Sinanpasa Mah, Hayrettin Iskelesi Sok, No.1, Besiktas, Istanbul, Turkey | (727) 241-5756
Waterfront setting overlooking the Bosphorus river
Opulent marble interiors with impressive atrium
chandelier
Most rooms overlook the river -- some from balconies
Marble bathrooms have embedded TVs and Bulgari products
Some of the most spacious rooms in the city
Indoor heated pool, hammam, and spa treatments
High-end Cantonese dining and afternoon tea
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Away from the
main tourist attractions
Breakfast not
included and expensive
No grounds or gardens
Some rooms overlook internal atrium
The Shangri-La
Bosphorus is a first-rate luxury hotel housed in a former waterfront warehouse
on the European side of the Bosphorus river. Interiors are particularly lavish and rooms are some of the largest in the
city -- Deluxe Rooms are especially large for an entry-level category. Dining options and leisure facilities are
also top-notch and in-room tech such as TV mirrors impress. There are no
grounds or gardens, however -- unlike the nearby Ciragan Palace Kempinski --
and the location is far from the main attractions of the old city.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Former tobacco warehouse belying high-end palatial extravagance
Opened in 2013,
the Shangri-La Bosphorus is one of the newer in a growing number of luxury
hotels that have been springing up in Istanbul in recent years. The hotel is housed in a
former tobacco warehouse dating back to the 1920s, and the smart cream facade is
austere with a stately aspect. Stepping inside, however, the scene shifts
dramatically to lavish extravagance, where gilded rococo-style furnishings and
leather banquettes sit primly on swathes of polished marble. A central atrium
also features an impressive centerpiece chandelier of Bohemian glass that
extends over two stories, while even more marble creates an elegant backdrop
for palatial Ottoman-style decorative touches throughout. The mood is
undeniably luxurious, with a studied opulence that some might find a little over-the-top.
Location
Overlooking the Bosphorus river in Istanbul's Besiktas district
The hotel is
located in Istanbul's Besiktas district on the European side of the city, overlooking the Bosphorus
river. The surrounding area is a buzzing and mostly modern neighborhood with
plenty of shops, cafes, and restaurants within easy walking distance. The main
tourist attractions of the old city however, such as the famous Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, and Blue Mosque, are a good 20-minute drive away across the Golden Horn. Just nearby
is the city's Maritime Museum, while the grand Dolmabahçe Palace is about 10
minutes' walk. Besiktas Ferry Port, where tour boats dock, is also a couple minutes on foot. The hotel is also a 45-minute
drive from Istanbul Ataturk International Airport though it can take a lot
longer with traffic.
Rooms
Spacious rooms with high-end amenities and river views
Reputed as
being among the most spacious in the city, the hotel's 186 rooms are decorated
in smart, elegant styling with fresh light tones and traditional touches.
In-room amenities are suitably high-end, and include free wired and wireless Internet,
Nespresso coffee machines, and 40-inch flat-screen TVs with in-house movie
channels. Bathrooms are also all marble-clad with Bulgari toiletries, heated
floors, and even 19-inch TVs embedded in vanity mirrors. While many of the
suites open to balconies, most rooms also feature views over the river.
Lower-tier rooms overlook the internal atrium, albeit often from a
French balcony.
Features
Fine-dining Chinese restaurant and impressive health facilities
The hotel's main
restaurant, IST TOO, serves an extensive buffet breakfast each morning
with range of Eastern and Western dishes. Breakfast is not generally
included in the room rate and is pricey. A la carte dining is also served at
this lobby-level eatery throughout the day, and there's also a Japanese sushi bar here and a lobster brunch every Sunday. The Lobby Lounge provides over 100 type of tea
accompanied by harp music in the afternoon, while the hotel's signature
restaurant -- Shang Palace -- offers high-end Cantonese cooking for lunch and
dinner.On-site health
and leisure facilities are impressive, offering a hammam, whirlpools, and large
heated indoor pool including a separate kids' pool. A state-of-the-art gym and
range of spa treatments are also available -- though the gym is small and
airless. A range of airport transportation options are available to guests,
including limousine services; this is also the only hotel in the city to own a Rolls
Royce.
