East meets west at these 10 best Istanbul hotels

Travel | 2 Oct 2018

Istanbul is on the rise thanks to these must-visit hotels

Wedged between the European and Asian continents, Istanbul’s advantageous position has created a distinct cultural blend that has influenced the city’s religion, language, arts, cuisine and architecture. While the best way to experience the city is to wander unscheduled between historical sights and local neighbourhoods, riding ferries, and admiring the magical minaret-etched skyline, it’s always good to have a base. And with so many hotels popping up in this ever-popular city, here is a list of the best spots to check into.

Soho House

Located in Istanbul’s creative Beyoğlu neighbourhood, Soho House is set over four buildings, one of which is the former US Embassy originally built in 1872 by a Genoese shipping magnate with a penchant for Carrara marble floors and Italian rosewood, ornate frescoes and crystal chandeliers. Along with the three newer structures, the property, in total, houses 87 bedrooms, a speakeasy-style bar called The Embassy Club and that Soho House failsafe, Cecconi’s restaurant. Of course, there is also a Cowshed spa, which wins extra authenticity points for its incorporation of two hammam rooms.

Evliya Çelebi Mahallesi, 34430 Beyoğlu/Istanbul; T: 90 212 377 71 00; www.sohohouseistanbul.com; Rates from: £216

Views of the Shangri-La from The Bosphorus

Shangri-La Bosphorus

On prime waterfront territory in a revived tobacco warehouse from 1929, the Shangri-la’s no-frills neoclassical exterior belies the opulence of what lies inside. Echoing the splendour of Istanbul’s Ottoman palaces, but with discreet dashes of the brand’s signature Chinoiserie sensibility, the understated blue, beige and cream colour palette shines through in extravagant details like the two-storey high chandelier suspended in the atrium or the 59ft long Chinese silk painting. In contrast, the 186 rooms - most overlooking The Bosphorus - are low-key with plush details from framed wall panels to marble bathrooms. The signature restaurant serves Cantonese dishes, while IST TOO -- designed by Anré Fu -- is an all-day international affair. One of the highlights though, is the hotel’s location, right outside the Beşiktaş Ferry Terminal, which means you can get to the Asian side within minutes where you can tuck into authentic Turkish fare.

Sinanpaşa Mahallesi, Hayrettin İskelesi Sk. D:No.1, 34353 Beşiktaş/ Istanbul; T: 90 212 275 88 88; www.shangri-la.com/istanbul; Rates from: £244

Raffles

Part of Istanbul’’s Zorlu Centre, an ambitious mixed-use development that also comprises an upmarket shopping centre, Raffles eschews the Byzantine and Ottoman references found in so many of the city’s luxury hotels, instead positioning itself as a symbol of modern Turkey. That’s not to say the property is completely devoid of a sense of place; The LA-based interior design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates has dressed the space in lush Byzantine silk, gold mosaics, traditional Turkish textiles and an impressive collection of specially commissioned local artwork. All rooms feature a balcony with the best views overlooking the city. If none of that pleases, the two pools (one on the roof alongside the helipad) and a 3,000 sq m spa stocked with products from The Organic Pharmacy most definitely will.

Levazım Mahallesi Koru Sokağı Zorlu Center, 34340 Beşiktas; 90 212 924 02 00; www.raffles.com/istanbul; Rates from £303

The pool terrace at Four Seasons Istanbul at The Bosphorus

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at The Bosphorus

Following the success of its first venture -- in a listed prison building in the tourist hub of Sultanahmet -- the Four Seasons hotel group’s second opening in the city, which launched in 2008, was an equally bold move, setting up inside a restored 19th-century Ottoman Palace on the Bosphorus. In keeping with the brand’s traditional aesthetic, local outfit Metex Design Group layered the building’s original neoclassical details with understated furnishings, marble and glass in a palette of aqua, silver and taupe that reflects the shimmering Bosphorus outside. The highlight is the sprawling terrace - also the best spot from which to look back and admire the building’s elegant façade - from where you can laze by the pool or have a bite at one of the three restaurants while soaking up the waterside activity.

No:28, Çırağan Cd., 34349 Beşiktaş/İstanbul; T: 90 212 381 40 00; www.fourseasons.com/bosphorus; Rates from: £342

One of the light and airy guestrooms at Karakoy Rooms

Karaköy Rooms

’Rooms’ pretty much sums up what this bolthole is about, but located in the buzzing harbourside Karakõy neighbourhood, what you can’t find inside, you will almost certainly find nearby. That said, the hotel’s restaurant seems to be a local favourite, serving up traditional Turkish meze with a good side of raki. Upstairs, the 12 light-filled antique rooms have been crisply updated with parquet flooring, antique furnishings and luxe details, creating the perfect haven to return to after a day spent pounding the streets of Istanbul.

Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mahallesi, Kemankeş Caddesi & Galata Şarap Iskelesi Sokak No:10, 34425 Beyoğlu/Istanbul; T: 90 212 252 54 22; karakoyrooms.com; Rates from: £56

Park Hyatt Istanbul Maçka Palas

Its location in the upscale Nişantaşı neighbourhood might be a world away from the charm of Istanbul’s Old City, but it is perfectly fitting for the Park Hyatt brand’s signature clean-lined and modern aesthetic. Set over two contrasting buildings, the property takes its name from the older neoclassical wing which dates back to 1922. Here, the 90 guestrooms feature a low-key, design with an art deco flair that complement the building’s original arches and ornate mouldings, while the spa starts with the bathrooms, where steam rooms are bound to cure any jet lag. In the newer section -- a former car showroom -- is the hotel’s restaurant and wine bar, but come summer, you’ll likely find us on the rooftop sipping poolside cocktails.

Teşvikiye, Bronz Sk. D:no: 4, 34367 Şişli/İstanbul; T: 90 212 315 12 34; www.hyatt.com; Rates from: £180

Room Mate Emir

From the candyfloss froth of the reception, to the crisp confines of the breakfast area and the sensual elegance of the 47 suites, Room Mate’s Istanbul hotel is a light-flooded study in contemporary chic; cool but also romantic. Credit Lázaro Rosa Violán, whose total remodelling of this period property honours the city’s cosmopolitan past by retaining painted ceilings, parquet floors and exposed brickwork but brings it firmly into today with a mix of mid-century flourishes, strategically-placed mirrors, lovingly-crafted woodwork and ultra-contemporary furnishings. There is no restaurant, but located just a 20-minute stride away from the bustling harbourside neighbourhood of Karaköy, means that what you don’t get inside, will certainly be found on the outside.

Kuloğlu Mh., Sadri Alışık Sk. No:33, 34433 Beyoğlu; T: 90 212 393 19 39; room-matehotels.com/en/emir; Rates from: £67

The House Hotel Bomonti

In Bomonti, a newly revitalised industrial district, not far from Nişantaşı and Beyoğlu neighbourhoods, this stylish 51-room offering -- from homegrown Turkish brand, The House Group -- is the work of London-based architects Conran + Partners. Inspired by the the neighbourhood’s urban atmosphere and bold industrial heritage, the firm layered the space with a monochromatic palette of concrete floors and walls, natural stones and black-framed factory-style glazing, while rich textures like marble and timber, together with the furnishings, create a modern sensibility. There is a gym and a spa - complete with a marble Turkish bath and an indoor pool - while the restaurant serves breakfast and an all-day Turkish and international menu. The hotel’s biggest draw however, is its location which is brimming with shops, restaurants and bars.

Cumhuriyet Mah. Düzoğlu Sok. No:2 / A Bomonti, 34380 Şişli/İstanbul; T: 90 212 916 11 11; househotels.com; Rates from: £69

The Marmara Pera

We can think of at least two reasons why you should stay at The Marmara Pera. First, is its location in the trendy Beyoglu neighbourhood just steps away from the pedestrian shopping street Istiklal Avenue, second is its rooftop terrace and pool with views of the city and beyond. Of course, each of the rooms has a view, but plump for a Bosphorus View Suite, where low-slung mid-century-style furnishings are perfectly placed to admire the Golden Horn and the historic peninsula of Istanbul. And while an abundance of nearby cafés and restaurants are just outside, there’s no excuse not to stay in and sample chef Mehmet Gürs delicious Anatolian dishes at Mikla Restaurant.

Asmalı Mescit Mahallesi, Meşrutiyet Cd., 34430 Beyoğlu; T: 90 212 334 03 00; www.themarmarahotels.com; Rates from: £62

Witt Istanbul Hotel

Upping Istanbul’s design hotel bar is this intimate 18-room bolthole in Cihangir- a former unassuming block that has been refreshed by local firm Autoban. Eclectic retro furnishings, like the sleek rocking chairs and boxy leather sofas, from the firm’s own collection can be found throughout the hotel including in the guestrooms, which have been outfitted as fully-equipped lofts with kitchenettes. Modern accents like winged leather headboards, plywood Magnolia lights, and polished black tiles are incorporated into each of the sultry yet subdued interiors, while bathrooms feature Ross Lovegrove fixtures and Molton Brown toiletries. There is no on-site restaurant (apart from the lobby that serves a daily breakfast) but if you do fancy staying in, there is the option to order in from any of the neighbourhood eateries- which is ideal, especially if you have booked a Sea View Room.

Kılınç Ali Paşa Mahallesi, Defterdar Ykş. No:26, 34433 Beyoğlu; T: 90 212 293 15 00; www.wittistanbul.com; Rates from: £134

Istanbul is on the rise thanks to these must-visit hotels

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