a minute, and a different front desk member greeted me and welcomed me to the property. He quickly shared a bit of the hotel’s rich history, explaining that it is a historic building that is 120 years old. He mentioned that the property originally served as a bank, later became a well-known bookstore, and was eventually transformed into the hotel it is today.

After about a minute, the front desk manager returned with a laptop to begin the check-in process. He returned my passport and confirmed my 1-night stay using points.

He explained that the hotel had only 40 guest rooms and the rooms were on the smaller end, but he had upgraded me to a king room with a balcony — the only guest room with one — thanks to my Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status. I was pretty excited and thanked him for doing so.

He also mentioned that the room was ready, despite my arriving at 11 a.m., several hours before the hotel’s official check-in time of 3 p.m.

He then gave me some information about the amenities available, the Old City, and the hotel’s taxi service. The property works with a trusted group of taxi drivers, as Istanbul is known for taxi scams. He also mentioned that traffic congestion would take about 45 minutes for a taxi to arrive, so it would be essential to plan accordingly.

Lastly, he provided me with information about the property’s amenities, including the locations and hours of the hotel’s food and beverage options, the spa, and the fitness center.

Bottom Line:

From the moment I walked through the doors, the check-in experience felt seamless and personal. The front desk manager greeted me with a genuine smile and made me feel like I was staying at a friend’s house instead of at a hotel. He gave me a quick overview of the hotel amenities and offered to arrange anything I might need during my stay. The entire check-in process was smooth and efficient, which I absolutely loved. I very much appreciated the fantastic Turkish hospitality, with attention to detail and warm hospitality. The room upgrade was fantastic, and the fact that my room was ready at 11 a.m. was the cherry on top.

Elite Benefits

As a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite, I received several benefits at the property:

• Welcome amenity (1,000 Marriott Bonvoy points or a $10 food and beverage credit per stay)
• Enhanced room upgrade (including select suites)
• Guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout (upon request)
• Lounge access (when available; there was no lounge, so the alternative offered was breakfast at the restaurant for 2 people or 750 Marriott Bonvoy points per night)

Lobby

After completing the check-in process, I quickly walked around to see what the lobby offered. Stephan’s Coffee was directly to the right of the lobby entrance.

Across from the coffee shop were several dining tables with seating for approximately 20 people. I loved the designs on the walls and the interesting color choice.

To the right of the coffee shop was a more casual seating and lounging area. There was a single leather sofa and several unique armchairs. To the right was a sort of divider showcasing various books and sculptures.

Behind the display divider was another seating section with another sofa and several more armchairs. I loved the variety of seating and hints of color throughout the lobby.

Across from this second seating area was another seating area where we initially completed the check-in process. On the back wall was a bookcase with books from numerous genres and in many different languages.

Since the building was previously a bookstore, the hotel featured a lending library to preserve the building’s heritage. Guests could bring any book and trade it for another.

Lastly, the check-in desk and a single elevator were to the far left of the lobby.

Deluxe, Guest Room, 1 King, City View, Balcony

After I walked around the hotel lobby, the front desk manager took me to my room on the second floor. After getting off the elevator, we walked down a well-lit hallway to room 210, the last room down the hall.

After entering the room, he quickly explained how to control the air conditioning and lights and access the balcony. He then made his way back down to the lobby. Honestly, this was just incredible hospitality.

I then began walking around to see what the room had to offer. I immediately noticed the simple, open-concept room.

The bed was a couch potato’s dream setup, with a flatscreen at the foot of the bed facing the bed’s occupants. It rose from a green marble-topped console table that served as the minibar, loaded with liquor bottles, 2 medium-size bottles of water, glasses, a coffee maker, coffee pods, and an electric kettle.

Below the minibar was a relatively large ottoman.

A letter printed on the minibar welcomed me to the property. The hotel also provided a complimentary plate of Turkish sweets, including Turkish delight, dried fruit, and walnuts.

The room’s open wardrobe was to the right of the door to the room. Although it was basic, it offered ample space to hang clothes.

On the wardrobe shelves, there was a steamer, a blow-dryer, and 2 pairs of slippers to use in the room. The room’s safe was integrated into the wooden dresser.

The room’s king-size bed was against the left wall. The bed looked and was incredibly comfortable. There were side tables on both sides of the bed.

The bed featured a curved, padded headboard, which looked incredibly expensive. I loved the intricate designs on the wall and the color.

Since the room was relatively small, the foot of the bed was the perfect spot for the TV.

On the far back wall (to the right of the bed) was a small seating area featuring a single armchair and a small coffee table. There was also a luggage rack, which was incredibly convenient.

To the right of the lounging area was a nook that featured the room’s workstation. Like everything else in the room, it was small but adequate and provided enough space for me. Although not incredibly ergonomic, the desk chair was comfortable and padded in leather.

Lastly, to the left of the workstation were the doors that opened up to the room’s spacious balcony, which featured 2 patio chairs and a coffee table. The balcony was massive, considering how small the room felt.

The balcony offered incredible views of the Old City, including a mosque directly across the street. The Islamic calls to prayer were serene to listen to.

It also offered views of the street leading up to the property. It felt incredible to be in the only room in the entire hotel with this kind of view from outdoors.

Bathroom

The entrance to the bathroom was directly across the minibar, near the entrance to the room. It was divided into 3 sections.

The bathroom vanity was in the middle section. The hotel provided complimentary toiletries, including a dental kit, a comb, a shaving kit, a shower cap, and a vanity kit.

The toilet was in the left room.

Meanwhile, the walk-in shower was on the right side and contained both an overhead rainfall showerhead and a handheld one.

The shower featured wall-mounted reusable containers of Nerolinn shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel.

Bottom Line:

The room’s design was fairly minimalist, but it showcased stunning elements. I really loved the aesthetic — it gave off the feel of a truly luxurious property.

Amenities

As expected, the Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul offered several amenities for guests, including a spa, fitness center, and a relaxing lounging area.

Orient Spa

The hotel’s Orient Spa is on the B1 level and features an extensive selection of treatments, including various massages.

The spa is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Hotel guests receive a 30% off their first treatment.

There are several treatment rooms in the spa facility.

The spa also features a sauna. I spent about 20 minutes in it, and it was a fantastic experience.

The spa also has a traditional Turkish bath facility (a hammam).

Fitness Center

The hotel’s fitness center is in the basement and open 24 hours a day. It was relatively basic and featured just a handful of machines.

Cardio options included 2 treadmills, an elliptical, and a stationary bike.

There was a single total-body strength machine and a single bench with a rack of curling bars.

There was also a good selection of free weights as heavy as 44 pounds (20 kilograms).

Lounge

The hotel also features a casual lounge on the mezzanine directly above the lobby.

There was varied seating, and not a single person visited the lounge the 2 hours I was there.

Food and Beverages

The Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul features 2 on-site food and beverage venues. Here’s a look at what you can expect at the property.

Roof Mezzepotamia Restaurant & Bar

As its name suggests, the Roof Mezzepotamia Restaurant & Bar is on the hotel roof and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Breakfast is served daily at the restaurant between 7 and 11 a.m. Guests who book rates with breakfast included and Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite members (and higher) who select breakfast as the additional amenity can have breakfast here.

The dining area was quite large, with several rows of tables. Altogether, there was enough seating for at least 50 people.

Of course, the restaurant’s defining feature was its impressive views. From my table, I had an excellent view of the Bosphorus Strait.

I could also see the Hagia Sophia from my table. The views were simply majestic.

I arrived at breakfast at 9 a.m. to a relatively busy restaurant. I was seated by a restaurant staff member and was given a card with my breakfast options.

Guests could select between a Turkish breakfast, an American breakfast, and a healthy breakfast. There was also a “Taste of Bliss” à la carte menu with a waffle, pancake, or porridge.

After days of eating Turkish delights, I had the healthy breakfast. From the Taste of Bliss menu, I chose the waffles. I also requested fresh pomegranate juice and an iced coffee.

Shortly after, the waiter brought me my breakfast. Although the food was well-presented, it was not tasty whatsoever.

The healthy breakfast consisted of a salad with a hard-boiled egg, smoked salmon, quinoa, olives, fruits, and avocado. While the toppings were delicious, the salad was tasteless, and no salad dressing was provided.

The waffle was also crunchy, and one corner was slightly burnt.

Bottom Line:

Overall, breakfast was not memorable. I made the mistake of choosing the healthy breakfast, as it was nothing special whatsoever. The waffle was also nothing to remember. Unfortunately, the fantastic views did not make up for the mediocre breakfast.

Stephan’s Coffee

The hotel also boasted Stephan’s Coffee in the lobby, which is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The menu featured an extensive selection of coffee.

Service

I found the staff and service at the Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul to be among the best I have ever experienced. The staff was incredibly welcoming, responded promptly to my requests, and consistently went above and beyond to ensure my comfort. They really seemed to enjoy their jobs.

The front desk manager and I connected a lot over our love of Japanese culture and had lengthy conversations about our travels to Japan. It felt like I was conversing with an old friend, which made the hospitality feel that much more special.

Final Thoughts

The Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul is a fantastic property in the heart of Istanbul’s Old City. The property can be booked for as few as 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points on specific dates, meaning you can use a 35,000-point free night certificate to stay here.

In addition to the excellent location, the service at the property was amazing. I must commend the property for an incredible upgrade to the king room with a balcony overlooking the Old City.

The property also has a rooftop restaurant, which offers incredible views of the Bosphorus Strait and the Hagia Sophia. Unfortunately, my breakfast was not good whatsoever.

Still, I would absolutely consider staying at the Orient Occident Hotel Istanbul again. However, I love staying at new hotels and would likely find myself booking a different property to see how they stack up.