Çırağan Palace Kempinski

Ultimate indulgence in a unique historical setting
Word to the wise: Don’t miss out on their spectacular Sunday brunch, which aside from offering a plethora of local and international classics, also has a temperature-controlled ‘chocolate room’.

Noteworthy for: It’s the only hotel in Istanbul where you can arrive by sea, land or air.
It’s the most indulgent experience in the city – but one that's worth every penny. Located on the shores of the Bosphorus, Kempinski ingeniously restored the grand Çırağan Palace – a former residence of Ottoman Sultans - back to its former glory.

And what a story it now tells. What was once a burnt-out shell and then occupied by troops during the two world wars, is today home to lush gardens, glorious terraces and a divine infinity pool, with the hotel’s range of restaurants and bars making full use of the sensational Bosphorus views.

Rooms are well-appointed and comfortable with spacious bathrooms - some 80 percent of them overlook the Bosphorus (don’t opt for the rooms at the back – it’s all about the views here). But where this mammoth, 313-room hotel really succeeds is in the details: there's Ottoman motifs and embellishments throughout, a Turkish bath in the spa, and the tantalising cakes, pastries, and chocolates are all made in-house by renowned chef William McCarrick. And if you do decide to venture beyond, the up-market Ortaköy neighbourhood is within walking distance.