When I became an SH member, my main goal was only to use the gym, which was the closest gym to my home. I was totally surprised otherwise; SH became the center of my work/social life. There is a term in Turkish, we say "Lokanta", which loosely translates as "not a restaurant." As soon as you enter, the staff welcome you by your name, and they take your drink order without you ever having to speak a word. Soho House turned into just that for me. From the Gym to the Cowshed Spa, the Club to the hotel, it’s a family full of people who really knew me. Moreover, I had the chance to visit so many Soho Houses, but nothing can compete with my Istanbul House. It's a perfect blend of the old and the new, some kind of time travel to the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries, which are the most desirable times in Istanbul that I wish I could have ever lived. Especially when I was writing my book, this building and the characters I met there were a great source of inspiration for me. Where time and space come together to spark the imagination and ignite the soul. @sohohouseistanbul 📸 : @umitko