Today’s piece is a report on The Peninsula Istanbul. The reason I chose The Peninsula in Istanbul is because of its special service known as “Peninsula Time.” Guests can request an early check-in as early as 6 AM (for early flights) and a late check-out as late as 10 PM (for late flights). The Peninsula wants guests to slow down and fully enjoy their experience rather than hastily rush through it. My flight leaving Istanbul is at 1:30 AM, so I requested a late check-out at the front desk when I checked in. The front desk informed me that my room was already booked for the next day, but they could assign me a different room for the night and allow me to check out at 10 PM. This is what “Peninsula Time” is all about—how considerate!
The Peninsula Istanbul also has a little highlight that can easily outshine other hotels in Istanbul. In the early morning, I sat by the Bosphorus Strait, enjoying the breeze coming from the Eurasian continent, while having a Chinese breakfast. The breakfast featured noodles, congee, spring rolls, shrimp dumplings, and shao mai. At that moment, I felt a surge of pride, knowing that the best hotel in Istanbul comes from our East.
I truly recommend this Peninsula. In fact, The Peninsula Istanbul has many advantages. First of all, the location is excellent. A media teacher once said that “Location” is the Peninsula’s trump card. This statement holds true; among all the Peninsula hotels I have visited, none had a poor location. The Peninsula Hong Kong is located at Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, just a stone’s throw from Victoria Harbour; The Peninsula Shanghai is the only new building on the Bund in 60 years; The Peninsula Beijing, located at No. 8 Jin Yu Hutong, combines the hustle and bustle of the imperial city with luxury… The Peninsula Istanbul is located right by the seaside in the European part of Istanbul, within walking distance to the Galata Bridge, and crossing the bridge leads you to the European historic district of Istanbul. There are attractions all around that can be reached on foot.
The road by the seaside of The Peninsula Hotel is currently the most relaxing walking street in Istanbul. The area features a port, shopping centers, art galleries, and interesting restaurants and cafes concentrated here. When choosing a hotel in Istanbul, you should opt for the European historic district or a hotel on the seaside in the European district. Among hotels by the seaside, The Peninsula has the best location (without a doubt).
Next, the hotel has a story. There are only 12 Peninsula hotels globally, not because they do not want to open more, but because The Peninsula has high standards and stringent requirements regarding the culture, prosperity, and city level of the locations they choose.
This particular Peninsula just opened last year, positioning itself as a magnificent heritage along the Bosphorus Strait. The hotel consists of four exquisite buildings, three of which have been carefully restored from historical antique structures. Below is an image of the four buildings from the seaside, arranged from left to right, all part of The Peninsula Istanbul.
The first building is called RIHTIM HAN, constructed in 1912, and is in a European style; it currently houses guest rooms.
The second building is named YOLCU SALONU, built in 1937. The hotel’s lobby lounge, restaurants, and rooftop bar are all located here.
The third building is CINLIL HAN, the oldest among the four structures, built in 1910, and it also primarily serves as guest rooms.
These vintage buildings have interiors that are quite retro.
How do I know all this? Each building has a brass plaque embedded in the floor at the entrance.
Only the banquet hall is a newly constructed building. This building has a dock out front; The Peninsula Istanbul can be accessed by both land and sea. Many wealthy Europeans prefer hotels with docks, and there are indeed guests who come to stay via yacht.
Moreover, the underground areas of these buildings are interconnected. The gym, spa, and indoor pool are located underground. From any building with guest rooms, you can wear a bathrobe and directly take the elevator to the indoor pool.
The indoor pool is quite aesthetically pleasing, surrounded by Marmara columns, with a series of domes lit above. The indoor pool is quite popular; I visited five times before I found it empty.
The spa’s bathrooms are luxurious, akin to a palace. Turkish baths are quite famous, and you can enjoy them at The Peninsula. Unfortunately, I can only use online images as I couldn’t take photos.
Furthermore, The Peninsula Hotel also boasts a stunning infinity pool by the Bosphorus Strait. The blue pool, coupled with the blue Bosphorus, creates a harmonious ambiance. This is a climate-controlled infinity pool.
The Peninsula Istanbul is truly suitable for Chinese guests. The room type I stayed in was a Bosphorus Suite. Since both of the guest room buildings are historical antique structures, there are numerous room types; even the same room type may have different layouts and areas. I felt very comfortable in this hotel, as the room has an Eastern style.
Both the living room and bedroom feature large floor-to-ceiling windows with unobstructed views of the Bosphorus Strait. The hotel also thoughtfully provided a telescope with high magnification, allowing for clear views of the landmarks in the European historic district, such as the Hagia Sophia Mosque, the New Mosque, and the Topkapi Palace. The location of The Peninsula allows you to see both the Asian side of the Bosphorus and the European historic district, while other hotels along the strait can only see the Asian side.
The night view from the room is also quite beautiful.
The room is very smart, with a pad controlling the lights, sound system, curtains, and room service. It even comes with a small mobile phone for the Peninsula PenChat (the Peninsula Hotel Group’s dedicated electronic concierge service), allowing you to easily contact the butler.
In addition to standard European sockets, the hotel also provides Chinese sockets. During my more than ten-day stay in various hotels in Europe, The Peninsula was the only one equipped with Chinese sockets.
The mini bar was fully stocked, and the welcome fruits were abundant, along with welcome chocolates.
There was no champagne, but the concierge delivered Turkish tea, which is evidently much more suited to my taste.
As for dining, it was even more familiar. At The Peninsula Istanbul, not only could I enjoy Chinese food for breakfast, but the bar also offered Chinese dim sum, which was simply perfect for my Chinese palate.
I also enjoyed a weekend brunch at The Peninsula since the weather the next day was simply beautiful—the sky was blue, and the Bosphorus Strait was even bluer. The hotel’s brunch was by the seaside, and I couldn’t let such an exquisite view go to waste.
The brunch included seafood, meats, and desserts, all of which I found quite agreeable. It was a buffet style, with most dishes prepared fresh, except for the seafood and desserts.
When the weather wasn’t as nice, brunch would be moved indoors to the lobby lounge area. This lounge was converted from a waiting hall, featuring an impressive high ceiling. If you have stayed at other Peninsula hotels, you would know that this lounge is quintessentially Peninsula.
The Peninsula Istanbul is truly elegant, with continuous live music from a band or singers. This may be what some call the hallmark of an old-money hotel.
Finally, here are some photos of The Peninsula Istanbul. If you ever visit Istanbul, definitely consider staying here.
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