3 Best Hotels in Beşiktaş and Nişantaşı, Istanbul

A restored, Italian-style, Art Deco, 1922 apartment building offers spacious, elegant rooms decked out in sleek walnut with modern amenities alongside old-fashioned touches like period chandeliers and black-and-white photographs of Istanbul. Bathrooms have rain showers, free-standing tubs, and heated stone floors, and 25 "spa rooms" also have steam rooms and Turkish baths. The sophisticated lobby has a chic bar with a wine cellar showcasing a wide range of Turkish and international wines.

Offering all the opulence and sophistication expected of this world-class brand, the Shangri-La Bosphorus overlooks the water, with a glittering lobby that features a two-story crystal chandelier, richly colored marble flooring, and gold-rimmed furniture. The well-appointed rooms are more understated, with muted colors, simple Chinese brushwork art, and furniture in black lacquer and off-white marble; bathrooms are wonderfully luxurious. Higher-category rooms have views of the water, while others face the city or a Parisian-looking interior atrium. Other highlights are the attractive indoor pool; the brand's signature CHI, The Spa; the Cantonese-style Shang Palace restaurant; and a lobby lounge offering tea service.

This ultrastylish addition to Istanbul’s ever-growing array of luxury hotels has large, beautifully designed, Art Deco–tinged rooms and suites and a prime location in the heart of the Nişantaşı shopping district, overlooking the dense greenery of Maçka Park. Contemporary art decorates the dramatic lobby and is integrated throughout the hotel. All guests are assigned a “butler” for more personalized service. A rooftop bar, the first international branch of Wolfgang Puck’s Spago restaurant, and a lavish day spa facility are draws for nonguests as well.