Featured Hotels Destinations Move Work Events Videos
Hotels

The Ritz-Carlton highlights the wonders of Istanbul

The excellent service and facilities offered by The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul has earned it the title of Best Luxury Hotel, Turkey in the Business Destinations Travel Awards 2015. Max Zanardi, General Manager of the hotel, tells us about the key to its success

Comments  
Luxury and style are evident throughout the Presidential Suite at The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul. The hotel is renowned for its world-class hospitality and facilities
Luxury and style are evident throughout the Presidential Suite at The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul. The hotel is renowned for its world-class hospitality and facilities 

Known internationally as ‘the city on two continents’, Istanbul is strategically based as the cultural and commercial crossroad between the European and Asian landmasses. Home to an eclectic mixture of cultures, traditions and religions, Istanbul provides an ideal backdrop for any meeting or event. Recognised as Turkey’s centre for business and trade, Istanbul’s growing economy is progressively attracting more and more national and international companies. With its cultural attractions including lively bazaars, mosques, palaces, museums, modern shopping centres, art galleries, world-class restaurants and clubs – all available on the doorstep of nearly every hotel and meeting facility in the city – it’s not hard to see why.

At the very heart of this lively metropolis, boasting stunning views of the Dolmabahçe Palace and the Bosphorus Strait, is The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul. It epitomises the spirit of the city, as well as Istanbul’s Ottoman-inspired splendour, which surrounds guests with luxury and relaxation. Our hotel’s traditional roots are seamlessly linked with its contemporary exterior, adding a final flourish to an already unforgettable experience.

The Ritz-Carlton epitomises Istanbul’s Ottoman-inspired splendour, which surrounds guests with luxury and relaxation

Personalised service
The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul is a perfect blend of hospitality, culture and sophistication. Located just 15 minutes away from the famous historical attractions of Sultanahmet, the Grand Bazaar and the Blue Mosque, our hotel is also within walking distance of the vibrant nightlife districts of Beyoğlu and Karaköy, and is only a 25-minute walk away from Galata Tower. Furthermore, Istanbul’s stylish shopping areas –Nişantaşı, Kanyon, Zorlu Center and Istinye Park – can all be reached in less than 20 minutes.

Each of the 243 elegantly furnished guest rooms and suites at The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul feature Ottoman-style décor and a range of luxurious features, including feather beds, sumptuous linens, flat-screen televisions, high-speed internet, espresso machines and distinctively designed facilities in both the bedrooms and en suite bathrooms. The rooms themselves range from 38sq m park view rooms to 64sq m suites with panoramic views of the Bosphorus Strait.

Meeting in Istanbul
Elsewhere in the hotel, more than 2,403sq m of meeting and conference space is available to be booked by guests, promising to create a truly memorable event. With superb catering and entertainment facilities, high-speed internet access and state of the art audio-visual equipment in every meeting room, the hotel is fully equipped to create truly remarkable events. Modern amenities blend with traditional hospitality to combine this unique and renowned Ritz-Carlton service.

The hotel’s magnificent view of the Bosphorus is one of its defining features. With the advantage of a vista that truly complements any agenda, at The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul we understand that success does not merely stem from closing a deal – it comes from making a lasting impression. With such an impressive event and meeting space, as well as our enviable location on the Strait, our Istanbul hotel is poised and excited to host occasions that are truly unforgettable.

At The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul, we offer a plentiful supply of venue choices: from a commanding ballroom with seating for 450 people to a glass-walled chamber replete with breathtaking views of the waters, the hotel offers many stylish locations to give your festivities just the right ambience. Furthermore, the experience of our catering and culinary team can be enjoyed outside of the hotel itself in many of Istanbul’s other spectacular venues, including onboard some of the area’s cruise boats. From producing delicious menus to providing entertainment and decoration, every detail will be planned in order to ensure that your celebration will be remembered as a success.

Culinary excellence
Guests at The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul can enjoy views of the shimmering Bosphorus while dining at the hotel’s Bleu Lounge and Grill, which features a Mediterranean-inspired menu and an extensive range of cocktails. The stylish and relaxing ambience of the restaurant gives guests the opportunity to have a casual lunch with friends and family; enjoy the delicious mezze selection on offer; or to share a sophisticated evening meal with colleagues. The restaurant’s incredible range of succulent grills, along with the spectacular nighttime vista of the illuminated Bosphorus Bridge and distant city lights, makes this the place to be when dining in beautiful Istanbul.

During the evenings, smooth, sophisticated tunes fill the air while the glowing electric blue bar becomes the centre of attraction, serving innovative cocktails in imaginative laboratory-style glasses. As the night continues, live musicians begin their sets, performing the latest hits and raising the tempo to completely transform the restaurant from a relaxing dining venue to an exciting and modern evening drinking spot.

At the hotel’s signature restaurant, Atelier Real Food, the open kitchen entices guests with its handmade French rotisserie. With all dishes using only fresh, local and seasonal ingredients, culinary excellence is celebrated by delicious ‘farm to table’ flavours and a back-to-basics tradition. Of course, the fine art of simplicity can, in actuality, be extraordinarily tough to achieve, as the restaurant’s head chef – who spent three years exploring Turkey on his motorbike, gathering culinary inspiration from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean – can attest. The results, however, are simply exceptional – Atelier Real Food offers dishes from succulent rotisserie lamb and delectable sea bass to ragout of calamari. Handmade breads, meanwhile, are served on hot stones brought to the restaurant from Turkey’s Anatolian region, and are a perfect accompaniment to the restaurant’s famous artisanal organic olive oil.

The hotel's Buyukada meeting room
The hotel’s Buyukada meeting room

Since the opening of the Winter Garden terrace at The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul and, subsequently, the introduction of its Sunday brunch service, this area has become a hub for city connoisseurs keen on indulging at the weekends. On fresh, autumnal Sundays visitors can be found laughing with friends or family on the alfresco terrace, enjoying one of the most incredible views in Europe or Asia – the stunning Bosphorus flowing past the towers and minarets of the historic city of Istanbul.

Calming treatments
We also aim to provide guests with a haven of relaxation and tranquility. The Ritz-Carlton Spa replaces the stresses and strains of everyday living with serenity and beauty, offering therapies and treatments with both Eastern and Western influences, including personalised massages, facials and an extensive selection of pampering body treatments. The spa’s most striking feature – the authentic Turkish hammam – embraces the tradition of ancient water therapies in a timeless and peaceful setting. It also features a couple’s hammam suite – a unique feature where guests are able to share an authentic memory of Turkey. A menu of luxurious services is provided in the nine treatment rooms. Further enhancing the wellbeing of mind and body is a fitness centre that is available for guests’ use around the clock. During the summer months, guests can experience specifically designed cooling and calming treatments at the only open-air spa in Istanbul.

For those who wish to take their experience at The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul to the next level, we offer extra measures of luxury and comfort through The Ritz-Carlton Club. With this service, a dedicated concierge is always on hand to attend to guests’ needs and preferences. Guests also have exclusive use of the hotel’s two cars and access to complimentary food and drinks, ranging from open breakfast buffets and lunchtime snacks to cocktails, canapés and desserts.

For further information tel: +90 212 334 4444

Current issue