Turning the global inactivity within the first months of 2009 into an opportunity, the Armada Hotel completely renewed its infrastructure and renovated the interior decoration of the historical hotel building which was originally launched in 1994. During the renovation works that lasted a month, the Armada Hotel carefully preserved its most distinguished features as a "city-hotel" within the heart of the historical peninsula of Istanbul and the meeting-point of Istanbul citizens but also Armada become a more comfortable, and more appealing hotel to stay...
Among the most distinct novelties of Armada are:
Personal Climatization: As the ventilation system was completely changed, independent from the central heating system the Armada guests can be able to control and adjust their room temperature as they wish. In the meantime there will be more fresh air within the rooms through the new air lift pumping system.
"De-Luxe" and "Superior" Rooms: In line with the demand from the guests, the standarsd rooms were segmented according to the positioning and comfort level. The "Superior" rooms with sea and historical peninsula view were enlarged and eight of them were decorated as "De-Luxe".
The new luxury rooms were floored with wood parquet and enriched with antique carpets, while the walls were decorated with Ottoman imperial decrees and samples of Ottoman-Turkish cultural heritage. The private bath-rooms were enlarged, paved and tiled with original Turkish marbels and added the sprinkler shower systems. In addition to the facilities such as free ADSL Internet connection, safety box, mini-bar, LCD television, hair-dryer, natural cleaning soap and other materials in all of the rooms, specially woven bathrobes, slippers, pure cotton chamber-robes and tea and coffee trays with kettle were also added to each room.
Marble Pool and the "Divan Corner": The resting divans next to the Guest Lounge in the corner of the Lobby ("Fountain Café"), were completely renewed and decorated with velvet pillows, a bright-coloured carpet and a brass Ottoman brasier. Thus the "Fountain Café" gained a more oriental, more attractive "Divan Corner" towards the "Marble Pool" in which the turtles of Armada continue to meet the guests...
Armada "SERA" Restaurant: The atrium Armada SERA restaurant where the guests are hosted during the winter period, was enlarged and re-decorated with small orange and mandarine trees. A wine cellar with a large collection of premium Turkish wines was also added. Thus, the restaurant also turned into a "Winter Garden" for the daytime guests while it keeps its unique position in the historical peninsula for the guests who want to enjoy Istanbul's night view...
Ahırkapı Restaurant / Armada SALON: Adopting itself to the great variety demands of its users, the historical "Ahırkapı Restaurant" will go on service under a new hat; the multi-purposed "Armada SALON", after the recent renovation. In fact, since 1994, along with its primary function as the place where thousands of guests had/have their meals, the Ahırkapı Restaurant became the venue for a wide range of social events, cultural activities, dance workshops, wedding ceremonies and civil balls which the Armada Hotel revitalized as some of the old Istanbul rituals. During recent renovation all the ventilation, voice and light systems in the SALON were changed with high-technologic ones. Thus, the new Armada SALON is ready to host new guests and events...
Armada Hotel hosts an exhibition which will be shown after 15th of November, 2008 and continue for 15 days, consists of the artworks of one of the present-day Anatolian Ceramics creators Adil – Can Nursan Art Workshop.
Istanbul has been re-discovering by the Americans particularly through its "terraces" according to Peter Frank, the editor in chief of the well-known travel site "Concierge.Com" [1], who explained this fact in an interview published in “Chicago Tribune” in April 2007. The world tourism media as well as Turkish press widely reflected the said interview [2]. Frank said “Istanbul is becoming Europe's nightlife capital, with amazing clubs overlooking the Bosporus and all these great little restaurants on rooftops."
