The Ritz Carlton, Istanbul
“Experience luxury in the heart of Istanbul at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, where captivating views of the Bosphorus, convenient access to city attractions, and superb service ensure an unforgettable stay.”
Location: Situated in the heart of Dolmabahce, Istanbul, Turkey, the Ritz Carlton Hotel offers a luxury hotel with captivating views of the Bosphorus and convenient access to Nisantasi and Taksim Square. Its central location makes it an ideal choice for travellers seeking both relaxation and convenience to explore with a lot of main sites only a 10-15 minute walk away. It's worth noting that traffic can be heavy during peak hours in Istanbul and this is something you will experience in any hotel located in the city but in comparison to some other luxury hotels that are located on the Bosphorus, The Ritz has the added benefit of being located in the city centre and therefore skips a lot of this traffic.(Score: 8/10)
Accommodation: During our February stay, we enjoyed the Park View Club Suite, a spacious sanctuary spanning 64 square metres. The suite's elegant design, featuring a king-sized bed, separate living area, and marble bathroom with Diptyque amenities, provided a comfortable and indulgent escape. Its proximity to the club lounge (located on the same floor) added convenience, allowing easy access to complimentary refreshments and a change of scenery whenever we felt like leaving the suite. Having a suite with the Bosphorus view would have made the experience even better but we had a nice view of the city and being located on a high floor meant it was quiet and peaceful. (Score: 8/10)
Dining: With four dining venues, including the renowned Nobu Istanbul and Atolye featuring Turkish cuisine, Ritz Carlton Hotel offers a lovely selection for guests. While breakfast at Atolye boasts a wide selection and live egg station, it can become very busy during peak times and we experienced this on our first morning there. We decided to leave Atolye and instead chose to have breakfast in the club lounge which proved to be a much more intimate setting. Often with club lounge access, the breakfast tends to differ greatly from the selection in the main restaurant, but this was not the case at The Ritz and everything that was on offer downstairs could be found in the club lounge - albeit the selection did prove repetitive after a few days. (Score: 7/10)
Amenities: While the hotel boasts a fitness centre, indoor and outdoor pools, and Spa Soul, our experience was disturbed by construction noise from the indoor pool renovation. This was a real let down and especially affected the overall experience of the couples hammam treatment that we booked. Staff did take note of our complaints but not much else was done to make this right. However, the traditional hammam treatment itself offered a memorable experience, and the staff were knowledgeable and well experienced showcasing the hotel's commitment to wellness and relaxation. Had it not been for the construction noise and the closure of the pools we would have given a higher score here. (Score: 6/10)
Service: The staff at Ritz Carlton Hotel exude warmth and hospitality, ensuring a seamless check-in process and maintaining the rooms impeccably throughout our stay. Their attentiveness, including evening check-ins for additional amenities, enhanced the overall comfort and satisfaction of our experience. The entrance lobby and check-in area would benefit from improvement to the overall flow, as the limited space often leads to congestion during peak hours and during check-in they could only offer us one seat due to the rest being occupied. (Score: 7/10)
Value for Money: Ritz Carlton Hotel Istanbul offers good value for money, providing luxurious accommodations and attentive service at reasonable rates especially when comparing this to the other 5* hotels on offer in Istanbul. Generally speaking, the cost of tourism has been on the rise recently in Turkey, however The Ritz is well placed amongst all of this and offers great value for money. Despite minor inconveniences, the overall experience justifies the price making it a worthwhile price to pay for a luxurious stay in Istanbul. (Score: 8/10)
Overall Experience: In summary, The Ritz Carlton Hotel Istanbul offers a luxurious retreat in the heart of the city, with great accommodation and attentive service. Despite minor shortcomings, its central location and excellent value for money make it a compelling choice for luxury travellers visiting Istanbul. Our three-night stay at Ritz Carlton Hotel Istanbul left us content and well looked after by the attentive staff. Despite minor inconveniences such as the construction noise and busy breakfast times, the hotel's luxurious accommodations and prime location contributed to a memorable experience. We departed satisfied and would consider returning for another stay.
Final Scores:
Location: 8/10
Accommodation: 8/10
Dining: 7/10
Amenities: 6/10
Service: 7/10
Value for Money: 8/10
SK ESCAPES RATING: 7.5 / 10