The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul, in Türkiye [In-Depth Review]

The author stayed as a guest of the Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul. All opinions are the author’s own, and the Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul, had no input in any part of this review.

My family is soon to be repatriated from the Middle East to Texas, and as part of our farewells, we relaxed our rules to allow each of our kids to have a sleepover with their best friend before we move. When my kids asked why I was going to Istanbul, Türkiye, with a friend just 2 weeks before summer vacation, my answer was simple: “Moms get farewell sleepovers with their friends, too.”

Thus, a cheap flight and a free weekend brought me back to Istanbul, 14 years after my first visit. We booked the Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul, and had just 36 hours on the ground to visit the city’s major sights. I was excited to see how the hotel embodied its brand’s luxurious reputation and how well-located it would be for our busy itinerary.

Booking the Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul

Cash rates at the Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul, start around $283 per night, and award nights start at 58,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. We booked a room with a partial Bosphorus view, which is typically priced higher than park-view rooms. However, it’s good to know that award rates for both room types are nearly the same.

If you’re considering paying cash for the reservation, we recommend using one of the Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards to earn up to 18.5x Marriott Bonvoy points for your stay.

If you are a cardholder of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, or Centurion^® Card from American Express, you can book this luxury hotel through Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts (here) for additional benefits, including early check-in and a room upgrade (as available), daily breakfast for 2, a $100 food and beverage credit, and a guaranteed late checkout.

Hot Tip:

Amex Platinum cardholders also receive an annual up-to-$200 prepaid hotel credit for bookings with Fine Hotels + Resorts properties, including the Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul.

Location of the Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul

The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul, is in the Dolmabahçe area on the European side of the Bosphorus Strait. It is near a flurry of other 5-star hotels, including Grand Hyatt Istanbul, Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus, InterContinental Istanbul, Park Hyatt Istanbul – Macka Palas, The St. Regis Istanbul, Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul, and Swissôtel The Bosphorus Istanbul.

From the hotel’s neighborhood, you’re within reasonable walking distance of Dolmabahçe Palace, İstiklal Avenue for shopping, and Taksim Square. Galata Tower is about a 40-minute walk away. Main attractions like the Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapı Palace are best reached by taxi, tram, or bus.

The hotel is next to KüçükÇiftlik Park, an open-air concert venue, and the 42,000-seat Tüpraş Stadyumu, home to the Beşiktaş football club. Consider reviewing the team’s schedule ahead of time to see if a match may impact your stay.

Arriving From the Airport

The hotel is about 40 minutes by car from Istanbul Airport (IST) and about an hour by car from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), though these times are greatly affected by traffic. The hotel recommends a private transfer that costs €260 ($297) from either airport, so you’d save a considerable amount by booking a transfer yourself or taking a taxi.

I arrived at SAW and arranged a driver on arrival via GetYourGuide for $47 (with 7% cash-back via TopCashback). With morning rush-hour traffic, the drive took about 2 hours. Our return Uber taxi cost ₺2,400 ($61) and took about 2.5 hours during evening rush-hour traffic.

Hot Tip:

Consider prebooking a driver to and from the airport at a fixed price to avoid an ever-increasing taxi meter in traffic.

Check-In

The hotel occupies 14 lower floors of the 41-floor Süzer Plaza. We arrived around 9 a.m. and could clearly see the hotel’s towering profile from a distance.

We were met at the valet by a representative who asked our name and if he could take our bags.

We sent our bags through a security screening and arrived in the bustling lobby. As we were guided to a representative at the check-in desk, we were asked if we wanted coffee, tea, or water.

Fortunately, our room was available, and after our passports were quickly processed, we were swiftly on our way through the lobby to the elevators.

Elite Benefits

I was not eligible for elite benefits during this stay, but I do have Gold Elite status through my Marriott Bonvoy Business^® American Express^® Card. Had I been staying on a cash rate, I would have received 25% bonus points, a late checkout of 2 p.m., a welcome gift of points, and a complimentary room upgrade (if available).

Partial Bosphorus View Room

A staff member escorted us to our room to drop our bags off and explain its features. Exiting the elevators on the sixth floor, we were greeted with a spacious elevator lobby with a curved navy sofa. My friend noticed the interesting glass “knot” art on the side tables in this space (and throughout the hotel). I also liked the carpet, with delicate blue pops.

We were assigned a corner room, 602.

The room entered into a small hall, with the bathroom to the left, a suit valet and closet to the right, and a desk and sitting area visible in the bedroom beyond.

I can’t remember the last time I saw a suit valet. It was prominently displayed at the room’s entrance with a shoe mitt and a sewing kit.

The closet had a set of drawers with a top for storing luggage. It also had an iron, an ironing board, a wall safe, slippers, and various hangers, including padded silk hangers for delicate items.

The staff member explained that we could utilize the complimentary evening shoeshine service, if needed, by placing our shoes in the black shoeshine box in the closet.

I loved the room’s layout, with the king-size bed to the left, a work and sitting area to the right, and a wall of windows with sheer and room-darkening curtains straight ahead.

Those pops of blue I liked from the elevator lobby were carried into the room design with a 3D arrangement of tiles in varying blue and beige tones. I appreciated the small ledge that extended from the desk area to under the art — great for storing small items like a wallet, phone, or room key.

The desk had a directional lamp, a leather chair, a writing pad and pen, a phone, and 3 types of outlets, including a USB-A port. I‘ve seen fresh flowers more frequently in hotel rooms, and the small, colorful arrangement on the desk was a notable addition to the room.

The desk also had a card that explained Scenography: An Emotional Experience, when Turkish coffee and Turkish delight are served daily in the lobby from 4 to 4:30 p.m.

I don’t often sit and relax in a hotel room, but I loved everything about this small sitting area. It was on an elevated wooden platform walled by glass on 2 sides. With my feet on the ottoman, I comfortably gazed out across the surrounding park’s greenery.

I could see the Bosphorus Strait and the stadium to my right.

To my left, I had a view of the park and the concert venue.

The king-size bed had a beautiful blue tile design behind the padded headboards with plump pillows. Metal pendant lamps hung above each nightstand, and a padded ottoman was at the foot of the bed.

The nightstand closest to the work area held a box of tissues, the TV remote, and the channel guide, along with light controls and a power outlet. The nightstand closest to the minibar had a phone, a writing pad and pen, light controls, and 2 USB-A inputs.

The pillows were a bit soft for my liking, but several other options were available to request, including orthopedic visco pillows and head-shaping pillows for those “who have undergone hair transplant procedures or nose surgeries.” After all, this is Türkiye, where medical tourism is having a moment.

The minibar counter had complimentary water bottles, a Nespresso coffee maker, and a kettle.

In the left cabinet was a minifridge with a variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks for purchase.

In the top drawer, there were several snacks for purchase.

Bathroom

The bathroom was laid out with the enclosed shower immediately to the left, the tub and vanity in the center, and the water closet with a toilet in the rear.

Another robe was behind the bathroom door, along with a full-length mirror.

The shower’s rainfall showerhead produced great pressure, and a handheld wand was available if needed. Shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel were from the Diptyque Philosykos line.

The vanity had a handsome marble top with 2 glass shelves. Bath amenities included a bottle of Diptyque hand lotion, a razor, dental kits, a hair comb, an emery board, a sewing kit, a shower cap, and a sanitary bag. Lucky bamboo and even more fresh flowers added splashes of color to an otherwise very formal bathroom.

The fixtures in the bathroom and bedroom were in great shape, except for this chipped tissue box cover. We noticed the same issue in the lobby bathroom closest to Nobu.

Across from the shower was a bathtub with a shower hose attachment.

And at the end of the bathroom was a water closet with a toilet. It looked like this once had a bidet wand installed, but that appeared to have been removed.

Amenities

The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul, offers several amenities, including indoor and outdoor pools, a spa with fitness center and hammam, a kids club, and event space.

Outdoor Pool

The outdoor pool is accessed via stairs through The Roof (an outdoor restaurant) on the second floor and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. There is plenty of lounge space and seating, though that seems to be the focus rather than swimming. You’ll first see a very small, shallow dipping pool.

Then you’ll see a second set of stairs leading to a longer infinity pool.

The larger pool seems similarly shallow and too short for meaningful laps, though it is perfect for snaps to share on social media. The end of the pool closest to the Bosphorus has a tiled, shallower area.

Spa Soul

Spa Soul is on level P4. The sauna, steam room, and indoor pool are open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Spa services and the hammam are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The spa has 7 treatment rooms, and a menu of available services can be found here.

The spa also boasts a hammam suite.

Indoor Pool

My friend and I wanted to check out the sauna and pool before dinner and had the entire space to ourselves.

The pool was expansive, especially compared to the outdoor pools, with plenty of seating and towels throughout.

Our biggest disappointment, however, was this “hot” tub. We immediately noticed that it didn’t have seats — the area where your legs would typically rest when seated was filled in and tiled over. When we asked a staff member why the jet buttons weren’t working, we were told it had been converted into a kids pool. No heat, no seats, no jets … no fun.

Fitness Center

The large fitness center was open around the clock and was thorough in its variety of equipment.

The first room had free weights, balance tools, and a Pilates wall ladder.

Treadmills were plentiful and outnumbered ellipticals and stationary bikes.

Technogym circuit and strength-training equipment allow guests to maintain their normal workout routine away from home.

Chilled and room temperature water, towels, apples, and headphones were also available.

Ritz Kids

The Ritz Kids room is accessed via stairs just behind the check-in desk in the lobby. It was locked and unoccupied when I dropped by, but a staff member came to open the space for me to have a look.

It did not appear to function as a monitored drop-off kids club. Rather, it was essentially an indoor playground where parents could supervise their children.

In addition to the playground climbing space, there was also a soft play area and an air hockey table.

Meetings and Events

The hotel has 10 event rooms for meetings, conferences, and weddings. More details are available here.

Wi-Fi

I seamlessly connected to the hotel’s free Wi-Fi and found the signal fast and strong throughout the property.

Pet Friendly

The hotel allows 1 pet per room (on designated floors) with a maximum weight of 33 pounds. The daily fee is €100 ($114), covering cleaning and accommodation charges. The property can provide complimentary dog mattresses, food, and toys.

Parking

The hotel charges €17 ($19) for on-site parking and has an electric car charging station.

Food and Beverages

Atölye Restaurant

Atölye offers Anatolian and Turkish cuisine and is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; its menu can be found here.

Dinner

On the night of our arrival, we were treated to dinner, which started with a tempting bread selection and custom olive oil presentation.

After a day of carbs, my friend looked forward to a protein-heavy dinner and enjoyed the beef tenderloin.

I also introduced her to a favorite Turkish dish of mine: lahmacun. This crispy flatbread was zippy and irresistible, topped with minced lamb and vegetables. My friend thought this was the highlight of the meal.

I ordered the köfte, 5 springy log-shaped meatballs, accompanied by a cold white bean salad called piyaz. The köfte were tender and delicious, but would have benefited from a yogurt-based sauce for dipping.

Breakfast

The breakfast buffet was served in the same space from 6:30 to 11 a.m. If it is not included in your rate, it costs €40 ($46) for adults and €25 ($29) for kids from 6 to 12 years old (excluding VAT).

The dining room design is a lovely mix of jewel tones set against jaw-dropping views across the Bosphorus.

The buffet filled a large room toward the rear of the space, just ahead of Bleu Lounge.

The first display was a vegan corner with vegan cheeses, avocado puree, salsa-style ingredients, rice, and baked beans.

My friend was introduced to a new obsession: simit. This popular Turkish street snack is a bit thinner than a bagel and coated in sesame seeds. (Pro tip: they’re great for dipping in hummus, and we saw them sliced and spread with Nutella at stands across the city.)

The center station featured other baked goods, pastries, dates, and a plethora of premium nuts. A very small shelf across from this area held gluten-free muffins, cereal, and sliced bread.

The chef-tended station at the rear had all the hot items, including French toast, pancakes, waffles, made-to-order eggs, sausage, and potatoes.

I love seeing regional favorites on a buffet, and the end of the hot section included börek (a Turkish potato pastry), peynirli gözleme (Turkish cheese pastry), and menemen (scrambled eggs with vegetables).

The spread closest to Bleu Lounge held sliced fruit, juices, water, and smoothies. On the opposite side of the room was a large cheese display. When I visited Istanbul for the first time in 2011, one of my strongest memories was the hotel breakfast of fresh, flavorful tomatoes with unique, sharp cheeses. The Ritz perfectly echoed that memory with a great selection of regional cheeses.

If your breakfast buffet doesn’t have 7 unique types of olives, are you even in Türkiye?! Next to this expansive olive display was a small salad bar and various cold cuts, including smoked mackerel and salmon.

Club Lounge

If you have booked a room or suite with Club access, you have access to the Club Lounge (open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.), a dedicated concierge, and exclusive amenities and services.

The Club Lounge offers 5 food service rotations throughout the day, including breakfast, light bites midday, afternoon tea, evening hors d’oeuvres, and dessert. When I visited during breakfast service, the food selection was a smaller version of what was on the buffet at Atölye.

The space had several seating areas for lounging, dining, or working.

Due to its position on the 12th floor, the views were spectacular.

Hot Tip:

Cardholders of The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card receive 3 annual upgrade certificates for a Ritz-Carlton Club Level room. This card is closed to new applicants but available as an upgrade from select Chase Marriott Bonvoy credit cards.

The Roof

The Roof offers casual outdoor and indoor dining and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. The menu features everything from quinoa bowls to lamb chops to pizzas and burgers, and can be found here.

The palm murals set the vibe perfectly as you walk through the entrance.

Seating ideal for lounging with drinks was closest to the bar.

And seating more ideal for traditional dining was in an indoor room toward the back area.

Nobu Istanbul

The Istanbul outpost of Nobu opened at the Ritz in 2021. Its menus offer Peruvian-influenced Japanese cuisine and can be found here. The terrace and dining room are open Sunday to Wednesday from 6 to 11 p.m. and Thursday to Saturday from 6 to 11:30 p.m.

Nobu Istanbul Bar

The Nobu bar and lounge are open Sunday to Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Thursday to Saturday from 5 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Bleu Lounge

During my visit, Bleu Lounge was used as overflow breakfast seating. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., and its menu of sandwiches, snacks, pizzas, and desserts can be found here.

Limoré

Limoré, an Italian concept, is new to the property, having opened in 2025, and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

In-Room Dining

The hotel offers all-day dining from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; the menu can be found here.

Service

There were always multiple team members in the lobby equipped to handle any questions or provide assistance. My experience with the staff in the lobby and during the check-in experience was excellent and professional. I was impressed when the front desk representative who checked me in greeted me by name on the second day of our stay. While all of the staff I interacted with spoke English, some of the staff members had strong accents that made understanding them a bit difficult. Fortunately, no one minded when I asked for responses to be repeated several times to better understand what was being communicated.

I was also thoroughly impressed by the housekeeping team, who worked like ninjas behind the scenes to seamlessly deliver amenities to the room. The turndown service, with chocolates, tea, and lavender spray, was a lovely touch.

The only sour part of our stay was due to that lovely view we had of KüçükÇiftlik Park, an open-air concert venue (which I’ve zeroed in on in the image below).

We were in the room around 6 p.m. and heard a band loudly warming up at sound check. I quickly Googled if there would be a concert and learned that an Australian group called Glass Beams had a show there that night. I immediately got nervous that we’d have trouble sleeping after a red-eye flight and a long day of touring and phoned the front desk. The representative I spoke with wasn’t familiar with whether there’d be a concert that night, but mentioned that local restrictions required concerts to shut down after 11 p.m. or so.

After hanging up, conferring with my friend, and listening to the sound check a little longer, we decided to ask for a change of rooms. The same representative informed me that the hotel was sold out that night, and a room change wouldn’t be possible. He offered to send some earplugs, which I gladly accepted.

I was so exhausted after dinner that I fell asleep at 9 p.m., in the middle of a very loud concert, without the earplugs.

I’m sure the hotel constantly has to tiptoe between guests who choose the property for its proximity to the concert venue and soccer stadium and those (like me) who just happen to have planned their vacation during an event. I would have preferred being informed of the concert and how loud it would be in my room at night, but I’d suggest that future guests be proactive and check the event calendars of each venue ahead of time to avoid any disrupted sleep.

Final Thoughts

What I enjoyed most about my stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul, was the chic design accents in the room, the relaxing sitting area with a view, and gazing out across the Bosphorus from multiple vantage points throughout the property. The hearty breakfast with local delicacies was also a great way to fuel a full day of touring (so much so that we skipped lunch, unfortunately!).

My colleague Juan Ruiz found the area great for exploring on foot when he stayed at the nearby Grand Hyatt Istanbul. However, taking a tram or bus from the Ritz to the main tourist sites of the Sultanahmet district took me around 35 minutes each way, and a taxi would not have been much quicker. If you’ve just got 24 to 48 hours to hit the city’s highlights, you may want to consider a hotel within walking distance of those sites. If your time in Istanbul is more leisurely, the Ritz is worthy of consideration, though the city is fortunately flush with choices for luxury hotels.