In the overwhelming numbers of apartments of damn fine quality it is becoming more and more challenging to figure out which should become a part of the Hedonists Apartments Survey. And the more the challenge of the unknown future seems exciting, the more the past works seem less accomplished.
This latest entry in the Hedonists Apartment Survey popped right above its predecessor and we mean that in a literal sense since they share the building. Probably for the first time in Serbian history (see Serbian epic poetry for further reference), we actually got lucky with a Sultan. This apartment is bound to lure out a sigh of pleasure whence you see its stunning offerings.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE!
This apartment is no longer part of the Hedonists series. Due to an increasing number of complaints from guests about sub-standard maintenance and irresponsible treatment by the apartment’s host WE MOST DEFINITELY NO LONGER RECOMMEND THIS APARTMENT. No matter how good an apartment is to begin with, continuous bad management can spoil it. Therefore this text should be viewed in that light – and not as the current state.
Which happen to include a Hamam. Yes, you read it quite well. So if you’re impatient to book an apartment in Belgrade with its own hamam, feel free to visit the SULTAN’S homepage immediately. If not, stay with us a few more lines and see if its worth the title.
Now, in spite of its name, apartment Sultan has little to do with the Orient. Its contemporary furnishings resemble the tastes of modern-day wealthy Turks or at least something that they might appreciate. It mixes classic and contemporary in terms of furnishings and eastern and northern in terms of spa elements. The opposites mix well, only if you dose the contrasts carefully, and that is pretty much what happened in this unusual abode – someone has paid due attention to its design.
The enviable ninety square meters of space had been divided in two separate sections, one for living and the other for pure hygienic indulgence. The humongous living room with a weird irregular shape as its base and the three large windows provide plenty of sunlight. The pastel green velvet sitting set consists of an armchair and a two-seater that unfold into a bed. The rug beneath them is couloured in same nuances, while the chaise lounge is just next to the wall which has a beautiful dark wooden panel, with a rather big TV screen mounted on it.
The irregular, or should we say, angular shape of the living room allowed for an unobtrusive placement of a dining room. Not for a gala dinner, but decent to grab a bit more than just a bite. its imitations of Eames inspired chairs make it appealing and cute. The kitchen is half open – it’s entered from the hallway and a breakfast bar with two bar stools divides it from the rest of the room. The kitchen itself is simple : it’s got two worktops and apart from two pendant lamps it also has a ship-cabin shaped window as lighting.
The bulk of bedroom space is taken up by a neat double be with an inappropriately majestic headboard. The dark upholstered panel spreads from the floor to the ceiling. The opposite wall has a another huge TV set mounted on it. Albeit small, the room has a huge three wing wardrobe and two accompanying night stands. On the other hand the accompanying terrace is almost as big as the room. It boasts a lovely view over Vracar roofs and plenty of room to stretch, sip your morning coffee or tea and the other unlikely activities.
But to cut the bullcrap, we would now like to pay homage to the bit of the apartment that actually makes it a hedonists’ and that is the hamam.
OK it isn’t a proper hamam but It truly resembles one. The floor is covered with large grey tiles while the walls have fine faux colourful mosaic tiles on them. The first part of it is the cabin with a Finnish-type sauna: its dim lights are supplemented by scant daylight that comes through the willow branches captured in windowed glass screens. Right next to its entrance is the resting bench also coated in mosaic shaped tiles, and the opposite side is reserved for a fully transparent shower cabin and the proper Turkish Steam-bath.
Possibly the most unexpected detail is the third TV set. Its mounted on the wall opposite the cabin, so you can actually watch it through the glass door of the Finnish sauna while you are sweating your brains out or from the relative comfort of the bench where you might be cooling off. Finally, the hamam also has its own terrace, similar in style to the one that accompanies the bedroom and equally pretty view over the Čubura slope.
The phrase about to come has been repeated so many times in our texts that it has become a reflex: When hedonists apartments are concerned location is of secondary importance. This unique apartment is not exactly in the very center, but its neighbourhood has certain charms. Čubura is wrought with small, quiet one way streets which host a number of lovely little wining and dining establishments and old local cuisine kafanas. The main shortcoming of these streets is fact that they belong to the zoned parking system. This means, that if you arrive by car you are either limited up to three hours of parking or at least 15 minutes of walking (which is the time it takes to get out of the zoned area). Even the mighty SULTAN, has not outwitted the public parking in Belgrade.
Now as much as the statement sounds prosaic, SULTAN has enhanced the boundaries of luxury and convenience when apartments for short term rent in Belgrade are concerned. It is for the first time that we have encountered an apartment in Belgrade with a mini spa center – one that keeps your convenience and intimacy. We have no doubt that the true hedonists will appreciate this quality and become regulars in SULTAN.
And all of this just makes you wonder, what in the world could be the next big thing?