The Bank Hotel Istanbul, a Member of Design Hotels

The Bank Hotel stands at the Karaköy end of Bankalar Caddesi, a few steps from the harbour, where ferries leave for Kadıköy and the Asian side. The surrounding streets mix Ottoman-era buildings with street art, fashion boutiques, galleries and busy seafood restaurants. Galata Tower is a short climb uphill, and the tram to the Old City stops nearby.

Built in 1867 by Italian architect Antoine Tedeschi, the neo-Renaissance building once housed some of the city's great banks. Today, designer Sinan Kafadar fills its marble halls and soaring ceilings with contemporary art and bold colour; an in-house curator arranges cultural events, and the original bank vault survives as a unique meeting space.

Rooms feel grand yet contemporary, with patterned ceilings, parquet floors, goose-feather bedding and Carrara marble bathrooms stocked with L'Occitane products. Rooms in the historic main building have the highest ceilings, while the Penthouse Suite adds a freestanding bath with views of the Bosphorus Bridge, the Golden Horn and the Old City. Interconnected rooms are available in Deluxe room categories.

Serica, the hotel's restaurant, draws on Anatolia's rich culinary heritage for a refined, locally focused menu, served behind floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping city views. Up on the roof, The Bank Roof Bar pairs signature cocktails with panoramic views from the Bosphorus to the Old City, and the Lobby Bar mixes classic and creative drinks.

Tucked away downstairs, the spa is a calm counterpoint to the lively streets outside. Its classic white marble hammam is the centrepiece, perfect for a traditional scrub and foam, alongside a sauna, steam rooms and a couples' room for massages and facials. A fitness centre completes the facilities.