A foot in the past and an eye on the future – why this Turkish delight should be on your hotel radar

A confluence of history, heritage and hospitality on the banks of the Bosporus in Istanbul – the glittering new gem in The Peninsula Hotels' global line-up is revealed as the winner of the One To Watch Award for The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2024

Whenever a hotel opens in an historic city like Istanbul, there’s always concern for the potential disconnect between new and old. On one hand, much of the city’s charm comes from its rich and storied past, with prized monuments like the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque dating as far back as the year 537. On the other, a contemporary brand like The Peninsula Hotels, which has meticulously planned its growth, opening just 12 hotels since its inception in 1928, always strives to be on the cutting edge of hospitality.

How does a group that prides itself on looking into the future establish itself in a city that honours its past? Seamlessly, it would appear, if The Peninsula Istanbul is anything to go by.

Comprising four different buildings, all merged but each with a unique facade, The Peninsula Istanbul may have only debuted in February 2023, but was in the works for more than a decade prior. “Our previous COO Peter Borer came to the site in 2012, sat on the rooftop, looked out at the view and immediately saw the potential,” says the hotel’s managing director, Jonathan Crook. “He knew it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

The Peninsula Istanbul is made up of four historic buildings

Among the four buildings is one dating back to 1937 that was once the terminal building for cruise ships. “It had been dismantled because it wasn’t earthquake friendly and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to bring it back to life,” says Crook, who has been with the Peninsula brand for nearly 25 years, previously at the New York, Manila, Tokyo, Beijing and Chicago properties.

“We’ve had a lot of guests come to the hotel and said they recall being there 20 or 30 years ago and remembered where the passport control and luggage areas were, which is now the hotel’s lobby.”

That building is flanked by others from 1910 and 1912, while the fourth is a new creation, constructed to hold the hotel’s ballroom and some of the guestrooms. Architectural elements like fountains, tiles, crown mouldings and ornaments have all been painstakingly restored and its setting with views of the city’s iconic bridges and Sultanahmet district in the distance all help to make the hotel feel inherently Turkish.

Swim in palatial luxury in the hotel's 25-metre indoor pool

However, it’s some of the newer elements that ensure the property’s star power will only continue to rise. A 1,685-sq.m spa was conceived in the 1937 building, housing eight treatment rooms, a fitness centre and an indoor pool. “We have a 24-metre-long pool outside overlooking the sea and, in the spa, there’s a 25-metre-long pool with marble walls, blue mosaic tiles and intricate domes housing light fixtures. It really makes you feel like you’re inside a palace,” says Crook.

The 177 guestrooms are amenity-packed, featuring digital bedside tablets that function in seven languages and control everything from the audio-visual to the lighting, as well as allowing guests to easily order room service. At the end of the expansive mini-bar console rests an all-in-one fax/scanner/printer/photocopier, a now-superfluous amenity that also feels like a luxury in today’s digitally dominant world. 

“When we design a hotel, we never want anything to feel cookie cutter. We like to favour a more independent feel,” says Crook. “We worked with interior designer Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu, who is well known throughout Türkiye and is also the first woman to ever design two mosques: one in Doha and one here. She’s taken traditional elements like the Ottoman-style inlays with mother of pearl, the glasswork and other textural features and woven them into the design."

Each room is decorated with creations from local Turkish artists

As for the art that hangs on the walls, the hotel worked with consultant Çağla Saraç to source contemporary Turkish pieces, as well as a local ceramic artisan to create special commissions made for the rooms. All the linens are Turkish cotton and guests are offered different kinds of Turkish tea throughout the day.

The rooftop of the 1937 building houses the Gallada restaurant, headed up by chef Fatih Tutak, who runs Türkiye’s only two-Michelin-star restaurant, Turk Fatih Tutak. Gallada offers Turk-Asian fare in a vibrant setting where sultry summer evenings stretch long into the night and seating is always in high demand.

With its enviable riverside setting, opulent Ottoman-inspired design and unparalleled approach to authentic Turkish hospitality, The Peninsula Istanbul was an easy pick for this year’s One To Watch Award, which singles out a property the 50 Best team believes has the potential to move into the ranking in future years.

“Perhaps my favourite part of the hotel is knowing that we’ve created a place that people want to return to,” says Crook. “For so long, Istanbul has been a bucket-list city, where people check the box and don’t return. But, we’ve had so much positive feedback that we’ve already had repeat guests, and we’re excited for even more to experience it and then want to come back.” Not just One To Watch, but one to treasure, too.

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