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Istanbul is sewn together by a series of storied districts, which results in a varied hotel scene Words: Berkok Yüksel and Emma Al-Mousawi


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THE GALATA ISTANBUL HOTEL MGALLERY


SIX SENSES KOCATAŞ MANSIONS Best for: letting off steam A half-hour taxi ride north of Taksim Square is the Sarıyer district, where the Bosphorus turns turquoise near the mouth of the Black Sea. It’s here you’ll fi nd this palatial property, spread over two 19th-century mansions. The 43 rooms and suites are tastefully muted — some with freestanding baths and seaside promenade views. Whizz up the hill past fi g trees in a golf cart to the mammoth spa, splash in the infi nity pool and book a meal at one of several restaurants on the property. Rooms from £430, B&B.


VAKKO HOTEL SUMAHAN BOSPHORUS Best for: style-seekers Vakko is found among the historic mansions and waterside tea gardens of Çengelköy on the city’s Asian side. It’s housed in a former Ottoman-era distillery on the water’s edge, with just 12 rooms and suites. The view through the elongated windows in every room is the main pull, where the Bosphorus seems almost close enough to touch. At sunset, the terrace becomes a catwalk for the city’s fashionable people, who arrive via the hotel’s speedboat to dine at one of its two restaurants: outposts of Parisian Caviar Kaspia and Milanese Le Specialità. Rooms from £617, B&B.


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THE PENINSULA ISTANBUL Best for: culinary kicks For those seeking both elegance and ease, The Peninsula Istanbul is one of the city’s best all-rounders. The 177-room hotel is set on the


Karaköy waterfront, a short walk from landmarks such as the Grand Bazaar and Galata Tower, and feels calm and self-contained. Luxury here is woven into the guest experience. Subtle art deco accents combine with high-tech comfort, from touch- panel lighting and curtain controls to Japanese toilets with heated seats. Reserve a table at rooftop Gallada, the hotel’s refi ned Turkish-Asian fusion restaurant, where the menu takes inspiration from ancient Silk Road cuisine. Rooms from £517.


THE STAY NIŞANTAŞI Best for: postcode prestige Rising six fl oors above the Prada store on tree-lined cobblestone Abdi Ipekçi Street — Istanbul’s premier shopping boulevard — this hotel is suitably stylish. The 45 spacious rooms — some interconnecting — feel eff ortlessly sophisticated. On the top fl oor, there are two suites that come with outdoor terraces. Neutral tones are combined with mid-century modern furnishings and local contemporary artwork throughout. Some of Istanbul’s best restaurants, bars and cafes are on the hotel’s doorstep, meaning your breakfast,


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lunch and dinner options are more than covered. Rooms from £182.


RIXOS TERSANE Best for: maritime heritage Once the city’s main shipyard, the eastern shore of the Golden Horn inlet is being regenerated as a luxury strip of museums, open-air malls and immersive theme parks. At its centre stands Rixos Tersane, a 432-room, design-led hotel that artfully nods to its maritime past. The bedrooms frame the waves of the Golden Horn with fl oor-to-ceiling windows and wooden fl oors. Outside, guests can join sunrise rowing or standup paddleboarding sessions before retreating to an infi nity pool that overlooks the Old City. The Turkish breakfast is not to be missed. Rooms from £305, B&B.


SUB KARAKÖY Best for: creativity In the lively, waterside Karaköy district, artistic owners have transformed an unused offi ce block into an industrial-chic bolthole. All 19 rooms have polished concrete walls and bed frames crafted from retired ship parts, paying homage to the neighbourhood’s maritime roots. Original artworks inject colourful character, from contemporary portraits of Ottoman-era fi gures to street art in the Sub Pub — a cool neighbourhood bar off the lobby. Rooms from £55.


ISTANBUL LIFE HOTEL Best for: free spirits Situated on the Asian side of the Bosphorus Strait, this family- run hotel in the bohemian


Kadıköy district is well placed for experiencing the city’s local fl avour. Occupying an early 20th-century property built by a wealthy Greek family, its 23 rooms are simple, with plush pillows and jewel-toned furnishings adding a pop of colour. The surrounding streets are splashed with statement-making murals and there’s a vibrant cafe, bar and club scene, plus a lively produce market to browse Monday to Saturday. Rooms from £67, B&B.


THE GALATA ISTANBUL HOTEL MGALLERY Best for: Ottoman echoes The building housing this hotel was originally built by a banking family in the 19th century as an Ottoman han — part centre of commerce, part inn. It later became one of the many early 20th-century banks to line this grand street in the historic Galata neighbourhood. During its han days, livestock would have occupied the ground fl oor — though you would never guess from the handsome art deco lobby, with its marble fl oors, avocado-hued velvet booths and stained glass roof. The same modern take on 1920s glamour is found in the rooms and suites, some of which off er views of the Golden Horn or Galata Tower. However, the biggest draw is the 18th-century hammam. Discovered in the hotel’s backyard and restored to its former dome- topped glory, it provides a relaxing antidote to a day of exploring and is free for hotel guests to use. Room from £100.


This article fi rst appeared on nationalgeographic.com/travel


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