Akanthus Hotel Ephesus

We liked everything about this hotel - it was probably the best hotel we stayed in during our trip. We stayed 3 nights in mid May 2023. + Location: 5 min walk to the main part of town. Close to the basilica and Artemis Temple. Quiet area in a small cobbled lane. Street parking available, but, no real lots. Just have to pull up as close as you can to the side. Low traffic area. + Room: Great layout, lots of natural light. Good soundproofing. Good size bathroom. Aircon worked well. + Shower: lots of hot water, good water pressure. Hand shower was mounted at a good height and could be angled easily (for when you don't want to get your hair wet using the rain shower) + Bed: large double which was 2 separate mattresses that didn't split in the middle. Quite comfortable, not too hard - ok for a side sleeper like me. Comfy pillows. + Staff: Adar and his colleagues were very hospitable. They made us feel at home. + Breakfast: Simple but good quality breakfast spread. Eggs made to order. There was always complimentary cake, tea and coffee during the day.

This hotel is an OASIS of calm and beauty located in or very near the old town area of Selcuk. From the strains of background music throughout the common areas, to the lovely breakfast, to the inviting seating both inside and at the outside pool area, to the thoughtfully appointed room and overall decor, to the helpful and friendly staff, we felt at home. We got great recommendations for evening meals and sightseeing. The owner/ architect of this gem of a property circulated among his guests on a regular basis to answer any questions or engage in friendly conversation. In the room we stayed in, we appreciated such small touches as hooks in the bathroom, lights at the bathroom mirror, and plug outlets in convenient room locations, amenities often missing in other lodgings. We took advantage of the hotel laundry service, getting our cleaned and folded laundry back on the same day! Last, we were able to leave a couple pieces of our luggage at the hotel while we left for one night to travel to Pamukkale, then we returned for one last night at Akanthus before continuing on our trip.

The pictures of the property are exactly what you get, it's absolutely beautiful! We were greeted at the entrance by a very friendly worker. She showed us our room as well as the breakfast area which had free water and bread available at all times. Our room was spacious and clean. Even after checking out, they kept our bags while we saw some sites and let us relax a little in the wonderful pool area. The same woman walked us out when we left, and another worker gave us a final goodbye at the end of the street. I would gladly return to this property!

Location = perfect, breakfast = perfect, hotel = perfect, room = perfect, staff = perfect. This should be on the list of Best Small Boutique Hotels in the World. The Manager, Arda was fantastic - helped us with an awesome tour guide (Nizam), restaurant suggestions, sightseeing - everything he touched turned to gold for our stay in Selcuk. Walking distance to Temple of Artemis, Isa Bey Mosque, St John the Baptist Basilica, Ephesus Archaeological Museum and main restaurant area of Selcuk

The Akanthus Ephesus is a small, personal boutique property that did a lovely job on an off-season stay. SERVICE: I didn't encounter bad service anywhere in Turkey. The staff here was friendly and helpful. ROOM: I was upgraded for my stay, which was appreciated. The room was spacious and decorated with handicrafts; and everything was kept up in good repair. Complimentary water was provided. The bathroom was decorated in painted tile of the region, the pool used some ancient stones from archaeological sites. FOOD: Breakfast was in a small building a few steps across a courtyard, that included pastries, simit, fruit and cheeses, along with your option for eggs in various styles. It was always good. WIFI: No issues LOCATION AND SIGHTS: The hotel is about 15 minute's walk from the Selçuk station. It was convenient to the Ephesus museum (a few minute's walk), the Basilica of Saint John (same), the temple of Artemis site (a few minutes more in the other direction) and the Ephesus archeological site (about 3 km) Besides the convenience of the location, the staff, from the owners to the front desk, were friendly and great to chat with, both for advice on Ephesus and about life in Turkey. It made the stay more memorable.