We were in Istanbul first for 4 days to celebrate the "big birthday" of my wife, then for an additional two days at the end of our Turkish journey. We were extremely "picky" and selected this hotel based on its hilltop location, putatively clean air (YES!), high standard, great food, lovely staff and amenities. And we were NOT disappointed - Swissotel delivered flawlessly every single time. Twice corner rooms on the 14th and 15th floor (the latter a suite) had a beautiful panoramic view of the Bosphorus, the Dolmabahçe Palace below - just great. The room & suite itself were large, very comfortably furnished, with a gorgeous marble bathroom, walk-in rain shower, super amenities by Purovel (Swiss). The desk area was well lit, excellent desk chair (yes, I worked). Sofa, giant TV, sitting area with 2 arm chairs in front of the window, super bar - everything as it should be - reminded of Four Seasons in New York with its "classic modern" decor.
The mattress was, however, too hard for my taste; meanwhile, a simple phone call to housekeeping changed all that within minutes. Two employees came, added another mattress pad with down, and made the bed fluffy. We dined at Gaja on the top floor - fabulous modern Mediterranean food (please try the Turkish wines, wow, what a surprise). Cafe Swiss was another dining option, equally great. We had breakfast at the executive club room, always fresh, with many options. Wife had hair done at the salon - amazing hair dresser (thought they should know how to deal with thick, wavy Asian hair, and yes, they do). The gym is as good as can be expected - large, well equipped and pleasantly quiet. Everywhere are large, airy spaces, no giant crowds, no screaming kids. Large outdoor pool, as well as an indoor lap pool in the fitness area (great!) The concierges, all Clef D'Or, work extremely hard and are super pleasant to deal with. Over all, staff is extremely professional. We forgot to turn off the electronic "do not disturb" button; we got in at 9pm to find the room untouched (as it should, they don't want to bother you if you don't want to be bothered). We sheepishly asked if someone could make the bed - within 10 minutes, we had someone cleaning the entire room, again to Swiss perfection. At 9pm - now that's service! Since the hotel is near a park and on a hilltop, the air is not oppressive or muggy as it is by the water, plus there's never that "trapped" feeling you get at some of the other luxury hotels in Istanbul that shall remain unnamed. Yes, there is some disco dancing by the pool at night, but it was far away enough not to hear too much. The windows can be opened - no need to depend solely on AC.
We truly truly love this hotel - I wouldn't stay anywhere else in Istanbul - another win for Swissotel modern luxury! read more