Witt Istanbul Suites
This Saturday, Istanbul will crown itself Capital of Culture 2010, with a lavish ceremony that kicks off at the Golden Horn. This is a city that straddles modernity and antiquity; it has all the exotic souk-culture of Marrakech, with a modern gloss of design-led boutiques, trendy bars and restaurants that plants it firmly on Europe’s style radar.
Luxury hotels in Istanbul fall into two categories. You could opt for a sumptuously restored palace that harks back to the Ottoman Empire, or ride the crest of new-wave Istanbul and choose a state-of-the-art design hotel. Our pick of the best hotels for culture-vultures is a lovely muddle of both:
We’re kicking things off with a haute-design hotel that wowed the Istanbul hotel scene when it opened in 2008. Owner Tuncel Toprak studied art and design in NYC and his hotel’s trendy Cirhangir locale reflects this; Istanbul’s answer to Greenwich Village, it’s packed to the rafters with achingly cool cafes, bars and bric-a-brac shops.
The only five-star on the European side of the Bosphoros, this lavish luxury hotel used to house Ottoman sultans. It lies within walking distance of the Ortakoy district, a cosmopolitan mis-mash of antique dealers, seafood restaurants and art galleries.
There are many good reasons to check into Ibrahim Pasha; small, intimate and boutique at heart, it’s also easy on the wallet. Even better is an evening spent sipping apple tea on the rooftop terrace, which boasts the best view of the Blue Mosque that we’ve come across.
Shopaholics take note: this hotel is the super-contemporary neighbour of Armarni, Gucci and a wealth of high-end fashion boutiques in the trendy Nisantasi district. The Istanbul MOMA is close by, and the hotel is both a sponsor for the Contemporary Art Fair and an art gallery in its own right.
Each evening, guests of the Celal Sultan take their dinner on the hotel’s rooftop restaurant, and enjoy impeccable views over the Topkapi Palace. The hotel lies within walking distance to said palace, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar, making it the perfect bolthole for sightseeing.
Planning a trip to the largest city in Turkey? Be sure to check out Globalista’s luxury travel guides for Istanbul and get the low-down on the chicest things to see and do – or see all our luxury hotels in Istanbul.
Tags: City breaks, Istanbul, Luxury Hotels, Style & Fashion
