Name: Sevan Nişanyan
Hotel: Nişanyan House Hotel
Location: Sirince - Selçuk - Turkey
Please Note: We had to take this amazing post down temporarily, but are now running it and will leave it up forever! Apologies for any confusion.
Sometimes there are places you stay during a vacation, where you don't want to leave. This is one of those places. We added extra nights just to rest and soak up inland Turkey (and visit Ephesus) from this unique, little gem of a hotel, which is actually a labor of love by Sevan Nişanyan, whose day job is as a "lexicologist, a political commentator, a travel writer, a human rights activist and several other things besides." Jump below to take a tour.
THE ROOMS
There are many different types of rooms, since Sevan has assembled and built this sprawling collection of buildings over the last decade. We stayed in the Tower House (recommend) which is new, but there are many other options from the Inn to separate cottages.
I loved the old fashioned keys.
More marble!!
THE POOL
I fell in love with this pool. Completely made out of carrera marble (black on the bottom), it was inspired by a Roman pool that Sevan saw somewhere else in Turkey. It's about 36' long and 16' wide, with only 5' of depth throughout. Aside from the stunning, silky marble, the waterfall at the end is genius idea for the filter. It filled each day with bugs and Ursula and I called it the Bee Pool.
THE RESTAURANT & INN
We had sunset dinners every night in the small restaurant, where the food was amazing, the wine excellent and the view to die for.
This is the outdoor dining area
Amazing single piece of marble carved into a fountain. The flowers are changed daily.
The Inn has the restaurant downstairs and rooms and living room upstairs. It's the first building Sevan built.
THE HAMAM
Ursula and I spent one afternoon in the tiny, private Hamam washing ourselves and learning to use various soaps, scrubbers and copper pots of cold water to keep ourselves cool.
THE TOWER & OUTSIDE
Impulsively, Sivan built a tower a year ago which is not only an amazing structure, providing an unparalleled view, but it also threatens to send him to jail again for building code violations. He is a resolute protester against silly Turkish laws and rules, and his entire compound stands as an ongoing protest against "stupidity in goverment" as he puts it.
These are lights within gourds. They are everywhere in Turkey and all around Nisanyan House Hotel, but these were particularly nice ones.
The stone roads are also very common here.
Breakfast is incredible, included with your room and served in an outdoor dining room at the top of the hill.
(All images: Maxwell with an assist on some from Instagram :-))
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Lights within gourds.... intriguing. How are these made? Possible DIY?
That was enchanting!
Great post! You must be glad to be home to get a pedicure!
Very unique hotel!! I love the times and non stuffy feel of the rooms - love it!
Yes, the gourd lights are terrific. Any tips on DIY or sourcing them appreciated!
We stayed there last September and had a nice time, especially over breakfast, but also had these thoughts:
There was a mixup at the registration desk, which almost landed us in a satellite hotel in town.
Our museum-quality room was too small for a reading light, much less a suitcase, and the bed was against the wall—tough for the person on the inside to extract himself.
We were kept awake two nights running by a large, noisy pack of dogs.
The pool was lovely but far too cold to swim for more than a minute or so.
Dinner was beautifully presented but bewilderingly expensive.
I spent a couple of hours wandering around Sirince on my first visit to Turkey, and I thought I had found heaven. I ate lunch at a vine-shaded restaurant there, whose sweet owner took me by the hand into her kitchen to show me the lovely stuffed peppers she had cooking on the stove to help me understand what I had ordered (she spoke no English). I will never forget that lunch, or that woman, or that beautiful town.
I husband and I spent some time here on our honeymoon last year and stayed in the fanciest room in the hotel space. It is pretty much my favorite hotel not only in Turkey but in the world. There really isn't anywhere else like it!
Thank you for sharing this amazing place!
Lovely images and descriptions
I can't wait to visit Turkey and this is on my list!
OMG, how wonderful. Thank you so much for all the amazing photos!
I was just using nisanyan's free wifi to check my email before sitting down to what promises to be an amazing meal on the terrace... When what do I see in my inbox but an AT email that expresses my thoughts exactly. We love cottage number 1! Mezes are here...time to eat.
It's a beautiful place. I hate to be a naysayer - but unreinforced masonry new construction in a seismically active zone is a bad idea. That's why building codes exist - to save lives.
i spent a year in Turkey, and these pictures brought back such wonderful memories...I am so glad you were able to go, and grateful that you shared your adventure...many thanks!
I spent 3 nights in a similar hotel in Selçuk. I dind't want to leave either.
beautiful photographs. I love the vibe of these spaces.
Nisanyan is very famous in Turkey. He and his wife started writing about small hotels (boutique hotels you might say) and the series became very popular. A lot of my friends uses them as a reference tool.
I am so happy to see his hotel in AT.
The photos are so beautiful, so is the place. thanks so much sharing.
This is a fantastic post and incredibly inspiring. Thank You!
Wow. I'm terribly jealous. The place looks amazing. My husband and I visited Istanbul and Ephesus many years ago on our honeymoon. This makes me want to go back -- perhaps for our twentieth?
Glad to hear that you loved your experiences in Turkey. And few notes: Since you were at a cruise holiday you should know that these type of hotels are all over Turkey ( Some made from caves, some in antic cities and some are in world heritage areas). The tower might cause a problem if the architectural structure is only consist of 2 floor houses. But Mr. Nisanyan is right about the rest ;)And if one day you want a gourmet trip to here, try the south eastern region which has the most amazing food in the world ( Sadly noone knows about Turkish cuisine and since I traveled around the world I can clearly tell you that it's unique). Have a great day and love from Turkey.
I stayed once in Nişanyan Houses and I can tell that it's one of my favorite hotels. Müjde and Sevan Nişanyan (the owners, both tourist guides also) made terrific job there and all with love.
Maxwell, I think I saw you at a restaurant in Fethiye.
Love the pics. I bought the Nisanyan book on small Turkish hotels years ago and have long dreamed of staying in their place in Sirince.
I love Turkey and like this hotel but the rule about the tower is not stupid but rather to be sure everyone has a view by putting height restrictions on construction. Imagine your wonderful view from the dining room if the property owner in front build towers or multi storied hotel. Building it strikes me as selfish.
well this has certainly made me want to travel to turkey - gorgeous!
Maxwell, can I purchase the first image with the little girl in the pool?
jennie@jenniebishopdesign.com
We stayed there in 2006 and that view will forever stay in my memory. We have the most amazing night shot of the village from our room window.
I totally agree with DebbyB. We enjoyed our trip to Turkey, highly recommended. We did enjoy staying at Nisayan but our room was so tiny one person was sleeping against the wall and the other person could fall out of bed into the bathroom. There was certainly no room for luggage. I had to pack my bag in the shared living room. The dinner was ok, very little choice, and expensive for what it was, even by California stds. The service at breakfast was terrible, I had to wait 30 mins for my omelet. Despite all this, the hotel has a nice setting and Sirince is a wonderful village.
Makes me think I should focus on visiting Turkey instead of Greece!
I have a friend who travels worldwide often and extensively. Turkey is his favorite country to vacation in. Thanks for sharing these pictures. I wanna go.
Wow. I thought places like this only existed in fiction books. Now my eyes want to see more of this beautiful place!
i was in selcuk in april. turkey was one of the best countries i been to for traveling! we didnt stay at this hotel but if i go again, i will definitely stay at this hotel!! love the feel of it
would love to stay there one day