Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus

Four Seasons occupies a waterfront stretch of Çırağan Avenue, lined with Ottoman palaces and grand old mansions. Beşiktaş, about a five-minute walk away, is full of fish restaurants, meyhanes, coffee houses, and lively bars, and its ferry pier offers boats to Üsküdar and Kadıköy. Ortaköy's waterfront cafés are nearby, and a complimentary shuttle runs to the sister hotel in Sultanahmet.

The historic palace forms the hotel's heart, flanked by two newer wings. Contemporary Turkish art fills the public spaces and sculptures line the seafront, giving the palace a lively, modern spirit without losing its sense of history.

Custom fabrics, mahogany furniture, and deep blue or terracotta tones give every room a strong sense of place, and even the smallest offer a generous 45 square metres, with many featuring a divan set into a bay window. All suites are in the historic palace and face the Bosphorus, while the rooftop suites add private sunken terraces above the water. Two-bedroom suites and connecting courtyard rooms work well for families.

Aqua is the main restaurant, serving Mediterranean seafood with a Turkish influence on a terrace beside the water, including a tasting menu by executive chef Görkem Özkan and a popular Sunday brunch. Yalı is the all-day lounge for cocktails, afternoon tea and Turkish pide, while the seasonal Ocakbaşı serves kebabs and mezes on the terrace.

The spa is a serene, light-filled space of mosaic tiles and pale marble, built around the ancient ritual of the Turkish bath. Separate hammams for men and women host the signature Turkish Indulgence, a traditional hammam followed by a personalised massage. A skylit indoor pool is perfect in winter, while the heated outdoor pool on the quayside looks straight across the water to Asia.