Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus
Beautifully positioned in front of the Bosphorus, this 19th-century palace hotel is among the most striking and historic in the city. It is magical from the moment you enter the gated driveway surrounded by gardens and fountains to when you peer over the waterfront.
Turkey’s largest city has no shortage of beautiful hotels, but this Four season is truly something special. There is a second Four Seasons near the Hagia Sophia, Four Seasons Istanbul at Sultanahmet, which is currently closed for a thorough renovation. While both are elegant, here are five top reasons to stay at the larger Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus.
The location
You can’t imagine a more beautiful view than this one. With the Bosphorus Bridge to the left and all of Istanbul’s shoreline and numerous minarets to the right, the view from this palatial hotel is exceptional. Passing ships and tourist boats create plenty of entertaining activity as they go from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea. The hotel also has its own boat dock where guests can arrive or take sunset cruises.
Within walking distance are the shops and cafes of Ortakoy, the Naval Museum, and Dolmabahçe Palace, where the last Ottoman sultans lived. Still, it’s a cheap, 15-minute taxi drive to most of Istanbul’s other major sights including the Hagia Sofia, Grand Bazaar, Taksim Square, and the Grand Bazaar’s colorful shopping pursuits.
The rooms
There are three separate wings here with the 18th-century Ottoman palace wing being the glamorous centerpiece, and this is where all of the hotel’s suites are located. The two side wings are beautiful, too, with views of the interior gardens and also side views of the sea. A third of the rooms here eye the Bosphorus so choose carefully if that is important. Window seating nooks in all rooms though have lovely views no matter what.
Modern to the core, the rooms feature everything you can imagine from flat-screen TVs larger than a cinema to minibars and speedy wireless internet. Windows is open to beautiful views, and some of the most prized accommodations have small balconies.
Spacious work desks come with plentiful extras like Post-it notes, highlighters, a stapler, and fresh flowers. Guests receive a welcome plate of fresh fruit, which gets replenished daily. Bedside power and USB ports are a sign of the times, and housekeeping does an exquisite job. They pay attention to the smallest details leaving behind fabric cloths to clean eyeglasses and folding clothes left out. Bottled water is available in the room each day. Evening turndown service refreshes the towels, toiletries, and water.
Marble bathrooms give the option of bespoke Italian toiletries from Florence or the option to request Turkish-made goodies for the vanity. Large glass shower stalls have excellent rainfall shower pressure, and a separate soaking tub comes with bath salts and a pillow. In addition to enormous terrycloth towels and robes, Turkish towels provide another choice.
The cuisine
Numerous restaurants are available and revolve around the marble patio at the center of the resort. These include the main bar and lounge where live entertainment often swoons. An all-day dining menu is available in the lobby lounge as well as outside on the terrace.
The seafood restaurant Aqua serves fresh fish for dinner, both indoors and on the terrace. It is also the sight of a beautiful breakfast buffet that serves from numerous stations including an entire section dedicated to nearly a dozen types of olives. The fresh bakery selection is expansive, and there is even Turkish honey and pastry area. Eggs can be cooked to order, but the hot buffet has numerous Turkish specialties worth sampling. The fresh fruit, regional cheeses, and savory Turkish dips and appetizers are quite appealing.
Most special is the Turkish restaurant Ocakbaşı serving traditional kebabs, salads, and mezze plates. It offers a mesmerizing window into regional cuisine, and guests can dine outdoors around fire pits or in one of the new heated waterfront igloos facing the Bosphorus.
The facilities
The waterfront swimming pool is one of the most spectacular in town, which means you won’t find a better view while doing laps than here. During the warmer months, guests can relax under the shade of umbrellas. While the pool is closed in the winter months, the views never change. A whirlpool adds to the fun.
This is a resort through and through, and even when Istanbul is cold, there is plenty to do. The outdoor ice skating rink is the first hotel in town. An indoor pool and whirlpool are lovely ways to relax year-round. If jet lag has your back, there are plenty of complimentary spa facilities at your disposal here. The muscly among us can work out in the fitness center any hour of the day with the services of a personal trainer during daylight hours.
There is a kids club also where kids can play and do their activities.
In the spa, a range of massage and beauty services await, but so do the spa relaxation areas. All guests are able to use the Turkish bath areas and changing rooms without charge. These include saunas, steam rooms, and experience showers.
The social scene
This is a social hub for the city with numerous events taking place here from fashion shows and weddings to conferences and diplomatic missions. With so many meeting areas, that is not a surprise. But, it is the outdoor reception areas that draw the attraction of social events. There is nothing like a fashion show with the Bosphorus as a backdrop. Regular entertainers and special events often take place at the hotel.
In the marble lobby, elegant flower arrangements are a favorite for photos. Throughout the hotel, modern art from local artists changes on a regular basis, and the work on display is truly museum-quality.
Service here is like other Four Seasons properties around the world: perfected to a tee. This is the perfect address to explore Istanbul as well as watch its pulsing action from its waterfront terrace.
Restaurants
The massive buffet breakfast is an experience in itself – it will take you half the morning to get through a small proportion of the range of goodies on offer. The patisseries are top quality, there’s smoked salmon and a dazzling selection of cold meats, as well as more healthy options like rich, creamy yogurt, fresh and dried fruit and much, much more. Eggs are to order, with traditionally clad staff preparing fresh gözleme (a kind of large flatbread stuffed with assorted savory fillings and cooked over an upturned wok above an open fire). In the evening the ground floor breakfast room becomes the fashionable Italian Aqua restaurant, which is very popular with affluent locals as well as visitors. The next-door bar is cozy and well-stocked, and the adjacent room serves up delicious afternoon teas.
Yali lounge
Just off the lobby, our all-day lounge is an intimate place to mingle with friends over afternoon tea, wind down with cocktails and cigars at night, or try the renowned Turkish pide.
The CLUB
Dine by the pool or quay at our outdoor restaurant, serving fresh fish, grilled kebabs, and locally sourced salads.
OCAKBAŞI
Take a culinary journey around Turkey at our pop-up restaurant located on the terrace, specializing in a variety of different flavored kebabs and mezes.
Aqua
Overlooking stunning views of the Bosphorus, Aqua serves tasty fish and seafood dishes in a chic and stylish ambiance. Extensive buffet breakfast available with fresh fruit and vegetables, bread and pastries, cold cuts, Turkish mezze, and hot traditional British-American breakfast dishes like scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, potatoes, and beans. You could also order off an a la carte menu. Distinguished by its impeccable service, creative menu, and live performances, Aqua invites guests to enjoy the beat of Istanbul and the unparalleled Bosphorus as they dine.
ATIK PASHA LOUNGE
Enjoy the exceptional views of the Bosphorus while discovering specialty spirits and exclusive cigars in a cozy atmosphere daily from 8:00 am until late in the evening. On Friday and Saturday nights, our pianist Aslı Güral will pave the way for lazy evenings where you can unwind and watch the sparkle of the Bosphorus and the city lights together.
Yasmin
Located in our Hotel lobby, Yasemin invites you to enjoy its stylish interiors and private terrace with views of the Bosphorus. Serving a delicious family breakfast in the morning hours, elegant afternoon tea, and dinner with select flavors from Turkish cuisine, Yasemin is set to become a popular meeting point for exclusive gatherings this summer.
Anason 34
Join Anason 34 for a gastronomical experience at our pop-up “meyhane’’ (a traditional Turkish tavern) located by the scenic Bosphorus. Discover colorful mezes and savory dishes combined with a delightful ambiance by the Bosphorus.
