Park Hyatt Istanbul - Macka Palas

The building that houses the Park Hyatt Istanbul - Macka Palas was constructed in 1922 as the home of an Italian diplomat family. Designed by architect Giulio Mongeri, it was inspired by Milanese palazzos and the exterior combines traditional Ottoman flourishes in its neo-renaissance facade. Much of the lobby has been redone in a contemporary style using a tan-and-brown color scheme. Some of the walls are polished marble; others are covered in large, flower-petal shapes. Leather and velvet chairs offer plenty of lounge seating. The hallways maintain the building's older embellishments like Roman columns and add Ara Guler's black-and-white photographs of 1950s Istanbul. The hotel's outdoor pool area is sleek, with green shrubbery surrounding a dark-wood sundeck, and even the meeting rooms have an urbane gloss with polished wood and clean lines.

Many of Istanbul's posh boutiques and restaurants are found near this hotel in the Nisantasi neighborhood, by Maçka Park. Brands such as Louis Vuitton, Roberto Cavalli, and Hugo Boss have outposts along Abdi İpekçi Avenue, which is a three-minute walk from the hotel. The Istanbul Congress Center, home to numerous international conventions, is an eight-minute walk from here. Dolmabahçe Palace, one of the last residences of Ottoman sultans, is a six-minute drive. The Taşkışla train station connects to the Istanbul public railway system and can be reached on foot from the hotel in 12 minutes. The hotel is a bit far from the Old City's historic sites, such as the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar, which can be reached in about 20 to 30 minutes by car. Istanbul Ataturk Airport is about a half-hour drive from here, though this can take over an hour, depending on traffic.

The architects Gerner Kronick and Valcarcel adapted Macka Palas into a hotel with 85 rooms and five suites, updating the building's interior in a contemporary interpretation of Art Deco style. Original details of the rooms include flowery molding on the ceiling and rounded archways. The elegant dark-wood furniture has smooth curves and clean lines typically associated with interiors from the mid 20th-century. Beds are plush and modern conveniences include Nespresso machines, minibars, 25-inch flat-screen TVs, DVD players, iPod docking stations, and free Wi-Fi. The spacious bathrooms stylishly combine wood, limestone, and tile surfaces and have separate soaking tubs as well as walk-in rainfall showers. Deluxe Rooms and Suites offer more space than Standard Rooms and have added features such as a Turkish bath or steam room. Note that traffic noise can be an issue in some rooms. 

This Park Hyatt offers plenty of amenities for guests who want to relax and refresh. The Lounge restaurant serves a combination of Western and Turkish fare such as gnocchi and oak smoked salmon with pickled beetroot and cream cheese. La Petite Maison takes influence from the Côte d’Azur and Liguria, offering dishes like goat cheese beignets with red pepper relish and grilled calf's liver with grape sauce. Breakfast is available for a fee, plus room service is available 24-hours. There's also a wine bar offering a wine list of 70 varietals, as well as serving cocktails and tapas.The hotel's 20-meter pool is long enough to do laps, but not very wide. A lovely wooden sundeck surrounds it, lined with sun loungers as well as poolside tables that allow for food and drink service. The on-site spa offers massages and skin treatment packages. The fitness center is small, but has enough machines and free weights to help fitness fanatics keep in shape while on the road. For meeting planners, there are two boardrooms that seat up to 22 people. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout.