Aşiyan Yalısı

A well-maintained and carefully designed hotel converted from a yalı (summerhouse) once owned by the local wealthy family of Kumcu. Everyone here is so welcoming and makes you feel at home! Kemal Bey introduced the salon, old dining room and every item that the current owner collected over the years. There should be an original imperial decree (ferman) ! Also there is a good collection books (academic books in archeology, fine arts, history), extremely helpful to learn the history of İznik (at least). Have to mention that some of the articles in the edited volume (İznik: Tarih Boyunca) is very difficult to get in the English world. Pelin hanım is a marvelous and thoughtful chef, she prepares everything here herself. The menu changes seasonally. Don’t miss the catfish dish, as the fish is from the İznik göl. Interesting fact: you’ll see the family tomb of the Kumcus if you visit Çandarlı Hayreddin Paşa türbesi (exactly next to the Grand Vizier’s tomb) in the civil cemetery outside Lefke Gate — supposedly the townsmen would like to become the Grand Vizier’s protégés in the afterlife.

Müstakbel eşime küçük bir sürpriz yapmayı planlayarak rezervasyon yaptım. Görselleri çok beğendiğdim. Ama sürprizin en büyüğü bana oldu. O gece yemekte teklifimi kabul etti. Bizi kendi aileleriymiş gibi karşıladılar. Çok memnun kaldık. Kesinlikle yine gideceğiz. Çok teşekkür ederiz. İyiki böyle işletmeler var.

Herşey mükemmeldi. Tekrar tekrar teşekkürler ❤️