Our Food and Wine article in the most recent issue takes readers on a foodie’s dream tour of Istanbul. If you’re thinking about visiting Istanbul, you might like to consider the following hotels or visit www.turkeytravelplanner.com for more information.
Empress Zoe
There aren’t many places more tranquil for tea or a glass of wine in Sultanahmet than the shady archeological garden of the Hotel Empress Zoe, a charming composite of several old Turkish-style townhouses. Folkloric artifacts and heavy embroidered drapes warm up whitewashed walls and hardwood floors in suites that can sleep up to four. www.emzoe.com
W Istanbul
The first “W” to open in Europe, this is the centerpiece of the bustling Akaretler neighborhood in the heart of Besiktas, bordering the Bosphorus. The new row houses surrounding the hotel are identical on the outside to those built in the 1870s to house workers at the nearby Dolmabahce Palace. Sophisticated travelers appreciate amenities like touch lighting with mood settings and a pet menu offering sirloin steak. In the summer, hotel guests head to an Olympic-size pool a short cab ride away. www. wistanbul.com
Tomtom Suites
In cosmopolitan Beyoglu, Tomtom Suites, originally a Franciscan convent built in 1900, has kept many of its finest architectural features—soaring ceilings, winding marble staircase—and tastefully incorporated modern touches like a glass elevator that rises to the top-floor restaurant, La Mouette, with a breathtaking view across the Golden Horn. Twenty suites are spacious and feature all-marble bathrooms with Jacuzzi tub and shower. www.tomtomsuites.com
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