Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul

From the minute we arrived at Shangri-la we were always met with friendly smiles and frequent check-ins if we needed anything. Over our 4 days stay, the team recognized and greeted us like we were welcomed friends. Every request was handled, and they went above and beyond what we expected. An example of this was when my mother-in-law wanted some Turkish Delight for breakfast, which was not part of the breakfast spread, but Emircan specifically went to find and bring us a little sample plate. I strongly would recommend and intend to be back. Accommodations and ambience goes without saying that it was clean and luxurious. The private Hammam experience is a must - it was so unique and relaxing. After a long day exploring, every day we returned to Shangri-la felt like our peaceful sanctuary.

The best hotel ever, staff is amazing especially ozguc he is so helpful and friendly. Rooms are nice and clean. The food and hookah were great. We had a breakfast included, it’s a must! Also the Hammam experience is so good. We stayed there for three nights. Had a blast for real.

The Shangri-la in Istanbul is on the banks of the Bosphorus, offering beautiful views of the Asian side across the strait. The site itself is beautiful: the layout is efficient whilst still feeling and looking luxurious, with that signature Shang style. On our arrival, we were immediately made to feel welcome by Emercan, Hasan, and the staff at the front desk. The front desk and concierge services at this hotel are excellent: Gokahn and Yegiz were both very helpful in organising transport around the city, and the hotel works with a private hire company to provide a smooth experience with drivers including Harid (sp?), who took great care of myself and my sister on a trip to the Basilica Cistern. The rooms are generous and well-equipped, as expected of the Shang. Housekeeping and room service were flawless, with a special mention needed here for Alper in the room service team, who took warmth in customer service to a new level when delivering our food on several occasions. There are two restaurants on site: ISToo, a European-Mediterranean restaurant that also doubles as the breakfast buffet, and the Shang Palace. Both restaurants have fantastic food: the Shang is known for this, and the chefs here certainly do not disappoint. Serhat, the F&B Manager, runs a tight ship when it comes to quality of food. At breakfast, we were looked after by Ibrahim, Davut and Oguz who provided an exceptional level of service. Cansu, Elif and Bekir also went above and beyond to make our stay and NYE celebrations special and to ensure that everything was in order when needed, and I also must mention Melissa at Le Bar for her contagious energy and enthusiasm for her craft. With regards to facilities, the gym, spa and steam/sauna/pool are as expected of a 5*. Aytunç at the gym was extremely kind and helpful, and the hammam experience at the spa was enjoyable. The gym was clean and spacious, and never felt crowded in the 4-5 times I visited during our stay. Overall, we enjoyed our stay at the Shang in Istanbul. However, I will note that we had some issues with service levels at the beginning - as noted by some of the other reviewers on this platform. Despite the exceptional service provided by people such as Ibrahim, Davut, and Umut (Duty Manager), we experienced frequent issues with drinks orders taking over 20+ minutes to arrive, or being forgotten entirely. On several occasions, we were aware that Ibrahim and Davut were chasing the kitchen/bar for our drinks but despite their best efforts were getting no joy. That is not what we expect from the Shangri-la brand, or indeed any 5* hotel. The worst is that we continued to experience these issues when celebrating a very special family occasion, which put a frustrating damper on an otherwise perfect day. Thankfully, after conversations with the ever-attentive Umut and Cyrine, the wonderful Guest Relations Supervisor, we saw clear and immediate improvements in our experience. If just a little more attention was paid to the consistency of service and follow-through on the finer details, the Shangri-la Istanbul would be an outstanding property and experience from every angle.

Great service, especially from Emircan who is very professional and attentive. The gym is good, not too crowded and with good equipment. Room service is very friendly, the food is ok. Great location right next to the water. Overall no complaints.

Hotel is beautiful, the rooms are spacious and welcoming, and the service is exceptional. Emircan and the rest of the team at IST Too provided great service at breakfast! My family is very much looking forward to spending the new year here and making lots of memories!