The Ottoman boutique hotel trend in Turkey began with the construction of the Ayasofya Konaklari (previously named and well known as Pansiyonlari) by the Turkish Touring & Automobile Association in the 1980s, as perfect copies of the Ottoman mansions that once lined the narrow cobbled lane since 17th century.

Ayasofya Konaklari is a neat row of pastel-coloured clapboard-clad houses, elegantly furnished in Ottoman style and beautifully lamp-lit at night. The collection of pension-style, homely designed rooms saw a veritable stampede of illustrious visitors including Bernardo Bertolucci, Roman Polanski, Sam Neil, Hillary Swank & Chad Lowe (in May 2005), Bo Derek (in August 2005 and August 2007), Ursula Andress (in August 2005), the Queen of Spain Sophia and her cousin Prince of Greece (in May 2000) and Ethan Coen (in June 2009).

Sogukcesme Street is squeezed between the ancient stone walls of Topkapi Palace and the back of Ayasofya. The area also encompasses open-air garden and terrace cafes, and an expansive garden that surrounds a wonderful orangerie where open buffet breakfast is served to all of the hotel guests.