The five-star Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus opened its front doors on June 15th to much belated and expecting crowds, after what seems like a decade of securing legal permits, architects, and financial backing.
Yep... It launched on Father's Day, maybe to lure tots with deep wallets to regale their pops over brunch at what is expected to be Istanbul's next hot spot: Aqua Restaurant. (Review to follow)
But really folks, this facility's aimed at the belle classe, meaning it'll set you back some. With 166 rooms, all starting at a mere 400 euro per night, and some with stunning Bosphorus, there is a handful of suites, superbly dressed in the supple textiles expected of this location which once was the home of Ottoman noble Atik Pasha.
Two brand new wings increase the surface area of the historical building that sits along roughly more than a 600-foot stretch of the famed straits. The Four Seasons' façade that greets guests arriving along on Çiragan Boulevard in Besiktas is just a five-minute cab ride away from the upscale cafés and artsy boutiques of Ortaköy.
Ambling through, 18th century engravings of Antoine-Ignace Melling, a polivalent artiste and wonderer grace the lobby and vestibules in a successful attempt to recapture the Bosphorus's former heyday.
The Four Seasons Istanbul at the Bosporus is banking on attracting thelasso fanatics with its wow-inducing, sinful spa and hammam experience. The hedonists among us can kick back in one of the three--his or hers--classically-ornamented Turkish baths, followed by some therapeutic kneading in one of the nine rooms onsite. Not enough? The VIP Spa Suite, replete with whirlpool and pirvate rooms circling a columned pool with piped in tunes, is also available for the couple who's dying for privacy.
The rudimentary gym and outdoor pool don't disappoint, with all of the modern bells and whistles. But lounging by the latter Bosphorus-side affords endless entertainment, as tankers and dinghies alike vie in a cacophony of horns for their own sea lane.
But in business one needs to follow where the big money and in Istanbul, which according to Forbes Magazine's latest report ranks as the fourth city in the world with the most billionaires, it's with weddings. The tiniest of affairs by hte Bosphorus can cost upwards of 50,000 big ones. Add the required lightshow by way of fireworks nad that amount doubles or even triple in a blink of an eye.
The Four Seasons's outdone its sister facility in Sultanahmet with a 9,000-square-foot landscaped space along the water that'll tickle even the finickiest of brides. After the gala, the bride-groom can bid their dramatic adieus along the sweeping staircase and embark sultan-style a chartered caique.
ESSENTIALS
Address: Çiragan Caddesi No. 80, 34349 Besiktas/Istanbul
Phone: +90.212.638.8200
STRICTLY SPEAKING
Luxury = Lüks (pron. leux; the "eu" sound as in euphoria)