Hotel review: Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul
It's a delectable climate: balmy, 20C-plus temperatures from May to October, reaching a scorching 29C average in high summer. It's a culture buff's dream, with 1,500-year-old buildings littered across the terracotta landscape. The food is divine (kebabs galore), there are countless bustling coffee shops and bars to enjoy and then there are the markets, perfect for picking up souvenirs and, let's be honest, next-level designer fakes.
It's also beautiful – I mean really beautiful. The best of the city's sights are stretched along the Bosphorus, a sea-blue natural strait collecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara. The meeting point of east and west, a hotel nestled on the European side means you are conveniently connected to the city's most popular landmarks and can enjoy the breathtaking waterfront views.
That's where the luxurious Shangri-La Bosphorus comes in. Tucked up on the strait's westerly bank, it's a bolthole of luxury in a neoclassical abandoned tobacco house dating back to the 1920s. The grandeur continues inside, with a cascading chandelier, spiral staircases and plenty of marble. It's the perfect base to explore Istanbul's vibrant hubs – and a swanky spot to put their feet up and relax when they're done sightseeing.
Rooms and facilities
The Shangri-La Bosphorus has 186 rooms and suites, all decorated in an elegant style that oozes quiet luxury vibes. Ours was a Horizon Terrace Bosphorus Room, with a large private terrace looking out over the strait. I'm not usually one for balconies (get me to the spa) but spent an hour each morning and evening looking out over the water, watching the water taxis cruise past and people bustling on the banks. When it comes to hotel USPs, this is one that's hard to beat.
Inside didn't disappoint either. A huge 40-inch TV was perfectly positioned above a huge king-size bed with 300-thread count linens – if we'd wanted to lounge around and watch movies for three days, we could have done so in blissful comfort. A large writing desk, coffee machine, minibar and plentiful cupboard space furnished the rest of the room, in an understated colour scheme that makes the Succession set look gauche.
Our bathroom was even grander: marble (of course) with a huge mirror, separate make-up mirror (yes, please), shiny silver hardware and a huge rain shower. There's even Acque di Parma toiletries, bathrobes, slippers and, I kid you not, the fluffiest towels known to man.
The shared facilities are less quiet about their luxury. Marble and gold lacquer abound in the reception and tea room, and there's that bohemian chandelier descending by a spiral staircase leading from the upper floors down to the spa. Like the city it occupies, it's the perfect marriage of casual western elegance and striking eastern opulence, from the gilt gold tables to the spicy incense wafting around the lobby.
Food and drink
The jewel in Shangri-La's culinary offering is Shang Palace, an award-winning Chinese restaurant. It's a chic setting – mahogany and velvet sofas, but not stuffy – and the food is unforgettably yummy. The special crispy duck is a must order, a refined spin on the takeaway fave with juicy chunks of meat, and the deep fried prawn rolls are light, crunchy and full of flavour. We finished with the spicy chilli beef tenderloin and chow mein, and left with full bellies and big smiles.
Ist Too – open for breakfast, lunch and dinner – is a more laidback experience, with outdoor tables looking out over the Bosphorus. Foodies can try Turkish speciality breakfasts (the Cilbir, or poached eggs with garlic yoghurt, spicy olive oil and pepper flakes is phenomenal) but picky eaters can enjoy anything from a cheese omelette to French toast and Belgian waffles. For dinner, we ordered fried calamari and buffalo burrata to share, and mopped up the sauce with baskets of warm sourdough. Prices are just as appetising, with mains between £15 and £30.
One of our favourite spots in the hotel was swanky cocktail spot Le Bar, with an extensive menu of delectable tipples. We enjoyed plenty of Moscow Mules (apologies if there's now a ginger beer shortage in Turkey) and even more of the complimentary spiced nuts. Cheers.
Hotel highlights
Unquestionably, Shangri-La's spa, Chi, is bliss. We tried the traditional Turkish Hammam (£139 for a private two-person room), in which you lie on a hot stone and are scrubbed, moisturised with hot oil and washed. Okay, it's not for the faint-hearted (there's a lot of steam and yes, you're nude) but once you relax into it, laying on the hot stone while being deep cleaned is relaxing and rejuvenating. There's a reason why it's historically been seen as a cleansing, purging ritual – and our skin was baby-soft afterwards.
Next door to the spa there's a roomy health club, with an indoor heated swimming pool, hot whirlpool bath and submerged loungers with massage jets. We even made it to the gym, where state-of-the-art treadmills look out over the pool (a welcome distraction from the running).
What to do nearby
The Shangri-La Group offers curated 'Eat Play Love' stays, which is an ideal starting point for exploring such a culture-rich metropolis as Istanbul. As part of this, we went to a mosaic lamp making workshop, where local artisans taught us the delicate art of crafting the lampshades. It was a great opportunity to learn an age-old craft and engage with other travellers – ideal, given the 'Eat Play Love' campaign was created with the growing number of solo travellers in mind.
Of course, we also hit the grand bazaar for shopping, armed with my mum's knowledge (from TikTok) about the best stalls and negotiation tactics. While there, you can visit the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque – we stayed outside to avoid the queues, and ducked into a nearby cafe for a Turkish coffee.
From the Shangri-La, the fastest route to the Old Town is via water taxi (less than 50p each way), so you get breathtaking views of the coast as part of your commute there and back.
Best for
A glamorous girls' trip to explore a bustling metropolis (and, whisper it, pick up some fake designer clobber). Walking down the cobbled streets with my huge shopping bags, I felt a bit like I was in the second Sex and the City movie.
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