PopUp Maçka I Row Houses

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The Istanbul sky was fighting for sun yesterday. Opened my eyes for a white gray this new morning, and it feels so substantially London but breathing as if I were in Paris!

Today I am grateful for: silence, ultra hip, cappucchino washed buildings, new destination, a walk thru time, Akaretler, Akaretler, Akaretler, and when Sunday is a Sunday:)

While walking with me, pls move your mouse on my photos, as they are easily clickable in larger size.

Fancy boutiques, chic international shops, luxury residences, upscale apartments, art galleries, museums, elegant cafés, designer stores, and the luxury hotel W Istanbul over looking to the Bosphorus.

Very nicely restored and restaurated with style and charm, looks like a Parisian, the historic Akaretler Row Houses in Maçka on the European side is now of the most stylish and trendiest areas in the city.



Akaretler Row Houses include a row of up class boutiques like Marc Jacobs, Lanvin, Bottega Veneta, Jimmy Choo, Alberta Ferretti, Storks, Marni, 1930 Antika, Sergio Rossi, many more. That most of them occupy the ground floors of the row houses as do several cafés.



No more influence of earlier Baroque and Rococo styles seen here, but with their neoclassical front design, one of the best examples of the civil architecture built in the second half of 19th century. I love sophisticated development on the cobbled quiet streets! Located in the center of the business and the hotel district of the city, a few kilometers distant to major places such as Çırağan Kempinski, Dolmabahçe Palace, Swissotel, Conrad Hilton in Beşiktaş.

This corner is the address for the 134-room W Istanbul. Housed inside a stunning set of row houses which was built by the Ottoman-Armenian architect Sarkis Balyan by the order of Sultan Abdulaziz in the 1870's. Not just offers the latest modern design and gourmet cuisine but also a superb example of urban renewal.

This set of residences are mostly three floors high, and stepped parallel to the slope of the terrain. Once here within a few seconds' walk uphill (above), I arrive to the University I graduated from. Since my university years, this area holds a special place in my memories. Another reason why I love here:) Did not count how many times I have walked up-and-down this houses lined street. Following up there, another ~10 min' walk brings me to other popular venue for upscale fashionable district that I adore, in case you haven't read Nişantaşı: A Niche in Istanbul. What's especially cool is that I feel myself 'Lost' when I am in this triangle: Akaretler-university-Nişantaşı, oh my!

Walking from the Akaretler Row Houses, I still enjoy my stroll after having a meal at W Kitchen (above right). The Der Die Das, Pastarito, Kalamata, Vogue, Al Jamal are a few totally stylish dining out options in this re-vamped area to match. I think I can't forget 1897Konyali, serving artfully presentation of classic Turkish dishes. Here's an advice, try the quail salad with raspberry sauce and lamb simmered with dried and fresh fruits, deli delicious something:)

For future Istanbul visitors, for turkish cuisine lovers, the address is:

~1897 Konyali Restaurant

Süleyman Seba Cad. No: 4
Akaretler, Istanbul

For a detailed information about Akaretler, from W Istanbul, Residences and offices to the Shops and Restaurants list, all you have to do is click on the night view of Akaretler in the following:

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Did you know, with an investment of 70 million$ for 70 historical houses, this new district Akaretler Row Houses in the heart of Istanbul was selected as one of the five winning developments in the Urban Land Institute (ULI) 2009 Awards for Excellence: Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) competition.

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And in a historical footnote, one of these houses was home to the mother of our Father figure, the founder of Modern Turquie and the first President, Atatürk: at five past nine, read if you haven't.

Let's travel the world together
with one easytouch over here:

... but let's

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