If you look for a WOW factor and a prestigious address in Istanbul, you’d be hard-pressed to find better than the Four Seasons Bosphorus.
The city that never sleeps is a veritable Aladdin’s cave of delights when it comes to hospitality, but this magnificent Ottoman palace built directly on the Bosphorus, as the name suggests, is in a class of its own.
We have historically been invited to outstanding hotels and retreats and so expectations are high as a matter of course. Still, we felt privileged to stay at the FSB at the time of the Istanbul art fair, when le beau monde is there en force and rooms are scarce.
If a single word had to suffice to describe this hotel, that would be opulence. The architecture alone is breath-taking but the views are some of the best the city has to offer.
Late September is one of the best months to visit Istanbul and taking breakfast on the magnificent terrace, directly on the deep blue Bosphorus water, is an unrivalled experience.
We loved the juice bar that displayed every manner of vegetables (and fruits, of course) and were tempted to feast just on a variety of exotic liquid combinations that we dreamed up on a daily basis.
That of course is impossible as the will power required to resist the rest of the food display was in short supply.
It is entirely possible to spend the whole day at the Aqua restaurant that hosts the breakfast buffet – a live jazz band entertains those who decide to extend the breakfast by taking an afternoon tea there.
We did not partake, however. Instead, we hit the hammam and two swimming pools, one open air; the other in the underground spa. The mosaic lovers would appreciate the intricate design, while music lovers would be surprised by the underwater entertainment of soft melodies. A vastly tempting menu of treatments accompanies the state of the art gym and requisite steam and sauna rooms.
The bar terrace is a meeting point for hotel guests and Istanbul residents alike and lively till quite late. We spent many happy hours there.
We would be remiss if we didn’t write about our suite, overlooking the extensive gardens and the Bosphorus beyond.
Bright and beautiful without being ostentatious, it was supplied with fresh fruit platters and flower displays on a daily basis. The marble bathroom was as large as the suite itself, with a separate shower room, and the towel gowns made of the softest cotton in existence.
Lastly, getting off a Turkish gullet on the grounds of the FSB is unforgettable – everyone should try it once.
Çırağan Cad. No. 28, 34349 Istanbul, Beşiktaş, Turkey
Tel. 90 (212) 381 40 00
http://www.fourseasons.com/bosphorus/
Like us on Facebook!
Follow us on Twitter!
