Our Story

Sirkeci Group Hotels & Restaurants

Our Journey Through the Years

1967

The Boyacı Family joins the Sirkeci community, which consist mostly of automotive part shops, as a Ford agent company.

1988

The potential of the site due to its vicinity of major landmarks is identify and the very first hotel in the area by the Boyacı Family is open.

1993

The Boyacı Family formed an NGO for the development of the Sirkeci area and community.

2002

The Boyacı Family operates 3 hotels in Sirkeci.

2006

Sirkeci Mansion opens with the vision to deliver, with the highest integrity, extraordinary hospitality.

2008

Received the "World Best Service" award From Trip Advisor for the first time (but not the last).

2011

Small Hotels Association of Turkey was formed for other liked minded hotels from around Turkey with the leadership of Mr. Faruk Boyacı.

2013

The company which operates 5 hotels in Sirkeci split, and the seed for a more sustainable company, Sirkeci Hotel Group is planted.

2014

Elanaz Hotel joins to Sirkeci Hotel Group.

2015

The fourth hotel to embodied the Sirkeci Hotel Group philosophy, Lalahan Hotel opens.

2016

Hotellino joins to SirkeciHotel Group.

2019 -

The sixth hotel of Sirkeci Hotel Group, Lalahan Suits opens.

Brand History

The story of Sirkeci Hotel Group began in 1967, when the Boyacı Family became part of the vibrant Sirkeci community as a Ford agency business in a district then largely known for automotive trade. Recognizing the extraordinary historical and cultural potential of the area, the family opened one of the very first hotels in Sirkeci in 1988 (İlkay Hotel), long before the neighborhood became one of Istanbul’s most sought-after destinations for travelers.

Driven by a strong commitment to the development of the district and its community, the Boyacı Family established a local NGO in 1993 to support the growth and preservation of Sirkeci. Over the following years, their passion for hospitality continued to flourish, and by 2002 the family was already operating three hotels in the area. In 2006, this journey reached a new milestone with the opening of Sirkeci Mansion Hotel, founded with the vision of delivering extraordinary hospitality with the highest integrity and genuine Turkish warmth.

As the Group’s reputation for personalized service and authentic experiences grew internationally, Sirkeci Mansion Hotel received the prestigious “World Best Service” award from Tripadvisor in 2008 — the first of many recognitions to come. In 2011, under the leadership of Mr. Faruk Boyacı, the Small Hotels Association of Turkey was founded to bring together like-minded boutique hospitality professionals from across the country.

In 2013, the foundations of today’s Sirkeci Hotel Group were established with a renewed vision focused on sustainable growth, authentic hospitality, and timeless guest experiences. The years that followed marked an exciting period of expansion: Elanaz Hotel joined the group in 2014, Lalahan Hotel opened in 2015, Hotellino became part of the family in 2016, and Lalahan Suites was introduced in 2019.

Today, Sirkeci Hotel Group continues to welcome guests from around the world through its collection of distinctive hotels and restaurants in the heart of Istanbul’s historic Old Town — combining heritage, comfort, and heartfelt hospitality shaped by decades of experience and family tradition.