Review: Kempinski Ciragan Palace Istanbul, Turkey

Housed in two buildings, the modern and separatepalace wings, one of Istanbul’s most famous hotels, the Ciragan Palace, Kempinski sits along the Bosphorus’ lively waterfront, and offers glimpses of the Bosphorus Bridge, which connects to the Asian half of the city across the water. A wall of photos shows the number of celebrities that have stayed here including the Prince of Spain, the King of Jordan, Hillary Clinton, Madonna, and Oprah Winfrey, among many others.

Guests here are lavished in royal treatment at every turn. It all begins upon arrival, when a reception team greets guests by name and escorts them to their accommodations for a personalized check-in. Hermes fabric-coated attaches are carried by the staffers to process credit card information and arrival documents. Security at the hotel is tight, which is to be expected at such a high profile property, and baggage is scanned before entering the lobby. Severa high-end shops line the passages between reception and the palace wing. A small museum recounts the history of the building when it was once a Sultan’s home.

Breakfast is served in waterfront Gazebo, where a continental spread is complemented by Turkish coffee and tea. An afternoon tea service that includes delectable Turkish pastries and sweets draws local business and tourists alike to the hotel. Laledan, with an outdoor terrace overlooking the ever-present Bosphorus, offers a breakfast spread of more than 3,000 items. Made-to-order eggs are standard including the famous Turkish dish of Menemen, which blends tomatoes, cheese, and eggs in an omelet-like pan. Fresh smoothies, Turkish sweets, more cheeses and olives than one can count, and delicious Turkish breads make breakfast a most satisfying experience. Tugra is the hotel’s signature Turkish restaurant. Located in the Palace wing, its elegant cuisine and impeccable service also attracts outside tourists and locals. Multi-course meals are paired with local Turkish wines, but it is the champagne cart, boasting a half dozen vintages, and elaborate presentation that really make a grand first impression. Request a table on the balcony for one of the city’s most prized dining seats. The mezze spread is enticing and delectable, and following the server’s recommendations brought forth a lamb entrée that was as mouthwatering as described. This legendary restaurant truly lived up to expectations. An outdoor seasonal hookah and cigar bar is popular and easily accessible between the modern and historic wings. In the warmer months, an outdoor café opens for lunch and dinner by the Bosphorus water’s edge. Staffers deliver chilled bottled water and items from a snack menu to guests lounging by the pool.

Complimentary wireless high speed Internet is available in all rooms and throughout the hotel (including by the pool) without the need for a password. A small business center on the lobby level as well as several meeting rooms by the front desk are available. The majority of the meeting space, however, is located in the palace wing where most social and corporate functions take place. A separate entrance handles the heavy traffic of conferees there so as not to disturb guests at the main hotel wing. The business center is mostly used for printing documents and accessing the Internet. Workouts come easy in the hotel’s fitness center, which also features an outdoor swimming pool with an infinity edge that trickles down to a small wading pool. The soothing sounds of lapping waves from the busy waterway ease guests into relaxation. Fabric umbrellas are raised in seconds by staffers eager to assist. Poolside bar and snack service is ever-present and as attentive as that in the restaurants. Hammocks and swings are dotted about the palace grounds for impromptu naps or catching up on some reading.

Guest rooms have soft fabrics and carpeting. All offer free wireless high speed Internet, flat-screen-cable TVs, and spacious work desks with speaker phones and voice mail. This property is a favorite of American travelers and the complimentary bottled water and Internet are particularly appreciated. Nearly half the rooms are nonsmoking, and all have fresh fruit plates replenished daily. Beds are topped with crisp linens and fluffy duvets. Stacks of pillows are painstakingly remade daily, and the abundance of pillows, aromatherapy scents, and candle options adds to the feeling of royal pampering. Bathrooms offer scented toiletries, stacks of towels and terrycloth robes, and fabric slippers placed at the bedside at turndown service. Flip flop sandals for use at the hotel’s infinity pool, which overlooks the Bosphorus, are placed on the room’s wardrobe. Most guest rooms face the water, as did mine, but exact a premium for the privilege. Others front the entryway and tree-lined street.

Service is swift and friendly. Istanbul may have many expensive hotels to choose among, but this palatial destination proves to be one of its best.