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After 15 years of imperious reign as Istanbul’s grandest five-star, Ciragan Palace Kempinski is about to face an onslaught. Already, the W Istanbul has shaken up the summer season with last month’s unveiling on the up-and-coming Akaretler Row. And this September, the Park Hyatt Istanbul Macka Palas is slated to open in the ultra-hip Nisantasi district. Sunday, though, is Four Seasons’ turn to enter the fray, right next door to Kempinski.
On a private pre-opening peek, globorati got to see behind the walls of what is an altogether humbler 19th-century Ottoman palace than its neighbor. Four Seasons Bosphorus also has two new wings attached (that owe more to the natural daylight than to the historic architecture), with half the number of rooms and only one restaurant to Kempinski’s four. But never mind the size; just feel the amenities — namely, a spectacular sky-lit spa that upstages even the Japanese-inspired Taylife Detox & Wellness Centre at the ultra-trendy boutique Sofa Hotel.
Couple that with a waterfront Wedding Garden, terrace pavilions and a Dynasty-style staircase (specially designed for photos of the blushing bride and groom), and you’ve got the most romantic new spot on the Bosphorus. The cherry on the pie is a private jetty and launch, which can ferry passengers across the strait to the hotel’s older sibling, Four Seasons Sultanahmet. Though you might want to hurry back: sure, the latter property is a stone’s throw from Hagia Sofia and Topkapi Palace, and, sure, it’s stuffed with old-world (17th-century) charm. But do you really want to wake up in a cramped (and slightly dated) former prison? At Four Seasons Bosphorus, you’ve got the waves gently lapping at your window with vistas of the hills of Asia.
read more: 02. Sleep | 03. Spa | boutique | historic | romantic
