Perhaps it is the city's cosmopolitan heritage that makes the combination of the old and the new so effective in Istanbul. It is a city that has seen so much change that the architecture and traditions of hundreds of years sit harmoniously together along its bustling streets.
So it is with the Park Hyatt Istanbul Macka Palas, which dominates its setting in the smart Nisantasi district with its Milanese Palazzo facade. Not that the hotel is particularly old – it dates back to 1922 – but its early 20th Century exterior belies the definitively 21st Century welcome that awaits you inside.
As you would expect from a leading international class hotel group, the accommodation is of a very high standard, with ten suites and 25 Spa rooms. These are havens of pampering comfort, with private spas that offer you light therapy, a rain shower, a steam bath, a Turkish bath, and a splash tub. There are separate dressing and vanity areas, with elegant glass sinks, and 24 of the rooms have chilled cosmetics cabinets to keep imported lotions and potions cool and refreshing. These include the Turkish rose scents created specially for the hotel, and which gently pervade the lobby as you arrive.
You can also make use of the hotel's exclusive guest spa, which has separate sections for men and women. There are two saunas, three treatment rooms offering a wide variety of therapeutic and restorative programmes, a fitness suite and a relaxation area. Outside, there is a swimming pool – a real treat in downtown Istanbul – and a Terrace where snacks and drinks are served.
The Terrace is also an extension of the hotel's signature a la carte restaurant, The Prime, which is rightly acknowledged as a favourite place to eat for visitors and locals. Breakfast is served in the Lounge, where food is available all day, and there is a Wine Lounge and Afternoon Tea room. 24 hour room service is also available.
Park Hyatt Istanbul Macka Palas is ideally located for some of the best shopping in Istanbul, and the city's great sites of historic interest are all within reach. This is a hotel for our times, which has not forgotten the essential traditions of hospitality and comfort.
90 rooms, including 25 Spa rooms and 10 suites; 30 minutes from Istanbul airport
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