I’ve stayed at a half-dozen beautiful Grand Hyatt Hotels around the world and my experiences were wonderful so I was very excited to visit the Grand Hyatt in Istanbul. If you didn’t know, I have actually been living in Istanbul for 2.5 months prior to my staycation at the Grand Hyatt. The property is a true 5 star hotel in all regards, I couldn’t wait to check out of my Airbnb and into the Grand Hyatt!

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Location

I’ve spent time living on both sides of the Bosphorus Strait. Each side have its own unique characteristics. The Asian side, known as Anatolia, is known to be more relaxed, while the European side is known for its hustle and bustle. Most tourists stay on the European side only, but I would highly recommend you see both sides! The Grand Hyatt Istanbul is located on the European side in Şişli, which is a mostly affluent area with upscale hotels, fashion boutiques, and shopping centers. It’s super easy to walk to many attractions, including Taksim which has Istiklal Caddesi, the city’s main walking street.

Arrival

I arrived at the Grand Hyatt Istanbul in the early afternoon during fall. I was greeted immediately after exiting my taxi by a porter who assisted with my luggage promptly. This is very important to me, I really dislike waiting for someone to show up, so we were off to a good start! I made my way into the reception for a smooth check-in process. One of the great features of the property is the luxurious lobby. It’s beautifully styled in a timeless design equipped with chandeliers, a waterfall, loads of comfortable seating, and a bar and café. One day I want to return to relax near the waterfall!

The Suite

During check-in I learned that I was upgraded to a Grand Executive Suite on the Club Floor. Upon entering I was embraced with the style typical of the Grand Hyatt Brand I’ve experienced many times before. I would describe the interior design as minimalistic, comfortable, and efficient. Grand Hyatt tends to use a lot of wooden pieces within their rooms that accent the spaces nicely. The living room and dining area features a desk, coffee table, huge sofa, lounge chair, working desk, coffee and tea station with capsule coffee machine, water bottles, large LCD TV, a half-bathroom, and a dining room table and chairs. Truly feature packed!

The bedroom possessed the same style as the rest of the suite. It also had a notable list of items including a king size bed, sofa, water bottles, and a large closet which would be great for an extended stay. I’ve come to expect high quality bedding from all Hyatt properties and happy to report it was no different in Istanbul! The bed was very soft, when I lied down, I sunk into it like I was floating on a cloud. Comfort level maximized!

The suite’s master bathroom was very spacious and had a single sink vanity, toilet stall, shower stall, bathtub, and Aromatherapy Associates toiletries. The design was nice and I liked that there were always so many towels!

Amenities

As I mentioned my Grand Executive Suite was on the Club Floor, but during my stay, the Club Lounge wasn’t open due to the pandemic. However, the party wasn’t over just yet! I was happy to learn that they still offered temporary Club Lounge benefits on the ground floor in the Grand Hyatt’s Library Bar. This meant a daily open bar, cold food buffet, and a series of hot dishes that changed nightly from 6-8pm. Oh how I’ve missed this!

There’s a business center on the 8th floor just next to the Club Lounge.

On the mezzanine floor is the Grand Hyatt’s Gaia Spa, fitness center, and pool. The facilities were well-equipped with lots of modern equipment, and great relaxation facilities such as a large Turkish Hammam. During my stay I got to experience a 30-minute Turkish Hammam Treatment in the beautiful spa. Read more about my spa treatment in a separate article here.

The pool is outdoor and beautiful in appearance but unfortunately it was too cold for me to swim during my stay. It’s massive and offers a lovely location to enjoy when the weather suits.

34 Restaurant

Also on the mezzanine floor of the Grand Hyatt Istanbul is their 34 Restaurant, which is an all-day dining restaurant. During my stay I got to experience breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Overall, I was fairly satisfied with the food and service. The breakfast buffet has a decent selection of both Turkish and Western items to choose from. One thing that really impressed me was the quality of the fruit at breakfast time! I’ve been living in Istanbul for months and never found such sweet fruit until staying at the Grand Hyatt!

Even though my stay was during a pandemic, there was still a high level of service and both indoor and outdoor seating available. I can almost never resist a Turkish coffee!

Final Thoughts

I must say I had high expectations for the Grand Hyatt Istanbul, and I was not let down! The property’s location in the thick of the action on the European side of Istanbul is a great starting point for almost any adventure. It was also definitely great to be able to finally experience Club Lounge life again after not having access to one since March! Also, the service was simply fantastic, even in the midst of a pandemic. All in all, if you’re looking for a solid luxury hotel in Istanbul, Turkey look no further the Grand Hyatt Istanbul.

Grand Hyatt Istanbul

Hotel

Harbiye Mah, Taşkışla Cd. No.1, 34367 Şişli/İstanbul

Phone: +90 (0212) 368 12 34