Casa Lavanda

Istanbul, Turkey

A family-run boutique hotel and restaurant in the forests of Şile, outside Istanbul

No. 467 · Autumn 2026

Aerial view of the house, pool and gardens, Casa Lavanda

Welcome

A family home in the Şile forests

A boutique hotel and chef's restaurant set in a 21-decare garden among the Şile forests, hosting weddings from intimate receptions to 800 guests.

The Şen family bought the land at Ulupelit in 1991 and began building in 1993, first a four-room house in local limestone with timber roof and shutters. It grew into a boutique hotel and restaurant, today run by sons Emre and Ekin with a team of about 70.

Aerial view of a ceremony laid out on the lawn, Casa Lavanda

The setting

Weddings across a 21-decare garden

The grounds of rare trees and plants, with a view over a pond, allow weddings in different settings and themes, from a small reception to a banquet for 800. The hotel was named International Wedding Venue in the 2024 Weddings and Honeymoons awards.

Where: Ulupelit, Şile, Istanbul, Turkey
Capacity: Up to 800 guests

The celebration

How the day is held

6 spaces for the day. Up to 800 guests.

Lawn ceremony with a central aisle and white flower installations, Casa Lavanda

Garden settings

Ceremonies and receptions can be placed in different areas of the 21-decare garden, among trees and plants and beside a pond.

Long dining table set in the indoor reception room, Casa Lavanda

Chef's restaurant

Event menus are created by the hotel's chef from produce grown on site.

A guest room with a canopy bed and fireplace sitting area, Casa Lavanda

Boutique hotel

Guests can stay on site and extend the celebration into the next day. Rooms are named after trees and designed with local artisans.

A bicycle outside the hotel, available to guests, Casa Lavanda

Location

Getting there

Airport: Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, 27 km straight line distance
Airport: Istanbul, 68 km straight line distance

A guest room with an armchair and dressing table, Casa Lavanda

Dining

A chef's restaurant and a biodynamic garden

Chef Emre Şen's kitchen draws on the hotel's own organic and biodynamic vegetable garden, which grows more than 350 kinds of vegetables, and menus are designed for each event. The garden also supplies the restaurant with fruit, herbs and edible flowers.