Best Luxury Hotel in Istanbul? Four Seasons At The Bosphorus Review

Last updated on April 18th, 2025

I was incredibly excited to finally return to the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus after five years since my last visit. During my first visit in 2015 I enjoyed their Turkish Hammam spa treatment which you can read about in this article. I had a warm place in my heart for the property and was ready to have the full experience. I booked a staycation for four days and strapped in for a luxurious adventure!

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Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus is definitely a landmark property in the city. It’s a place that everyone knows and where everyone gathers to enjoy all types of events. Even though I visited during a global pandemic, the hotel was still buzzing and operating at full capacity. That being said, the team have clearly taken all of the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe and happy.

For my four night staycation, I secured a One-Bedroom Bosphorus Palace Suite on the second floor of the Four Seasons Istanbul. The suite was truly stunning with its gorgeous design, impressive high ceilings, and Bosphorus Strait view which separates the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. The maritime colors used I assume were inspired by this very body of water.

The large living room included a sofa, lounge chairs, chandelier, dining table and chairs, working desk, coffee and tea station with capsule coffee maker, fresh flowers, and the easily the largest television I’ve ever had in a hotel room!

Stepping into the bedroom was equally impressive with its king-size bed, day bed, chandelier, and another massive television. The room was very modern and included USB charging ports, dimming switches, as well as electric curtains. In the end, I’m always a fan of Four Seasons bedding!

A nice touch was the box of products used to ward off the coronavirus, thanks Four Seasons!

This luxurious palace suite actually has two bathrooms, one half-bathroom at the entryway, and the master bathroom. Inside the master bathroom there was a large shower stall, bathtub, dual-sink vanity, and a toilet stall. The toiletries were by Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris. The marble made the space feel luxurious and clean.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus was kind enough to leave a very lovely welcome amenity which included fruit and lots of sweets such as baklava, macarons, and chocolates. Not only did they surprise me with this the first day, throughout the stay, it was refreshed by the very lovely staff.

It’s also worth mentioning that the slippers were of very high quality and I may have taken them to continue using them in my apartment!

The breakfast occurred along the waterfront, in the hotel’s Aqua Restaurant. The selection of food during breakfast was grand and focused majorly on local Turkish cuisine with a few international options. There was both a full buffet and a la carte menu. If it’s your first time to Turkey, I’d highly recommend the Turkish breakfast! The service during breakfast was very memorable as the staff were always on point. Even though the breakfast was quite busy, we were well taken care of. It was truly a pleasure!

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus has fantastic fitness and relaxation facilities. The hotel features both an indoor and outdoor pool, a large spa where you can try a Turkish Hammam, a modern gym with quality equipment, hot tubs, steam rooms, and saunas. Both pools were great but the one indoor really blew my mind! It felt like it belonged inside of a palace. Very luxurious!

I had the pleasure of having dinner at two of the hotel’s food and beverage outlets. The first was their Aqua Restaurant which has a variety of dishes but focuses primarily on sushi and seafood. There they have a very extensive drink menu as well, I truly loved The Botanist cocktail and the Istanbul Negroni. The night was truly a delight and I wouldn’t hesitate to return. You can read more about my dinner at Aqua in a separate article here.

The second dinner that I enjoyed at Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus was at their Ocakbaşı Restaurant. This is their traditional Turkish grill restaurant. What really impressed me at Ocakbaşı was their extensive Turkish meze, which are the variety of small plates served first. I honestly could have just eaten these and been completely satisfied! Read more about the rest of my experience at Ocakbaşı in a separate article here.

My stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus was simply magnificent! This is truly a five-star luxury property in all regards and quite possibly the best hotel in Istanbul. I can safely say that even during a pandemic, the Four Seasons Istanbul is prepared for everything. The service is truly of the utmost quality and matched with a truly impressive overall product. I wouldn’t hesitate to return again, actually I would love it! If you’re looking for one of the best hotels in Istanbul (probably the best), look no further than Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus!

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul At The Bosphorus

Hotel

No:28, Çırağan Cd., 34349 Beşiktaş/İstanbul

Phone: +90 (0212) 381 40 00

Pierre Blake

Travel enthusiast, writer, and photographer. Sharing tips and tricks to help you explore the world on any budget.