There’s nothing more decadent than staying in a luxurious hotel suite. And Istanbul takes suites to another level. Whether you’re looking for a palace, a home away from home or a unique adventure in interior design, you’ll find it all here.
The famed Turkish hospitality is alive and well at the following hotels, where you can enjoy lavish accommodations. We’ve picked three of the best for your next trip to Istanbul:
Royal Bosphorus Suite, Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul
Overlooking the turquoise waters of the Bosphorus Strait, the one-bedroom Royal Bosphorus Suite in this newly appointed Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel has a balcony for you to make the most of the beautiful view. This accommodation is just the place to bring your entourage, friends or family: the palatial 4,210-square-foot suite has a separate staff entrance, a security room and can be connected to other suites if you need more bedrooms. The elegant living room, dining room and workspaces are furnished with wooden panels in neutral hues, and fresh flowers adorn the rooms.
Lavishly appointed with modern artwork and objets d’art, a private marble bar on the waterfront is an unparalleled luxury. Balconies are large enough for an alfresco dinner party, or room service will provide you with an opulent meal on a tray if you fancy a lavish Turkish breakfast in bed. And if you need to work on your wellness, the suite has a gym and a marble bath with spa products for self-pampering.
Although you are in the middle of town, the urban resort feels like a beach retreat. Bikes and a walking track from the hotel around the Bosphorus take you to the lovely district of Bebek, with its historical Turkish homes, chic cafés and local shops.
Sultan Suite, Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul
This is your rare chance to stay in a sultan’s private quarters. Designed by Sultan Abdulaziz for his personal use, this 19th-century palace now is a hotel with sumptuous suites fit for a king. Each of the suites in the original palace building is updated, refurbished and uniquely beautiful. One of the most grand — and among the largest in Europe — is the nearly 5,000-square-foot Sultan Suite. It comes with two bedrooms, a dining room table that seats 12, a kitchenette and sparkling Bosphorus vistas. Revel in the antique carpets, exquisite Turkish glass ornaments and classic décor while sipping French champagnes, bottled cocktails or Turkish wines from the minibar.
A unique amenity is the soap service. It’s a Turkish spa tradition revived by the Istanbul hotel, where your butler carves pure olive oil soap, according to your choice of fragrance, with a sword for you to enjoy in your opulent marble bathroom. It’s an Ottoman experience that makes a stay at Çırağan memorable.
Other memorable moments include the splendid breakfasts and private tours of the hotel’s Historical Corridor (a museum that recounts the property’s fascinating past) and the sultan’s marble hammam.
With a pool, a museum, a spa, a garden and the best restaurants and bars on the property, this Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star palace has it all.
Bentley Suite, The St. Regis Istanbul
This exclusive suite was a collaboration between Bentley Motors and the Istanbul hotel. Just like the one in The St. Regis New York, fine motor aficionados worldwide have flocked to Istanbul to see this innovative one-bedroom suite designed to evoke Bentley’s famous Continental Series of cars.
The suite is modern, chic and curved. A custom-made beige leather couch with a built-in champagne bar makes for the ultimate entertainment room, which is more opulent than any movie theater.
The eye for detail is remarkable, with the lights inspired by car headlights, Breitling clocks in the bar and custom-made wooden humidors and jewelry boxes from the Bentley workshop. The pop-up television resembles a screen in a luxury car, only much bigger. The more than 1,500-square-foot Bentley Suite can accommodate four guests. And the corner accommodation provides a diverse view of Macka Park, Istanbul’s bustling streets and the distant waters of the Bosphorus.
