I love Istanbul so much that I made it a point to have a 3-day layover in this city before I returned home to Singapore from Milan. No doubt W Istanbul has contributed to the fond memories that I have of this fascinating destination. My last stay, which was exactly a year ago, was so enjoyable that I decided to return to W Istanbul instead of trying a new hotel.

Housed in the restored Akaretler Row Houses, W Istanbul is surrounded by trendy cafes and restaurants, cutting-edge art galleries and high fashion. The hotel’s innate hippy vibes blends in nicely in this stylish neighbourhood.

W Istanbul’s interior decoration is a fusion of eastern influences and western functionality. From the intricate staircase in the lobby to the ottoman-inspired mirror frame in the room, the interior designer did a fantastic job in incorporating local design elements into this sultry hotel.

The Fabulous Room is on the top level of this 4-storey building. Every Fabulous Room has its own private terrace. I would have spent more time in this private enclave if not because of the cold windy weather. The designer made efforts to incorporate Turkish elements into the room’s look and feel. The bathroom also reminds me of the Turkish hammam with its pristine white marble.

The FIT gym is located on the same floor and faces the elevators. It’s not as impressive as the other Sweat or Fit gyms that I’ve used because everything is contained within the four walls and there is hardly any decent view. But it’s a decent gym if you want to burn off some calories from your indulgence of Turkish Delights.

W Istanbul does not have its signature BLISS spa. And its massage facility is rather limited too probably due to the fact that the hotel is housed within a restored building. To experience authentic hammam, my partner and I went over to the Purovel Spa and Sport at Swissotel The Bosphorus which is about a 5-minute taxi ride away from W.

The W Lounge was rather quiet when we were there. Maybe it’s because we were there at about 7pm. There weren’t that many guests and hence, the service was prompt and good. The SIP bar, which is on the ground floor, has a quieter environment to have drinks over a nice conversation.

The breakfast was not included since my stay was redeemed using my free SPG nights. There are a few cafes and restaurants near the hotel that serve breakfast and I would recommend those outlets instead. I had my breakfast at W’s OKKA on the day that I checked out of the hotel. I find the buffet spread limited and food quality mediocre. It’s definitely far less impressive as compared to the breakfast I had at W Barcelona.

Despite W’s limitations, this Istanbul hotel is situated in a prime location where excellent restaurants and great shopping are all within a 10-to-15 minutes’ walking distance. The W Istanbul staff is a great bunch of people too. The bell boys, front desk staff, housekeeping and concierge are helpful, friendly and professional. I have nothing but praises for this pool of dedicated people.

W Istanbul
Suleyman Seba Cad No. 22 · Akaretler
Istanbul 34357 · Turkey
Tel: +90 212 381 2121
www.wistanbul.com.tr