Picolo recommends · Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey
The Bank Hotel Istanbul
From the rooftop bar the Golden Horn opens up below you, with Galata Bridge and the mosques of the old city lined up on the far bank.
Late in the afternoon the rooftop bar looks across the Golden Horn, the inlet that splits European Istanbul in two, to Galata Bridge and the mosque domes beyond. It is one of the most dramatic views in the city.
Downstairs, the building still remembers its first life as a bank on Bankalar Caddesi, the street where Ottoman banks once stood side by side. The marble stairs and tall windows survive, while the rooms are dark, tailored and calm.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose The Bank Hotel Istanbul
This is our pick for design in Istanbul. It has the same weight and drama as the city around it, and the quay and ferries at Karaköy are only a few minutes downhill.
The rooms lean dark, and the lobby is not a place to spend the afternoon. It works best for travellers who use the hotel as a base and spend the day out in the city.
What you get
- Rooftop bar over the Golden Horn
- A historic bank building
- Dark, tailored rooms
- Karaköy ferries a short walk downhill
- Original marble staircases
A day at The Bank Hotel Istanbul
- Morning
- A walk across Galata Bridge with the fishermen.
- Midday
- Lunch by the water in Karaköy.
- Afternoon
- A ferry up the Bosphorus from the quay below.
- Evening
- Drinks on the roof as the mosques light up.
Location
Bankalar Caddesi, Karaköy, Istanbul, Turkey
Open in MapsQuestions about The Bank Hotel Istanbul
Is The Bank Hotel Istanbul really a former bank?
Yes. It occupies an old bank building on Bankalar Caddesi, and the marble stairs and tall windows from that time are still in place.
What can you see from the rooftop at The Bank Hotel Istanbul?
The rooftop bar faces the Golden Horn, with Galata Bridge and the mosques of the old city on the opposite shore.
How close is The Bank Hotel Istanbul to the ferries?
The Karaköy quay is a few minutes downhill, with boats along the Bosphorus and across to the Asian side.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
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