W Istanbul

W Hotels & Resorts, one of the most exciting luxury hotel brands, welcomes young-at-heart and trendy crowds to its glamorous getaway in a café-packed residential neighborhood close to the Bosphorus.

Set within a 19th-century-row house with contemporary Ottoman-inspired interiors, and fashioned by local interior design firm GeoID, the W Istanbul is designed to surprises and delight. And it does it from the get-go, with the entrance as a mirrored tunnel walkway that looks like a jewelry box.

Artist Thierry Dreyfus is behind the striking lighting effects, including hot pink panels in the hallways and a nightclub-style lobby, where funky playlist streams set the tone.

Hotel Stay

Sultry and spacious, the guestrooms all have high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and signature W beds topped with pillowtop mattresses, goose down comforters and down pillows embroidered with “Sweet Dreams”.

All but the Wonderful Rooms—named with the typical for W hotels flair—come with a private patio or terrace.

Luxe features include 32-inch flat-screen LCD TVs set behind stylish black mirrored glass, oversize leather work desks and iPod docks. The hammam-style bathrooms feature rainfall showers, twin sinks, intricate backlit mirrors, and Bliss toiletries.

Things to do

Start the day with breakfast at the W Lounge, an elegant Ottoman-inspired spot open 24 hours a day. Fill up on specialties like menemen (a Turkish take on scrambled eggs), sucuk sausage and simit bread.

In the evening, themed bento boxes combine Turkish and Asian delicacies. The Destination Bar is a hipster hideaway for cocktails and DJ sets. Head to the glass-paneled fitness room to work out while looking out a leafy courtyard.

For everything else, check out our 11 things to do in Istanbul, the list we compiled with some difficulty, as picking just a few top attractions from the plethora of things this city offers is hard. After all, Istanbul has everything.

Check availability for W Istanbul: Booking.com | Hotels.com | Expedia | Agoda | HotelsCombined‎ | Marriott or see what others think on TripAdvisor.

Text with contribution from Jetsetter.com by David Farran de Mora (modified to fit the format). *This review contains affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. 

in our opinion

What we love

• Ottoman-inspired interiors with innovative lighting
• Fun vibe, with a buzzy 24-hour lounge bar and a nightclub-style lobby
• A five-minute walk from the Besiktas dock for ferries across the Bosphorus
• Most rooms feature a balcony or terrace (except the Wonderful-class Rooms)

What you should know

• The small spa offers Turkish-style massages, and the gym is open 24 hours
• Stay hyperconnected, using the W Hotel app to order room service and stream DJ playlists through your phone
• Pet-friendly, with a host of amenities for four-legged friends
• WiFi is free in public areas but costs an additional $17 per day in guestrooms