Aliée Istanbul
Where Ottoman Heritage Meets Cinematic Luxury
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● A spectacular transformation of historic Ottoman shipyard buildings into one of Istanbul’s most ambitious design hotels.
● Interiors by Dayna Lee and Ted Berner that feel part palace, part theatre set, part collector’s dream.
● A destination in its own right, combining architecture, gastronomy, wellness, and cultural storytelling on an extraordinary scale.
A Historic Waterfront Reimagined
On the shores of Istanbul’s Golden Horn, Aliée Istanbul occupies one of the city’s most historically significant waterfront sites. For centuries, this stretch of shoreline formed part of the Ottoman Empire’s naval heartland, where shipyards, warehouses, and maritime trade shaped the fortunes of the city. Layers of history remain embedded throughout the property, from original stone walls and vaulted structures to remnants of the former shipbuilding complex that once stood here. Rather than erase that heritage, Aliée embraces it. The result is a hotel that feels deeply connected to Istanbul’s past while delivering one of the city’s most contemporary hospitality experiences.
Design as Storytelling
Aliée is the debut hotel from the new lifestyle brand created by Paris Society, and the ambition is immediately apparent. Los Angeles-based designers Dayna Lee and Ted Berner spent years sourcing antiques, artworks, textiles, lighting, ceramics, and furniture from across Turkey. Their vision was not to create a conventional luxury hotel, but a richly layered world that unfolds room by room. Handwoven silk rugs, bespoke murals, vintage Syrian and Ottoman furniture, contemporary European design pieces, and custom-made lighting coexist in surprising harmony. Throughout the hotel, dramatic scale meets intimate detail. Every corridor feels curated. Every room tells a story. Every space reveals another layer.
Rooms with Character
The 122 rooms and suites continue the narrative. Original stone walls and arched windows provide a direct connection to the building’s history, while contemporary furnishings, antique brass, bespoke textiles, and handcrafted detailing introduce warmth and sophistication. Many accommodations overlook the Golden Horn, offering sweeping views across one of the world’s most historic waterways. The atmosphere is residential rather than hotel-like. Rooms feel collected rather than designed. Comfort comes wrapped in texture, craftsmanship, and a strong sense of place.
A Destination for Dining
Food and drink play a central role in the Aliée experience. Little House, perhaps the hotel’s most memorable restaurant, sits beneath soaring ceilings inside a structure that feels almost theatrical in scale. Taste by Thomas Bühner offers an intimate fine-dining experience, while Mondaine de Pariso channels the glamour of a Parisian supper club through velvet interiors, live performances, and late-night energy. The Pink Bar, illuminated by Murano chandeliers, quickly became one of Istanbul’s most talked-about cocktail destinations. Every venue carries its own distinct personality. Together, they transform the hotel into a genuine social destination.
The Well+ Spa
Few hotel wellness facilities in Europe rival the scale of Well+ at Aliée. Spread across three levels and more than 4,000 square metres, the spa combines traditional Turkish wellness rituals with advanced longevity and recovery therapies. A spectacular indoor pool framed by classical columns forms the centrepiece, while hammams, Finnish saunas, infrared therapies, Russian banyas, cryotherapy, sound healing, and biohacking treatments create a wellness programme that spans both ancient and modern approaches. The design is as impressive as the treatments themselves. It feels closer to a contemporary thermal temple than a conventional hotel spa.
The Swim Club
Outside, the Aliée Swim Club brings a Mediterranean resort atmosphere to the heart of Istanbul. An Olympic-length pool stretches toward the waterfront, surrounded by loungers, cabanas, and uninterrupted views across the Golden Horn. During summer, it becomes one of the city’s most desirable places to spend an afternoon. Relaxed by day. Social by sunset. Glamorous after dark.
A New Chapter for the Golden Horn
Aliée forms part of the wider regeneration of Tersane Istanbul, the vast redevelopment transforming the former Ottoman shipyards into a new cultural, residential, and hospitality district. The project reconnects Istanbul with a section of waterfront that had long been inaccessible, creating a new destination while preserving the site’s extraordinary historical significance. Aliée sits at the centre of that transformation.
A Hotel Unlike Anywhere Else in Istanbul
Aliée Istanbul succeeds because it never feels generic. Its architecture, design, gastronomy, and wellness offering are all rooted in the stories of the site itself. The result is a hotel that captures the layered complexity of Istanbul better than many properties twice its age. Part palace. Part shipyard. Part cultural stage. Entirely unforgettable.
