Tafoni Cave Hotel

Carved from soft volcanic tufa, the stone arches and rounded niches of each suite still carry marks of an older use: circular floor holes that were once stone ovens, small openings that housed pigeons, larger alcoves where feed was stored for animals kept below. Tafoni Houses occupies a set of ancient cave dwellings in Ortahisar, bought as a series of original rock houses in 2006 and rebuilt suite by suite. Thirteen suites result, ranging from around 35 to 67 square metres, each with a private or shared terrace. Marble, travertine, and natural stone were brought in from across Turkey to finish the floors and bathrooms, paired with ironwork in an Art Deco style made by local craftsmen. Bathrooms run to jacuzzis, glass rain showers, and underfloor heating. It is a small, quiet property. Fireplaces remain in most categories, and old stable niches now hold lighting or storage rather than livestock. From the terraces, you can pick out Erciyes, a dormant volcano, above the surrounding valleys. Ortahisar sits at the centre of Cappadocia, a short drive from the Goreme Open Air Museum, the region's underground cities, and the launch fields for hot-air balloons. The hotel's own restaurant and 360 Terrace look out over the same rock-cut village skyline the suites are carved from.