Tucked between the monumental silhouettes of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, a lovingly restored wooden mansion stands quietly.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Green House Garden
It keeps the whispers of Ottoman Istanbul alive. Yeşil Ev – literally the “Green House” – began life in the late 19th century as the home of Şükrü Bey, the minister of the Ottoman tobacco monopoly. Over the decades, time and neglect reduced the graceful residence to ruin. In response, the Turkish Touring and Automobile Association purchased the property, rebuilt it with care, and reopened it as a hotel in 1984. The revival received a Europa Nostra medal in 1985 for preserving Istanbul’s architectural heritage. Today the mansion houses the Yeşil Ev Garden Restaurant, an oasis of calm where travellers can dine among birdsong and the soft plash of a pink‑porphyry fountain.
Heritage and Restoration
Yeşil Ev is a symbol of Istanbul’s architectural resilience. Restored with historical fidelity and vision, it represents one of Türkiye’s earliest and most influential examples of heritage conservation. Its story reflects the broader cultural effort to preserve the city’s endangered wooden mansions while adapting them for modern hospitality.
A 19th‑Century Mansion Reborn
Yeşil Ev’s story begins in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. Built for Şükrü Bey, the mansion reflected the tastes of the era: three storeys of finely carved timber, gracious rooms and a walled garden. After the family abandoned the house in 1970, weather and vandals left it beyond repair. The Turkish Touring and Automobile Association (TTOK) purchased the property in 1977, demolished what remained and reconstructed the house as an exact replica using original plans and photographs. The project, spearheaded by Çelik Gülersoy, aimed to revive Istanbul’s endangered wooden architecture and set a precedent for conservation. In 1984 the mansion reopened as Yeşil Ev Hotel (Green House); the following year it received the Europa Nostra medal for its meticulous restoration.
The Garden and Pink‑Porphyry Fountain
Behind the high walls of Yeşil Ev lies a garden reminiscent of an Ottoman courtyard. Mature trees and flowering shrubs provide shade over a monumental marble pool. The pool, carved from pink porphyry, originally belonged to Serasker Rıza Paşa’s mansion in Yıldız. The high walls, the fountain’s gentle gurgle and the scent of roses create a refuge from the crowded streets of Sultanahmet. A flower‑filled conservatory (“Yeşil Sera”) extends the dining space into the garden. It allows guests to enjoy the greenery even on rainy days. In the evenings, live piano music floats across the courtyard, adding to the romance.
Dining at Yeşil Ev Garden Restaurant
Dining at Yeşil Ev is an experience shaped by time, place, and care. The setting blends Ottoman refinement with seasonal rhythms, offering both locals and visitors a tranquil, sensory-rich encounter with Istanbul’s culinary and architectural heritage.
Menu Highlights and Atmosphere
The Yeşil Ev Garden Restaurant combines Ottoman hospitality with modern service. The menu features both Turkish and international dishes, but certain specialities stand out: stuffed grape leaves cooked in a casserole, Green House Garden‑style tenderloin and fig roll with walnuts. Breakfast is served buffet‑style between 7 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., lunch between noon and 3 p.m., and dinner between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., with live piano performances five evenings a week. The garden’s ambiance equals the cuisine; diners sit beneath leafy boughs on wrought‑iron chairs while the fountain murmurs nearby.
Yeşil Sera and Seasonal Dining
The restaurant’s greenhouse‑like pavilion, Yeşil Sera, allows diners to enjoy the garden in all seasons. Glass walls and a retractable roof create a bright, warm space during the cooler months. In summer, the roof opens and the scent of jasmine drifts through. You may sit in the open garden or inside Yeşil Sera. Either way, the atmosphere remains serene. A high wall shields the garden from the bustle of Sultanahmet, and the soft lighting after dusk makes it ideal for romantic dinners or quiet reflection.
Hospitality and Notable Guests
The Yeşil Ev has long attracted travellers seeking authenticity. In 1992 the hotel hosted French president François Mitterrand , and its guest list includes artists, diplomats and writers who value privacy. Staff members speak multiple languages and pride themselves on unobtrusive service. On winter evenings, the restaurant’s high‑ceilinged rooms offer a cosy alternative to the garden. They are decorated with antiques and kilims, evoking Ottoman warmth indoors. Reservations are recommended during peak tourist seasons (spring and autumn), especially for dinner by the fountain.
Cultural Context: Yeşil Ev in Sultanahmet
To understand Yeşil Ev is to understand its setting. Nestled within the spiritual and political heart of old Istanbul, the restaurant is surrounded by centuries of imperial ambition, sacred architecture, and quiet domestic life. Its walls not only shelter diners—they echo the overlapping legacies of Byzantium and the Ottomans that still shape Sultanahmet today.
Neighbouring Landmarks
Yeşil Ev sits on Kabasakal Caddesi between two of Istanbul’s most venerated sites: the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Completed in 537 CE, Hagia Sophia’s vast dome showcases the engineering brilliance of the sixth century. It also marks the architectural transition from late Roman to Byzantine design. Opposite stands the 17th‑century Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque). Its six minarets, central dome, and thousands of İznik tiles define the classical Ottoman style.
Together with Topkapı Palace, these monuments form part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul UNESCO World Heritage Site. Staying or dining at Yeşil Ev places you within a five‑minute walk of each, making it an ideal base for exploring Istanbul’s layered history.
Soğukçeşme Street and Ottoman Houses
Immediately behind Yeşil Ev, the Soğukçeşme Street (literally “Cold Fountain Street”) runs between Hagia Sophia and Topkapı Palace. The car‑free lane is lined with restored 19th‑ and early‑20th‑century wooden houses decorated in Ottoman style. Each house is named after a flower (Jasmine, Daisy, etc.) and adorned with lace curtains, kilims and period furniture. One of the houses is home to the Sarnıç Restaurant. This atmospheric eatery is set inside a former Byzantine cistern. Walking down Soğukçeşme Street after a meal at Yeşil Ev offers a glimpse into domestic life from a bygone era.
The Hürrem Sultan Hamam
A short walk from Yeşil Ev stands the Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hamam, a Turkish bath built by Mimar Sinan in 1556–1557 for Hurrem Sultan (Roxelana). The bathhouse occupies the site of the ancient Baths of Zeuxippus. It features twin male and female sections aligned symmetrically. It remained in use until 1910, later housed convicts and then served as a carpet bazaar until a restoration in the early 21st century. Today the hamam offers luxurious spa treatments under soaring domes, making it an excellent complement to the tranquil atmosphere of Yeşil Ev.
The Istanbul Arts Bazaar
Yeşil Ev shares its courtyard wall with the Istanbul Arts Bazaar. During the hotel’s restoration, the derelict Cedid Mehmed Efendi Madrasa was transformed into a bazaar where traditional arts are showcased. In each small room facing the courtyard, artisans demonstrate calligraphy, illumination, ebru paper marbling, tilework, paper filigree, fabric painting, Turkish art dolls and porcelain painting . Visitors can watch the craftsmen at work. They may also purchase unique souvenirs or sign up for short workshops. The bazaar’s Istanbul Coffeehouse serves tea and Turkish coffee in the inner courtyard, offering a peaceful break from sightseeing.
Layers of Byzantium and Ottoman Legacy
Yeşil Ev’s location reflects the many layers of Istanbul’s history. On one side lies the Hippodrome, a Roman-era chariot racing arena; on the other, Byzantine and Ottoman landmarks. The UNESCO-listed Historic Areas of Istanbul highlight Hagia Sophia’s sixth-century engineering and the Blue Mosque’s 17th-century Ottoman design. Nearby Soğukçeşme Street, with its flower-named wooden houses, recalls 19th-century domestic life. Yeşil Ev’s own reconstruction represents 20th-century efforts to preserve the city’s heritage. Dining in the garden, you feel between eras—calls to prayer echo overhead, carts rattle over cobblestones, and the scent of Turkish coffee lingers in the sea breeze.
Conclusion: A Living Heritage
Yeşil Ev, aka The Green House Garden Restaurant shows that heritage preservation doesn’t have to freeze buildings in time. By reconstructing a 19th-century mansion, restoring its garden, and integrating a crafts bazaar, the Turkish Touring and Automobile Association created a space where history, culture, and hospitality come together.
Under fruit trees, beside the pink‑porphyry fountain, and over plates of dolma or fig desserts, guests can feel echoes of the past. For those seeking a deeper experience of Istanbul, Yeşil Ev is more than a restaurant—it’s a doorway into the soul of Sultanahmet.
