Swissotel Buyuk Efes Izmir

Swissotel Grand Efes Izmir may seem like your typical high-end business hotel, but it has a lot more to it than meets the eye. The hotel first opened in 1964 as one of the first luxury hotels in the Aegean region. It was then closed in 2005, sold to Swissotels, and reopened in 2008. It’s always welcomed the business class of Turkey, and today, maintains that vibe. From the outside, it’s a grand white dame with well-kept gardens that face the Aegean Sea, allowing most rooms and public spaces to have ocean views. The decor throughout has a business feel. Think: neutral color scheme, glossy floors, and dark accents. Some color is added to the restaurants, like with soft green, orange, and yellow chairs. The Aquarium Restaurant has trendy porthole windows. Though the overall business vibe may feel cold to some, the hotel adds some color with an 800-piece art collection from Turkey’s leading modern artist, Fernando Botero. Take note that as this property is large, and it might take some guests a while to get to some rooms from the lobby. Due to the on-site convention center, the hotel attracts mostly business travelers, though the spa and kid-friendly perks make it a reasonable choice for couples and families, too. 

Swissotel Grand Efes Izmir provides a great location on Cumhuriyet Square, which overlooks the Aegan Sea. Guests can reach some main attractions on foot from the property. The Clock Tower is a 16-minute walk away, while the Hisir Mosque takes 11 minutes to reach on foot. It’s a 15-minute walk to the Agora Open Air Museum. For those with a car, the Asansor is about a 10-minute drive away, as is the Kadifekale. Plenty of local and international restaurants and bars surround the hotel. It takes 10 minutes to walk to the nearest metro stop. The Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport is a 20-minute drive away. 

The spacious rooms here feature modern amenities, neutral color palettes, and a contemporary business-like vibe. Rooms have dark wood paneling, carpeted floors, white beds, and sleek black accents. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, minibars, kettles, espresso makers, safes, free Wi-Fi, and air-conditioning. Some rooms have sea views, while all have small balconies that aren’t generally large enough for chairs or tables. Suites and Executive Rooms have access to the Executive Lounge which offers free breakfast, drinks, and snacks. Suites also have living rooms and the Presidential Suite provides additional luxe elements like a balcony with a hot tub and a kitchenette. The brown marble bathrooms are particularly upscale with vessel sinks, showers with waterfall showerheads, toiletries, and hairdryers. Some upper-level rooms have separate jetted tubs. 

The Swissotel Grand Efes Izmir checks off all the right amenities for an upscale property. There are indoor and outdoor pools, including a children’s pool and outdoor hot tub. Take note that the outdoor pool will close in May 2017 for some work, and it’s currently undetermined when it will reopen. The spa is impressive with amenities like a hot tub, sauna, steam room, Turkish hammam, massages, salon, and beauty treatments. To help guests stay fit, the hotel offers a spacious gym with cardio and weight equipment, plus aerobics classes and an outdoor tennis court. Business travelers can take advantage of a convention center with 19 fully-equipped meeting rooms, a business center with five stations, and free Wi-Fi throughout. Similarly, family perks are pretty good, with an outdoor playground, indoor play area, and babysitting services.

There’s plenty to eat and drink here with three restaurants that serve Swiss, Turkish, and Greek cuisine. The breakfast is well-liked by guests and has both hot and cold items. It can be included in room rates. The Lobby Lounge and Sky Bar both provide an assortment of drinks and snacks. The Sky Bar has lovely views of the Aegean Sea. Other features include 24-hour room service and free on-site parking.