Old City Terrace

A rooftop in Sultanahmet with two of the most photographed buildings in the world on one side and open water on the other. After dark, when the floodlights come on, it stops being a view and becomes a backdrop.

Why couples choose it

Because it is walkable. Guests stay in Sultanahmet hotels within a few hundred metres, which in a city where a short journey can take an hour is worth more than any other feature. Nobody needs a coach and nobody is late.

The covered glass section means this venue works in December, which very few outdoor İstanbul spaces do.

What to know before you book

The call to prayer sounds five times a day from mosques close enough to be loud, and one of them will land in the middle of your evening. It lasts a few minutes. We check the prayer times for your specific date and schedule the speeches around them. This is normal practice here and it is only a problem if nobody has thought about it.

Ninety seated is the real limit. Rooftops always sound larger than they are once you have added a bar, a dancefloor and a service route.

Access is by lift plus one flight of stairs. Not fully step-free, but manageable for most guests.

Who it suits

Twenty to ninety guests, Intimate or Signature. This is the İstanbul option for couples who want the city rather than the strait, and it is a much easier operation than a yalı.