Istanbul 5 star hotel

Shangri-La Bosphorus Istanbul is one of the city’s newest five star hotels, bringing a touch of Asian luxury to the European bank.

The elegant hotel occupies a prestigious location next door to Dolmabahce Palace in the converted 1930s Besiktas Tobacco Warehouse.

Location

Within walking distance is the chic Nisantasi shopping district while the Besiktas ferry terminal is just in front of the hotel and the Kabatas funicular and modern tram station is a 10-15 minutes walk. Staying along this peaceful stretch of the Bosphorus is much quieter than busy Taksim and touristic Sultanahmet, yet both are easily accessed by metro or taxi.

The stunning marble lobby is truly dazzling with stately furniture, Chinese vases, shimmering chandeliers, artistic flower arrangements and a grand staircase under a dome-shaped atrium. The also hotel features over 1000 pieces of European and Asian art.

The cosy Lobby Lounge offers afternoon tea and light snacks and Le Bar next door is a hotspot for expertly-mixed cocktails, tapas and mezze.

Arrival

The hotel features 186 guestrooms and suites, including the opulent Shangri-La Suite with three private terraces. Even the glass lift that took us to our suite following a welcoming check-in is feminine and pretty with a Chinese pastel birdcage print on the wall.

The Suite

Our Deluxe Bosphorus Suite was simply breathtaking and ever so elegant, subtly blending Turkish, Asian and French design influences. The reception area leads on to an enormous living room on the corner of the hotel with fantastic floor to ceiling views of the Bosphorus Strait, looking out to the Asian side of Istanbul.

The living room features a dark wood dining table for four, executive writing desk, a comfortable sofa area and a 42-inch LCD satellite TV with in-house movie channels and DVD player. The marble-topped bar area includes a minibar filled with premium spirits, complimentary mineral water, a Nespresso machine and a separate kettle with five mini caddies of Ronnefeldt loose leaf tea.

It was a delight to choose between fine teas such as Princess Grey, jasmine pearl and Morning Dew mango and citrus green tea for different times of the day to truly feel at home. We were also welcomed with welcomed with a pot of Chinese green tea served in a lovely basket with china cups.

The living room was also filled with stunning flowers that perfumed and brightened the room – a thoughtful touch that can sometimes be overlooked in luxury hotels. Another home comfort is complimentary high-speed wifi, which made it easy to plan our days exploring Istanbul.

Following on from the living room is an impressive walk-in wardrobe with two expansive rails, plenty of drawers and storage space (ideal for long-stay guests).

The Bedroom

Our spacious bedroom was serene and bright, designed in a soft palette of cream and beige with teal and grey-blue highlights. It has an enviable view of the Bosphorus, giving the illusion that you could dive right in. Waking up to such an inspiring landscape with the light streaming in each morning was a real treat and made leaving our heavenly king-size bed that little bit easier.

I loved the ornate fabrics in the bedroom, mixing light chinoiserie with metallic and embroidered textures. We found the sumptuous pillows 300-thread count linen absolutely perfect, but there is a pillow menu with hypoallergenic options, if guests have a particular preference.

Turndown

At evening turndown, cotton mats and complimentary bottles of mineral water are placed by the bed with a Shangri-La bookmark next to a copy of James Hilton’s Lost Horizon.

The Bathroom

The seductive black marble bathroom with heated floors boasts a deep soaking tub, rainfall shower, double sink, a mist-free mirror with flat-screen TV and a drawer filled with bathroom essentials. There are plenty of luxurious towels, face cloths and plush embroidered bathrobes and slippers. I loved the brilliant white sliding doors with carved Asian patterns that separate all of the rooms.

The bathroom is generously filled with Bvlgari White Tea bathroom products plus bath salts and a reed diffuser with the Shangri-La signature scent – a warm blend of vanilla, sandal, musk, bergamot and tea spiced with ginger.

Breakfast

Each morning, we headed down for an indulgent breakfast at IST TOO, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant that serves both Asian and Mediterranean cuisine and features a Japanese sushi bar and noodle puller.

Starting the day in IST TOO is a fabulous affair, particularly if you can score a table overlooking The Bosphorus, although the sofa seats are comfortable and luxurious. A number of breakfast stations offer tempting hot dishes, eggs cooked to order, delicious pastries, gourmet cereal, fresh juices, yoghurts, fruit compotes and everything needed for a traditional Turkish breakfast.

I particularly liked the pancakes served with maple syrup and chocolate spread and the blueberry custard pastries.

The hotel also offers Cantonese fine dining with its signature restaurant Shang Palace on the lower ground floor. I dined at Shang Palace at Shangri-La Paris and was wowed by its excellent dim sum, barbecued meats and tasty claypot dishes.

The Swimming Pool and Spa

Spending a few hours enjoying the hotel’s impressive health and leisure facilities is an absolute must when staying at the hotel. Guests can work out at the state-of-the-art gym and swim under hand-painted clouds in the stunning heated indoor pool with tiny mosaics or relax with a herbal tea on the poolside loungers.

The friendly, attentive staff offered us fresh fruit and bottled water and guided us up to CHI Spa to try the spa facilities (separate for men and women). The expansive CHI Spa has a distinctly Asian feel and includes facilities such as a hammam, sauna, Turkish bath, tropical experience shower and relaxation room with plush spa beds.

Treatments inspired by traditional Asian healing philosophies are available and guests can enjoy a complimentary 15 minute reflexology appointment (be sure to book a slot right away, as they fill up quickly).

What really adds character to Shangri-La Bosphorus Istanbul is the warmth and helpfulness of the staff. Concierge really impressed us when we decided at last minute to have dinner at the very popular Karaköy Lokantasi. Within a few moments, we had a table secured and were on our way there in a taxi.

Shangri-La Bosphorus Istanbul is a fantastic new addition to design-conscious Istanbul and ideal if you’re looking for a luxurious retreat away from the crowds. With such spectacular views, opulent interiors and fine attention to detail, it’s easy to fall for Shangri-La Bosphorus Istanbul.

For more information and booking, visit: www.shangri-la.com

Chérie City was a guest of Shangri-La Bosphorus Istanbul

Photos by Chérie City and Shangri-La Bosphorus Istanbul

Swissotel The Bosphorus is one of Istanbul’s largest five star hotels, elevated on a on a hillside, overlooking leafy Maçka Park and the stunning Golden Horn.

This leading contemporary luxury hotel is just a short distance from the Dolmabahçe Palace, the chic Nisantasi shopping neighbourhood and busy Taksim Square. While the hotel can be easily spotted from the banks of the Bosphorus, its feels secluded and private, almost like its own resort.

We visited Swissotel The Bosphorus for an indulgent dinner at its Japanese restaurant Miyako. The hotel also offers the innovative rooftop restaurant Gaja (only open in the summer months) and Cafe Swiss, which serves Swiss and Turkish dishes.

Having trekked up the steep incline towards Nisantasi earlier in the day, we decided to take a taxi and arrive in style. The thought of battling the pouring rain and numerous steps in heels was just too much, plus taxis in Istanbul are incredibly cheap (we took many during our stay).

Miyako is a minimalist, spacious restaurant that includes a sushi bar, teppanyaki grill and a private tatami room. Our table overlooked the hotel’s pretty Japanese gardens, although it was a little too dark that evening to fully appreciate them.

We were greeted warmly by our waitress, who was dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono. She brought us a cold towel to refresh and explained the menu thoroughly, making some excellent recommendations.

We began the meal with a lovely glass of chilled Umeshu Plum Wine (35 TL) and grazed on some Japanese and Chinese bites. Miyako also offers a collection of tempting Sake speciality cocktails made with Asian fruits and juices, lemongrass, ginger and wasabi.

Ebi Tempura (45 TL) was deliciously fresh jumbo king prawns, enrobed in a bubbly, crisp tempura batter, served with a soy dipping sauce and a wedge of lemon.

Beef Tataki (35 TL) with onions and ponzu sauce was thin slices of tender, lean and juicy rare beef marinated in a light and tangy sauce. The portion size was generous and it was a satisfying, tasty dish that should not be missed.

We also couldn’t resist trying Steamed Dim Sum with Shrimp (25 TL) from the Chinese menu. The tasty, plump parcels were filled with tightly packed seasoned shrimp and covered in a silky wrapping.

I loved the Miso Soup (18 TL), which came served piping hot in a black lacquer pot with just the right amount of saltiness and large cubes of tofu and thinly-sliced spring onion.

We were both keen to try the recommended teppanyaki for our main course. As we visited during a religious holiday, Miyako was understandably quiet, so we didn’t experience the theatrics and fun experience of a teppanyaki chef cooking at the table.

The Beef Tenderloin (55 TL) was succulent, lean and perfectly cooked medium, served with with chargrilled Japanese vegetables and a mix of shredded carrots and beansprouts in a soy-sesame sauce.

Half Chicken Teppanyaki (32 TL) was just as tasty with a generous amount of tender sliced chicken that was soft on the inside and grilled to a golden crisp on the outside. The teppanyaki dishes were both served with a trio of rich dipping sauces – tomato, garlic and sweet and sour.

We enjoyed our teppanyaki dishes with a large side of comforting Egg Fried Rice (25 TL) filled with carrots and spring onion and flavoursome Vegetable Fried Egg Noodles (22 TL) with bamboo shoots, baby sweetcorn, carrots, cabbage, red peppers and a sesame soy sauce.

Throughout the meal, we enjoyed cups of hot green tea and jasmine pearl tea, which were continually refilled. I love drinking tea with meals, as it helps with digestion and reminds me of my travels in Asia.

For dessert, I was tempted by the decadent Chocolate Pudding with Coco Banana Sauce (18 TL). The chocolate pudding had a soft cake texture and a molten centre and was accompanied by a light, delicate coconut milk sauce with pieces of soft, sweet banana that were infused with the sauce. The impressive fried rice garnish added a crispy texture and went perfectly with the fragrant coconut flavour.

Green Tea Ice Cream (18 TL) didn’t quite have the wow factor of the chocolate pudding, but it’s a perfect choice if you’re too full for a large dessert. The luxurious ice cream was packed with lots of high quality matcha green tea and I loved the pretty blue and gold leaf plate that it was presented on.

Miyako is a slick, calm restaurant to enjoy some excellent Japanese food while in Istanbul. Service was well-timed so we could have a leisurely meal and we were well looked after by the attentive staff. If visiting during the summer months, be sure to make use of the hotel’s glorious outdoor areas with a stylish cocktail on the terrace.

Chérie City was invited by Miyako at Swissotel The Bosphorus

Photos by Chérie City and Swissotel The Bosphorus

A Luxury Stay at Shangri-La Bosphorus Istanbul