Crafted for rest and ritual under Ottoman and European influence.
Beloved by artists, poets, and locals in vibrant Çukurcuma.
Silenced for years, then carefully restored with historic integrity.
Revived as a living hammam where stillness meets tradition.
In Istanbul’s historic Çukurcuma neighborhood, our hammam has stood for nearly 200 years, offering timeless rituals and quiet renewal.
Commissioned in the 1830s during the reign of Sultan Mahmud II, Çukurcuma Hamamı emerged at a time when Ottoman Istanbul was undergoing great reform and cultural transition. It is believed that Nakşidil Valide Sultan, the French-born wife of Sultan Abdulhamid I and spiritual mother to Mahmud II, played a key role in bringing water infrastructure to this quarter, paving the way for the construction of the hammam.
First known as Sürahi Hamamı and later referred to as Süreyya Hamamı by locals, the bathhouse quickly became a beloved neighborhood fixture. Its bright, spacious dome (kubbe), heated Göbektaşı, and traditional halvet rooms still retain the architectural grace and calming rhythm of the era.
In the late 19th century, the hammam was frequented by Constantinos Cavafy, the great Alexandrian poet known for his reflective verse and cultural depth. During his stay in Istanbul between 1880 and 1885, Cavafy is said to have been a regular guest, adding a literary echo to the marble chambers that remains to this day.
More recently, Çukurcuma Hamamı was brought into cinematic memory through Ferzan Özpetek’s celebrated debut feature film Hamam (1997). Key scenes from the film, particularly those filmed at the Göbektaşı and Camekanlık, captured the quiet sensuality and timeless elegance of the space and introduced its atmosphere to a global audience.
After being closed for restoration in 2007, the hammam reopened in 2018 as Çukurcuma Hamamı 1831, reimagined as a refined, boutique experience that honors its heritage while embracing contemporary standards of comfort, wellness, and design.
Today, every detail from the handcrafted kese mitts to the olive oil soaps sourced from Ayvalık’s groves reflects our commitment to tradition, elegance, and meaningful renewal. Guests are not only welcomed into a place of cleansing but into a living story shaped by sultans, poets, filmmakers and now, you.
