Istanbul: Hotel Guides

Terry Richardson

Travel writer and author

From Bosphorus-front former palaces, converted prisons and hip designer joints through to quaint conversions of wooden Ottoman houses and stylish business hotels, Istanbul offers a vast range of hotels. Most visitors stay near the big-hitter sights in the old city, across the Golden Horn in the entertainment district of Beyoğlu, or in a Bosphorus-front retreat

Best for… Spa: Four Seasons Bosphorus

Four Seasons Bosphorus

Heirs to a grand Roman tradition, the Ottoman Turks took inordinate delight in the luxuriousness of the steamy hamam (Turkish bath). The tradition is very much alive and well in modern Turkey, too, nowhere more so than in the opulent surroundings of Four Seasons Bosphorus. Steam away on the ‘navel stone’ of the marble clad hamam, then indulge in an invigorating scrub and relaxing foam bath. Other options include a sauna, steam room, whirlpool and absolutely delightful indoor pool – and all the massages, therapies, wellness treatments et al that you could wish for. All this in an elegant former palace, built in the Neoclassical manner in the mid-19th century, with superb views across to the old city and Asia, rooms and service of the standard you’d expect from Four Seasons, and a good choice of in-house cafés, restaurants and bars.

Çırağan Cad 28, Beşiktaş

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Best for… Romance: Park Hyatt Istanbul - Maçka Palas

Park Hyatt Istanbul - Maka Palas

Even the standard rooms at Park Hyatt Istanbul – Maçka Palas would work well for a romantic break: they’re all handsome affairs, with generous proportions, deep soaking tubs, king-size beds and striking Art Deco chandeliers, a nod to the building’s 1920s origins. Book one of the premium suites, though, and you get an added treat, as their extra-luxurious bathrooms come with their own hammam, so you can share a Turkish bath in total privacy. The hotel’s location in trendy Nişantaşı means there are plenty of chic boutiques, bars and restaurants to visit nearby but you could just as easily hole up in the hotel: take a table for two in the Wine Bar (one of two in-house dining options) for Turkish wines and tapas; unwind round the rooftop pool, with its bamboo planters and cream-cushioned loungers; or head to the spa for one of their signature massages using aromatic essential oils.

Tesvikiye, Bronz Sok 4, Şişli

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Best for… Food: Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Istanbul

Swisstel The Bosphorus Istanbul

Istanbul has an exciting food scene and working your way round the local restaurants is one of the great joys of a city break here. Unless, that is, you’re staying at Swissôtel The Bosphorus, Istanbul, where the on-site dining and drinking options are so extensive you could be forgiven for never leaving the hotel’s beautiful 65-acre grounds. Highlights include the Peruvian/Turkish/Nikkei fusion cuisine on offer in Sabrosa; the home-made cakes in Caffe Vergnano; and the summer-only 16 Roof, serving up bar snacks, creative cocktails and panoramic views. Particularly unexpected is Chalet – a century-old wooden cabin transplanted here from Switzerland, where the menu showcases traditional Swiss fare such as raclette, fondue and rösti potatoes. If you overdo it on all the food, don’t worry – the hotel also has seriously impressive fitness and wellness facilities that include a spa, sports centre, tennis courts, pools and exercise classes.

Vişnezade Mah Acisu Sok No 19 Maçka, Beşiktaş

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Best for… Family: Radisson Blu Hotel, Istanbul Şişli

Radisson Blu Hotel Istanbul ili

Children are often fascinated by the east-meets-west buzz of Istanbul, especially junior James Bond fans, who enjoy seeing in real life the many local landmarks that have served as a backdrop to 007’s on-screen adventures. Radisson Blu Istanbul Şişli is well placed for exploring – though kids might be just as happy spending every day at nearby Istanbul Cevahir, a vast shopping and entertainment complex with rides, games and play areas. Family-friendly facilities in the hotel itself include a swimming pool, laundry services and babysitting, and there’s international dining in the on-site restaurant and café. You’ll find plenty of space for an extra bed or cot in the superior suites, which have a separate living room; upgrade to the presidential suite and you also get an extra bedroom and a kitchenette.

19 Mayis Cad, No 2, Şişli.

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Best for… Business: Raffles Istanbul

Raffles Istanbul

The original Singapore Raffles is associated with potted palms, gin slings and nostalgia for a bygone colonial era. Its Istanbul incarnation could not be more different. Ultra-modern and innovative in design, it forms part of an extremely prestigious shopping and residential development, a location certain to impress Istanbul’s wealthy business elite, nicely situated as it is between the business districts of Levent and Şişli and the prestigious suburb of Arnavutköy. Each of the luxurious rooms (136 rooms and 49 suites) has its own workstation and tablet, ideal for the busy businessperson, especially as you get a personalised butler too. And for business meetings there’s a boardroom, seven meeting rooms, a meeting concierge service, meeting planners, huge built-in presentation screens and much more – including a ballroom and florist. Clients will be impressed by the two-star Michelin Arola Spanish restaurant, the elegant long bar and stunning public areas full of top-quality contemporary Turkish art and design.

Zorlu Center, Zincirlikuyu

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Best for… Design: 10 Karakoy Istanbul

10 Karakoy Istanbul

In previous incarnations, 10 Karaköy Istanbul has been a hospital and a fish market but in 2014 it reopened as a boutique hotel, following a thoughtful conversion that retained the period features and grand dimensions of the historic building while adding a layer of contemporary chic. The minute you walk in, you know you’re in for a design treat, with a vast central atrium rising the full five-storey height of the building, and a modern chandelier of cascading light rings creating instant wow factor. The high-ceilinged bedrooms are clean-lined and elegant, with herringbone wooden floors and custom-made furnishings; there are white shutters at the windows and soft, warm colours painted on the walls. Icing on the 10 Karaköy cake is the rooftop bar and restaurant where you can enjoy mezze and raki as you soak up superb views across the Golden Horn to the old city skyline.

Kemeraltı Cad 10, Karaköy

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Best for… Conscious: Ritz-Carlton Istanbul

Ritz-Carlton Istanbul

Ritz-Carlton may be an international brand but the Istanbul outpost is full of local influences that root it firmly in Turkey’s largest city. Bedrooms include design nods to Ottoman heritage alongside contemporary Turkish artworks; traditional mezze and grilled meats feature on the restaurant menu; the centrepiece of the spa is a hammam based on a 16th-century Turkish baths; and there are knock-out Bosphorus views from the rooftop infinity pool. Local involvement is also a key part of Community Footprints, Ritz-Carlton’s social and environmental responsibility programme. Hotels support neighbourhood organisations that promote child well-being or provide shelter and food for those living in poverty, and kitchens are increasingly sourcing more produce from local farmers, growers and seafood suppliers. Interested guests can get involved, too, with the option of including Impact Experiences (volunteer activities either on-site or off) when you book a meeting at the hotel.

Suzer Plaza, Askerocagi Caddesi, No 6, Elmadag/Sisli

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Best for… Views: The St. Regis Istanbul

The St Regis Istanbul

Over the past couple of decades, Istanbul has witnessed a boom in high-rise dining, so when it opened in 2015 The St. Regis Istanbul was bang on trend in giving its rooftop over to one of the hotel’s two restaurants. From the large outdoor terrace at Spago, eight floors up, you can gaze out across the greenery of Maçka Park to the Bosphorus beyond as you enjoy celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck’s take on Californian cuisine. The bar up here mixes a mean cocktail, too, including a Misty Mary, inspired by the early morning view of mist on the water and dramatically presented in a copper bowl surrounded by a cloud of dry ice. Rooms on the west side of the hotel also have park views from their balconies, while those on the other side look down over the designer boutiques of Abdi İpekçi Caddesi, one of Istanbul’s smartest shopping streets.

Mim Kemal Oke Caddesi:35, Nişantaşı Şişli

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