The Istanbul EDITION

Ian Shraeger, who helped popularize the boutique hotel concept, teamed up with Marriott to create the Edition brand. Each hotel is customized to its locale, and the Istanbul Edition, radiating understated opulence, is no exception. Walls are lined with rosewood, oak, and marble, and chairs are often upholstered in leather or velvet. Lobby vases are six-feet tall and etched in flowers. Behind the bar is a 20-foot aquarium filled with azure-blue water and tropical fish. Embossed bronze floors and upholstered walls mix Turkish and Western styles. Only the hotel's Billionaire Club departs from the subtlety, giving traditional continental-style furniture an over-the-top glitz, bathing it in gold lining and deep red lighting -- a reminder to guests that Shraeger was one of the forces behind New York's famous Studio 54 in the late-'70s, early '80s disco era.

The hotel is situated in the business-focused Levent district, on the European side of the Istanbul, which is home to several of the city's skyscrapers. More modern and expensive than other parts of Istanbul, Levent has Western-style malls and plenty of upscale restaurants. The Kanyon Shopping Center, with outposts of Marks & Spencer, Anne Klein, and Lacoste, is a three-minute drive from the hotel, along with Starbucks or Burger King. Istanbul's metro makes it easy to navigate other parts of the city, and the Levent station is within a short walk of the hotel. Major historic sights are farther away. The Hagia Sophia Museum and Topkapi Palace are a 25-minute drive from the hotel -- both can be reached by metro but require switching trains. Atakurk Airport is 20 minutes away by car. 

The Edition's 78 guest rooms have a stately style. Walls, floors, bedframes, nightstands, and ceilings are all made of stained wood. Beds have thick mattresses dressed with high-thread count linens and down comforters and pillows. Room size varies, from 320 square feet for Superior Rooms to 2,800 square feet for the Penthouse. In between are Lofts (540 square feet) and Lofts with Terraces (520 to 600 square feet). Be aware that even rooms in the same category can vary in size. Most rooms include desks, cloth-covered sofas, and coffee tables. The Penthouse includes a dining room table and living room set. All rooms include fireplaces, Bang and Olufsen flat-screen TVs, minibars, and fresh flowers. Rooms also come with iPod docks, and pre-programmed iPods can be requested. Basic Wi-Fi is free, but high-speed Wi-Fi incurs an added fee. Bathrooms have sleek marble finishes, separate tubs, and rainfall showerheads. 

Many of the Edition's amenities cater to the executive lifestyle. The spa, designed by ESPA, has a turkish bath and steam rooms, along with massages, body wraps, facials, and aromatherapy. The indoor pool has a beautiful layout but little room for laps. Fitness fanatics will find several well-kept machines and free weights in the gym. For dining, Cipriani serves traditional Italian dishes, and the Drawing Room offers sandwiches and desserts. In the evening, Gold Bar provides cocktails and appetizers, and live piano music.  A screening room with overstuffed seats offers the opportunity to watch movies like a film-industry honcho. The over-the-top Billionaire Club is famous for its flaming bottles of Champagne. Meeting space is available for business functions or events. Basic Wi-Fi is free, but a high-speed connection is an additional fee.