Occasionally when traveling, you stumble across a truly special hotel – one that charms you right down to your soul.
Esbelli Evi in Cappadocia, Turkey, is such a place.
Esbelli Evi Review: Cappadocia cave hotel in Turkey
On one trip to Turkey, we included a visit to Cappadocia.
We went hot air ballooning over Cappadocia and also made like troglodytes – exploring the area’s underground cave cities and rock-cut cave churches.
To enhance our experience, we stayed at a cave hotel in Cappadocia.
One of the first cave hotels in Cappadocia, Esbelli Evi opened in 1990 with five rooms.
Over the years, the owner Suha Ersoz expanded the hotel by connecting individual houses through stairs and tunnels.
Today – carved into into Cappadocia’s volcanic rock cliffs – Esbelli Evi is a boutique cave hotel with nine suites and four classic rooms.
Esbelli Evi cave hotel: Rooms and suites
Book a suite; you’ll appreciate Esbelli Evi best if you do.
Larger than most city apartments, the suites are cocoons of comfort.
Each suite is unique.
But they all have hardwood floors, air-conditioning, kilim rugs, king-size beds, rain showers, lace curtains made by the owner’s mother – and even kitchens.
The marble bathroom of our Fantasy Cave Suite came with a clawfoot tub – plus help-yourself scotch in a crystal decanter next to scented candles on a side-table.
Ever gracious, Ersoz has thought of everything to make travelers feel like they have a home away from home.
It’s a joy to return to Esbelli Evi after a day out exploring the UNESCO site of Cappadocia.
You’re treated to a welcome bottle of wine, free WiFi and in-room laptops, along with complimentary fruit and snacks in Esbelli Evi’s living room.
Niches in the bedroom walls are stuffed with great travel and art books; we browsed one on Caravaggio.
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There’s even a complimentary guest laundry tucked away in a courtyard, and each suite’s private stone terrace has a clothes rack, discreetly hidden behind pots of roses.
Breakfast
Breakfast (7:30 am to 10:30 am) is taken on a rooftop terrace overlooking the rolling countryside and traditional village, or in two cozy breakfast rooms.
Order an omelet or other egg dish, and while waiting, help yourself to freshly squeezed orange juice; fresh cucumber, tomatoes and cheese; home-baked breads and cakes; and yogurt and preserves.
Suha drops by to personally chat with each guest and check that you’re set for the day with tours.
Esbelli Evi location
Esbelli Evi is conveniently located within walking distance of Urgup’s town center.
For dinner, nearby Ziggy’s Café, one of Cappadocia’s best restaurants, serves yummy mezes (shared Turkish dishes).
Reasonable rates
To top it all off, rates at this lovely cave hotel in Cappadocia (which include breakfast) are extremely affordable.
Just one more reason Esbelli Evi ranks right up there on our list of favorite boutique hotels in the world…
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Our top travel tips and resources
Hotels: Booking.com is great for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. We especially like Booking’s flexible cancellation policy!
Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
Flights: To book the cheapest flights, search on Google Flights or Expedia. (Just be aware Expedia tickets may be non-refundable.)
Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
Car rental: Renting a car is often one of the best ways to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the best rates.
Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.
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Photo credits: 5, 6, 7, 9 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase | Remaining photos Esbelli Evi
About the authors
Luxury travel journalists and SATW, NATJA and TMAC “Best Travel Blog” award winners, Janice and George Mucalov are the publishers of Sand In My Suitcase. Between them, they’ve traveled to all 7 continents. See About.
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Becky Padmore
Tuesday 16th of April 2013
What a unique place to stay, I love hotels like this.
Janice and George
Tuesday 16th of April 2013
Yes, it's very unique - lots of character!
Jill
Monday 8th of April 2013
We're going to be in Turkey in Fall this year and staying inside a cave hotel is definitely something ont he list of things I want to do.
Janice and George
Monday 8th of April 2013
Staying in a cave hotel certainly adds to the whole Cappadocia experience. Enjoy your trip!
Charu
Monday 1st of April 2013
That's a very cool experience!