Best overall hotel in Istanbul

Kempinski Ciragan Palace, Ciragan

In a city that is famed being the meeting point between Eastern and Western cultures, this hotel - originally the palace of a 17th Century sultan - has the patina of grandeur that can only accrue over time. Everywhere you look, from the glimmering Bosphorus over there to the immaculately kitted out bellhops over here, this is one of those rare properties where guests feel like they have truly made it in life. Or acquired a generous line of credit. Upstairs, the rooms run with the maximalist theme in the form of red and cream striped wallpaper and bedheads with tulip motifs. The palace’s original hammam is still in operation.

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Best old-school elegant hotel in Istanbul

Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Beşiktaş

The Mandarin Oriental has an equally bougie outpost in Bodrum but this edges in front in terms of location. You’re close enough to the vibe of the Old Town but still in a relatively quiet local neighbourhood. There are just 100 rooms spread across three stories and it feels as if you are bedding down in a grand ocean liner from the 1930s. With the bonus of minaret views, two pools on the terrace and one of the best gyms in the city.

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Best quirky hotel in Istanbul

Ecole St Pierre Hotel, Galata/Karaköy

We love a hotel that used to be something wildly different. This one is just a couple of years old and previously housed a French Catholic school which - get this - sat in an Italian monastery and was staffed by monks from the Dominican Republic. The building was the creation of Italian architect Gaspare Fossati, who just quietly also restored the Hagia Sofia. The atmos of austerity and penance is long gone. For example, the monks dorm now hosts a cocktail bar called mon dieu! The hub of the hotel is a central courtyard where louvred French windows gave way to wrought iron balconies.

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Best spa hotel in Istanbul

Six Senses Kocatas Mansions, Sariyer

Six Senses hotels, no matter where they are located, are rightly famed for their wellness offerings. But this one - in a city teeming with hammams and a private boat ride from the main tourist precincts - is next level. The property is the result of combining a pair of Ottoman palaces and the spa sits in a separate building on the hillside above these. Everything is just so with milk-washed marble and ornate timber panelling. Even the cornices are wonderful. Like all its other properties, it’s well worth checking out this hotel’s Earth Lab program to get a deeper sense of connection to your natural surroundings.

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Best hotel for views in Istanbul

The Peninsula Istanbul, Galataport

Apparently it took almost a decade to bring this project to fruition and you can see why. It is comprised of a quartet of buildings - three of which are protected landmarks - in the Galataport region. From your juliette balcony you can take in the the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus, and the old city, including Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and Süleymaniye Mosque. If the budget doesn’t stretch to a room here, book in at the Gallada under the guidance of two Michelin starred chef Fatih Turak. PS the indoor pool with river views is pretty spesh too.

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Best glam hotel in Istanbul

Soho House Istanbul, Beyoğlu

You know what you’re going to get at SH: models, influencers, creatives of all stripes and the odd actual celebrity. The people watching is out of this world. As is the this building which started life as a 19th century Italianate palazzo before becoming the US Consulate. Which of course makes it ideal for keeping secrets. The honeyed amber marble staircase alone is worth a squiz, it’s frescoes a go-go, sumptuous velvets and of the city’s best rooftop restaurants in the Greek-inspired Apheleia Terrace.

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Best old-school cool hotel in Istanbul

Splendid Palace Hotel, Büyükada

We know, it sounds like accommodation which is leaning on the thesaurus a bit too hard. But it turns out the description is, in fact, spectacularly accurate. It sit on Büyükada, a car-free island on the Prince Islands archipelago, where Istanbul society used to summer. You know they were wealthy because they use ‘summer’ as a verb. The building was erected in 1908 with a pair of domes and colour scheme reminiscent of the Turkish flag. No backward steps were taken aesthetically. Ruby red shutters, screens and carpets blaze against snowy exteriors. This combo only serves to better offset the retro fittings - think 1920s pineapple and a timber reception desk. The 69 rooms cloister around a central courtyard, the pool deck is a slice of Fellini glamour, the afternoon tea is a belter and the daily newsletter is called The Splendid Times.

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Most iconic hotel in Istanbul

Pera Palace Hotel

This Belle Epoque beauty was built in 1895 for Orient Express passengers at the end of their journey and lit nerds should definitely check into room 411 where Agatha Christie wrote Murder On The Orient Express. The afternoon tea is stellar, many rooms have views to the Golden Horn and the moody Kubbeli Lounge has just scored a nod in the Michelin Guide.

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Best five star hotel in Istanbul

Raffles Istanbul, Beşiktaş

When you hear the name Raffles, one immediately thinks of underplayed properties steeped in tradition. Gracious sophistication, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. This property bucks the trend in the most impactful of ways. It adjoins the bougie Zorlu retail precinct and features vast marbled communal spaces, extraordinarily massive chandeliers and a heated helipad to make landings easier in winter. The Singapore Long Bar equivalent is Lounge 6 and while you can absolutely have a Singapore Sling, we’d opt for the Topkapi Palace - a blend of  bourbon, cumin and baklava. There 181 rooms, three hammams, indoor and outdoor pools and exquisitely intuitive service.

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Best value hotel in Istanbul

The Bank Hotel Istanbul, Beyoğlu

This middle of the road hotel - price wise - is actually part of the Marriott Bonvoy umbrella which means loyalty points can be accrued. It is also a great example of a property being able to maintain its own vibe despite its conglomerate connections. Another boon is the location beside the retail heaven of Karakoy Street. There are wooden desks in every room, arched windows and an underground wine cellar in what was once the bank’s vault.

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See also:

Cappadocia: Inside this ancient city

Survival guide for navigating Istanbul

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