HONG KONG
Istanbul welcomed its newest luxury hotel with the opening of the Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul on May 11.
The opulent 186-room hotel is the second in Europe for Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, which hails from the other city where East famously meets West, Hong Kong. Shangri-La brought its Asian "hospitality from the heart" to Paris in 2010 to strong reviews and now adds Istanbul to its growing list of international gateway cities.
Set on the European side of the Bosphorus Strait between the Dolmabahce Palace and Naval Museum, Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul overlooks the unfolding panorama of Istanbul's domes and minarets and the green hills of the city's Asian shores. It is located on the site of a former tobacco warehouse from the 1930s. The warehouse's restored, six-storey Neo-Classical facade and two carefully preserved 150- and 350-year-old Sycamore trees in the courtyard give testament to the past.
The hotel takes design cues from the glamorous Dolmabahce Palace with swathes of marble, glittering chandeliers and a mix of European, Asian and Turkish design. A grand staircase wends down the hotel's three-story atrium, transporting guests from the lobby to the elegant ballrooms and other venues below.
The dome-shaped atrium is lit by natural skylight and a massive Bohemian chandelier that rains crystals nearly two stories. Also decorating the atrium is The Garden of Peach Blossoms, a stunning 18-metre-tall silk painting, which was commissioned for the hotel. The hotel showcases more than 1,000 pieces of European and Asian art.
The grand lobby flows into the Lobby Lounge, where classic European bespoke furniture and plush sofas are arranged to create intimate seating areas. Guests can relax to the sound of classical or jazz music and enjoy house-made pastries and more than 100 types of Chinese teas poured by the hotel's tea master. The adjacent Le Bar is a jewel box set off by a stone wall and serves traditional cocktails and spirits, plus tapas and mezzes.
Nearly all of the hotel's 17 suites have private terraces offering beautiful Bosphorus vistas. The ultimate indulgence is the Shangri-La Suite, which has three terraces overlooking the Old City, Asian shores and the Bosphorus Bridge.
