Pera Palace Hotel

After an extensive two-year renovation, the magnificent Pera Palace Hotel finally reopened its doors on 1 September 2010.  The restoration was born from the need to meticulously maintain the building's original architecture and interior details, while incorporating the latest modern technology.  The result is astounding, with the hotel reclaiming a top spot on the Istanbul hotel scene.  Pera Palace has always been renowned for its stylish culinary options, a tradition that continues with the upscale Agatha restaurant, the Orient bar, Patisserie and Kubbeli Saloon-Tea Lounge.  The hotel has also reopened with a new spa, indoor swimming pool and fitness center.

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Located in the cosmopolitan Tepebaşi district of Pera, Pera Palace Hotel overlooks the Golden Horn. The hotel dates back to 1892 when construction work began in 1892, and its grand opening ball was held in 1895. Pera Palace Hotel was the first luxury hotel in the Ottoman Empire, providing the final destination in the East for passengers on board the famous Orient Express.
It has hosted a wide range of luminaries, celebrities, politicians and Heads of State. The signature rooms have been named after the illustrious guests who walked through the doors. These include leader and founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk; crime writer Agatha Christie, who according to popular belief found her inspiration for “Murder on the Orient Express” within the walls of the Pera Palace, the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, Franz Joseph, King Edward VIII, Greta Garbo, Pierre Loti, Ernest Hemingway and many more.

Restaurants and Bars
Since the very first opening of Pera Palace at the end of 19th century, the hotel has been revered as a culinary hotspot in Istanbul. The long-awaited restoration of its legendary restaurants and bars, accompanied by the opening of new venues, has further enhanced Pera Palace’s rich history and cosmopolitan location. 

Agatha Restaurant
The Agatha Restaurant derives inspiration from the three major stops of the former Orient Express, namely Paris, Venice and İstanbul, serving a combination of French, Italian and Turkish flavours. Combining traditional Turkish ingredients with international cooking techniques, the menu reflects a contemporary fusion of culinary cultures.The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, providing an elegant setting for meetings and social gatherings throughout the day. Diners can watch the chefs at work in the open show kitchen and visit the special wine cellar.
The restaurant is headed by Chef J.W. Maximilian Thomae, who previously worked at the two Michelin-starred restaurant Tantris in Munich and then at the Moevenpick Hotel Istanbul, where he was Executive Chef for three years. Thomae has worked in the industry for 26 years, and he was nominated for the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs international “Chef of the Year” award in 1996.

Patisserie de Pera
For cosy gatherings, Patisserie de Pera is ideal. Decorated in an Art Nouveau style and seating 24 people, the traditional French patisserie welcomes diners with its friendly and mellow atmosphere. The Patisserie has its own Chocolatier, and the menu serves traditional French cakes, croissants and pastries along with a wide selection of the finest coffees and teas from across the globe.

Orient Bar
The Orient Bar has always been a popular meeting point for residents, the intellectuals of Istanbul, and international travellers. Ernest Hemingway spent many an hour here, nursing a whisky - or a few. Today, guests can enjoy a selection of fine wines, spirits and cocktails in a refined setting, with the possibility of using the lovely and spacious terrace in summer.