The Arena Hotel is located in the old city part of Istanbul known as Sultanahmet, which is known as one of the biggest open air museums of the world. The hotel is an excellent example of a 19th Century Ottoman stone house. The owner was born here. She has restored and decorated it to give guests a glimpse into the Istanbul of yesteryear. Public areas have been decorated with antique furniture in order to give a warm and elegant atmosphere. In the lobby there is a 2. 5 meter high, 16th Century, 24 carat gold-leaf mirror. Other features include and 18th Century Vienna Console stone mirror with intricate Hand-made designs on the frame, a unique Chinese-style hand-embroidered silk prayer rug. The sides of the bar in the garden have been covered with Kandira stone. There is also an antique fountain in the garden. The Hotel entrance has a Hand-made ceramic Tree of Life panel. According to Selcuk Turkish tradition, it will bring good luck. Also in the lobby there is a Hand-made velvet Bridal ‘Kaftan’ embroidered with gold threads as well as a 19th Century seating group which surrounds a display housing examples of Turkish silver household items. The hotel's charming owner was herself born in this very house, so maybe that explains why she took such meticulous care to ensure that none of the building's original character was sacrificed in the transformation. We believe the hotel has created a special and different home within the Turkish ideal of hospitality and the guests will have a memorable stay.
