HIDIV KASRI
Rarely visited by foreigners, the Hidiv Pavilion boasts a swanky buffet-style restaurant, acres of fragrant pines, and an spectacular panorama of the Bosphorus from its tower.
Locals come here to brunch along Hidiv Kasri's marbled terraces, but the singular attraction remains viewing the panorama from atop its tower. The ascent can only be achieved by riding the rickety elevator that chugs to the top of the spire. It's not open to the public, but asking management kindly will let you in. The tower's terrace, halfway up, can be reached by climbing the serpentine stairs. The view reveals the northern part fo the straits.You can see the undeveloped entrance to the Black Sea on a good day. Seen Enough? Then, it's time for a bite or a drink.
Hidiv's restaurant boasts indoor dining space that's pure late-Ottoman style in decor--gilded high ceilings that feature stunning stained glass panels. Below a collection of marble fountains and pools refresh on torrid days and add to the mystique of this antique building. Its outside terrace is set along Istanbul's largest rose garden and a monumental fountain.
This turn-of-the-century mega abode was commissioned by Abbas Hilmi Pasha, an Ottoman governor to rule Egypt. Built by the Italian architect Delfo Seminati in 1907, it boasts the European architecture inside and out of its 9,000 square-foot living space. It's located in a large grove (Hidiv Grove) above Çubuklu on the Anatolian side of the Bosphorus.
The
been managed by the municipality of Istanbul since the 1930s, after the governor left Turkey. Reopened to the public in 1982 after a long renovation stint by
Türkiye Turing ve Otomobil Kurumu. Two years later, it opened as a hotel, restaurant and café. Today, the facilities are run by Beltur, the municipality's tourism branch. As such, no alcoholic beverages are sold on the premises.
ESSENTIALS
ADDRESS: Cubuklu Yolu No:32 Beykoz
PHONE: +90.216.413.9644 - +90.216.413.9664
HOURS: Daily from 9 a.m. to midnight
STRICTLY SPEAKING
Panorama = Manzara (pron. as it's read)