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.

Can't think of anything we didn't like.

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

Nothing at all

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.

No issues

I loved staying at AHE! Located in the old district of the atmospheric town of Selçuk, it welcomes you as soon as you step into its enclosed courtyard. We were kindly offered a free upgrade to our room, which was spotless clean, spacious, beautifully decorated, offering great facilities, confort and peace for restful nights. The communal areas are beautifully arranged with strong Wi-Fi throughout. A tasteful and abundant breakfast is served, and complimentary tea/coffee with freshly backed cake is available 24/7. Above all, my warm thank you goes to all the staff, some of the most kind, friendly and helpful people I've met. From the manager to the receptionists, the catering and in-house staff, they all go far and beyond to provide comfort and guide you through the discovery of their beautiful country and its history. Plenty of eateries are just walking distance. If in the area in the future, my choice will undoubtedly be for AHE and its 'family'.

Having to leave ...

This hotel is just lovely. From the moment we arrived the staff couldn't do enough for us. On day 2 they calmly paid the taxi fare for a guest who (wrongly) assumed local taxis accepted card payments. It is ideally located within Selcuk - quiet but an easy walk to everything you need to see, a really peaceful haven. Our room was lovely, extremely clean and very comfortable. Unfortunately we had to do a couple of days work while here and the excellent WiFi and the ability to work in the shaded part of the courtyard certainly made "digital-nomading" a real pleasure. The breakfast deserves a special mention - lots of choice and a lovely lady who will make the eggs exactly as you want. The cake and tea/coffee available all day are delicious and a temptation too far!

Nothing. This is the sort of small hotel that makes a holiday.

This was our second stay here and it completely lived up to our memories. It is a small family run hotel and everyone is very friendly and helpful. As soon as you step through the gate you are entering an oasis of beauty and tranquility. Everything has been designed with such care and love to make your stay as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. Taking breakfast in the shaded courtyard was a delight, and there is so much choice. It was lovely to return here after a busy day of exploring to have a swim and a glass of wine by the pool. I'm sure many people stay here for 1/2 days when visiting Ephesus, but it's worth a much longer stay

That we had to leave!

As you as you open the door from the street, you are in heaven. The aesthetic is impeccable, with the seating, pool, deck, and intimate dining area. In the reception area, you are greeted by very kind and helpful staff, who give you fresh, delicious lemonade in a glass. The stairs up to my room were made of very nice wood, something that caught my attention immediately. The doors and door handles are of very high quality as well, something you never notice anywhere else. The door handles were heavy and well built, a surprising joy to open and close. The bed was the most comfortable bed anywhere I’ve stayed, as were the pillows and sheets. There was a small refrigeration with water, and a small desk, as well as a closet, all of similarly high quality. The photos are accurate but do not convey the minutiae of every square centimeter that has been considered. Everywhere you look is nice. The bathroom shower and sink were very high quality as well, and the soap that is given is wonderful. I loved the breakfast buffet, it was my favorite in all of Turkey. Plenty of options and all fresh and delicious. I did not ever get tired of it after 5 times. Tea can be had all day. Parking was close by, convenient, easy, and had security cameras monitoring. I stayed here for 3 nights, I spent 2 nights here fist. Between I spent a night in Pamukkale. I would never consider staying anywhere else.

Nothing, everything was perfect.

Fully understand their #1 rating in Selcuk! They deserve it, and more! Absolute gem of a small hotel. Lovely rooms, well fitted out, with comfortable beds and in our case, a comfortable and stunning window seat overlooking the pool. We had a double door overlooking the beautiful countryside, and the entire situation could not have been better! Heat provided for the chilly nights, and beautiful bathroom with the best shower we have found in 3 weeks in Turkey! Wifi was fast and reliable, and parking was available on the street adjacent to the property. We were also able to get laundry done in very short order by an outside service which they conveniently arranged at a reasonable price. Breakfast was plentiful and excellent, with eggs available upon request. Very, very helpful staff and nothing was too much bother! Definitely the place to stay in Selcuk!

Absolutely nothing!

Lovely hotel set up the hill from the main road to Ephesus and in quiet location in Selcuk close to the St John Basilica. Staff were very friendly and the manager was particularly helpful in helping us work out possible options to visit Didyma, Miletus and Priene in one day. Ephesus was easily walkable from the hotel along safe payment route which enabled us to visit the site at 8am before the organised tours rolled in. Breakfast in the hotel was great and the pool offered a welcome relaxing dip after a long day at Ephesus. Room was nice and spacious with nice view of the surrounding countryside.

Nothing to dislike about our hotel stay.

Breakfasts were traditional Turkish fare, with a broad selection of fruits, cheeses, and meats, various types of coffee and tea, and egg dishes, including omelettes, all cooked to perfection. The staff were thoughtful, diligent, and friendly, and the management, including one of the owners who was also the building's architect, were warm and charming and genuinely interested in their guests. The swimming pool, though unheated, is a pleasant place to relax in the warmth of the autumn sun. And to top things off, the location is ideal, on one side less than 200 m from the Temple of Artemis, and on the other side 300 m from the Ephesus Museum, which verges on the business district. The rest of the historical site of Ephesus is no more than 2 or 3 km away from the hotel, ideal for walking or driving.

There was nothing to dislike in the Akanthus Hotel, not even for a member of our party in a wheelchair who had to be pushed up a narrow lane from our parking place below the hotel.