Ciragan Palace Kempinski — Hotel in Beşiktaş

We stayed in the main building and paid for an upgrade to a Deluxe Bosphorus suite (room 445) along with a connecting room for the kids. It was a very spacious suite with a large living room and terrace facing the Bosphorus. It's a grand view but you pay for it and hotels in Istanbul are surprisingly expensive. We were offered some good deals on upgrades close to arrival and also upon arrival. There were nice treats on arrival and sent in daily. A huge flaw in the room is that the patio doors can't be opened or closed from outside so if you close the door while on the patio, you're locked out. I cannot believe they did this when they designed the rooms.|Breakfast here is fit for a Sultan with 3 rooms of foods to pick from. Concierges were very helpful arranging a taxi to the airport (one-third the price of a hotel transfer) and a very nice dinner out. It was a 35 minute ride to the airport on a Sunday morning without traffic. |It is a large property and there were some concerns here. We looked forward to dinner at Tugra, their famous Turkish restaurant. A wedding was going on in front of the restaurant and featured a band that looked like it belonged at the Super Bowl Halftime Show. I wasn't up to paying $100 for a fish entree in that kind of environment and I think they must have raised the prices here a ton since my last visit 2 years ago since they got on the Michelin list. However, this restaurant is not going to get any Michelin stars till they figure out if they want this outlet to be a famous restaurant or if they are going to have weddings in front of it 4 months a year. We left and went to the Grill outlet along the Bosphorus for what we thought was a rather mediocre and pricey meal. Next evening we ate at a restaurant called Ruby's ten minutes walk down the street which had much better food at 60% of the price and had great views of the mosque and bridge. We ate off property because we were told that there would be a wedding the next night as well and frankly because Tugra had priced itself out of our market. At night, the music shook the floors of our room until nearly midnight. Had I been staying in the Palace wing (like I did on a previous visit), I would have been furious with all the noise and the lack of access to the main hotel because they closed off the pretty walkways along the seafront every day due to the weddings.|The hotel's facilities are excellent. There is a great swimming pool, an indoor pool with a bathing suit dryer, a steam room and sauna and an excellent gym. Did not find any jacuzzis though. We did a cruise on the Bosphorus that was arranged by Tours By Locals and they docked the boat at the hotel's dock so that was convenient. The hotel will arrange a cruise but they cost twice as much and come without a guide.|I spent a lot of money to stay here in a top suite and the hotel has a lot of history behind it. The rooms are furnished lavishly and the hotel has good service and generally decent food and excellent facilities. It also has connecting room options which are good for families, something the Four Seasons down the street does not have. However, it is a zoo here with the weddings from June to September especially on weekends. If I were returning and paying what I wound up paying at this hotel with the upgrade, I'd consider the Four Seasons Bosphorus which is 3 minutes walk down the street if they tell you that you are not going to be disrupted with weddings going on the property. Another reason to do that is that the street in front of the hotel gets very full of bumper to bumper traffic from 3pm onward and you can't get a taxi to drop you off or pick you up at the hotel. |Truth be told, the location in this part of town is not near any public transport and the Dolmabache Palace is the main attraction but that is about a mile away. You can walk from here to Ortikoy which is a nice night spot about ten minutes walk. The other 5-star hotels are in different parts of town. There is the Mandarin Oriental and the Shangrila and the Peninsula along the Bosphorus but none of them are near here. The Ritz Carlton is inland. The Pera Palace is a city hotel about fifteen minutes walk from Taksim Square which is half an hour away by car. So you have choices. The Ciragan Palace is a good choice in a decent location and the Palace section is beautiful (but not during wedding season), but it's not a slam dunk to choose this place. And I would recommend a night at the Four Seasons Sultanahmet to be in the "theme park" in the historical part of the city and to get that vibe of Istanbul as well because both are needed to...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Kempinski Istanbul's outdoor restaurant, and I must say, it was a delightful experience that seamlessly blended delicious cuisine with a breathtaking view. Situated in the heart of Istanbul, the restaurant offers a picturesque setting and an impressive menu that caters to diverse tastes.

From the moment I arrived, the warm and attentive staff made me feel welcome and ensured that my dining experience would be memorable. The outdoor seating area provided an inviting and relaxed ambiance, with comfortable seating arrangements that allowed me to fully appreciate the stunning views of the city skyline.

The panoramic view from the restaurant was truly captivating. The combination of the bustling cityscape, the Bosphorus strait, and iconic landmarks such as the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque created a mesmerizing backdrop that added an extra layer of enchantment to the dining experience.

The restaurant's menu boasted a wide array of delectable dishes, with a focus on Turkish and international cuisines. The culinary creations were expertly prepared using fresh, high-quality ingredients, and the attention to detail in presentation was evident in every dish. The flavors were harmonious, with a perfect balance of taste and texture that tantalized my taste buds.

One of the standout dishes was the local seafood selection, which showcased the freshness and flavors of the Mediterranean. The grilled fish, succulent prawns, and perfectly seared scallops were absolute highlights, complemented by flavorful accompaniments and creative sauces that elevated the overall dining experience.

The service at Kempinski Istanbul's outdoor restaurant was impeccable. The waitstaff demonstrated a high level of professionalism, attentiveness, and knowledge about the menu. They were happy to provide recommendations and catered to special dietary requests, ensuring that every guest's preferences were well taken care of.

Apart from the exceptional food and service, the restaurant's attention to detail in design and decor added to the overall ambiance. The contemporary yet elegant setting, with tasteful lighting and comfortable seating, created an inviting atmosphere that encouraged guests to relax and enjoy their dining experience to the fullest.

Whether it was a romantic dinner for two or a gathering of friends and family, Kempinski Istanbul's outdoor restaurant offered a perfect setting for any occasion. The combination of stunning views, delectable cuisine, and exemplary service made it a truly memorable dining experience that exceeded my expectations.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a dining experience that combines a breathtaking view with exceptional food and service, Kempinski Istanbul's outdoor restaurant is a must-visit. The mesmerizing cityscape, delectable culinary offerings, and inviting atmosphere make it a perfect choice for those seeking an unforgettable culinary journey in the heart...

Very Disappointing. This is not the Çiragan quality standards we are used to. Therefore, we will not come back.

My family (parents, siblings, and nephews) visited us for my son's birthday, and I booked three rooms. I always booked this hotel for them because my mother used to like the hotel's history and the breakfast.

The hotel has 2/3 of it under renovation. That includes the lobby and the restaurant. They arranged the Palace side, which they usually use for events, to allocate the breakfast venue and the two restaurants they have (Italian and Turkish). Until now, no complaints.

The distance from the provisional front desk and the rooms to the breakfast are like 400 mt. Since there is no internal connection, you must walk from the terrace to reach the venue. If there is good weather, that is ok, but if it is winter, windy and raining like this time, it is not pleasant. They offer a shuttle to take you to the breakfast, but someone must be there to take you, which is only the case sometimes. Most of the time, you are the one who must wait for them.

The access to the Palace there are stairs with more than 20 steps, which makes the user experience not great for older adults like my parents.

There is no cafeteria or waiting-for saloon on the side where the rooms and the front desk are. So, for a big group like us (10 people), meeting downstairs in the lobby to leave somewhere means waiting to stand up. And it is not that they have no alternatives. For example, they have several meeting rooms in the corridor close to the lobby that they could have arranged as a bar or cafeteria.

And if you are unlucky and the weather is not good, waiting in the hotel means waiting in your room because there is nothing arranged as a cafeteria or saloon in the area where the lobby and rooms are.

On top of that, this “wanna-be” 5 starts hotel has no valet service. So, if you go with your own car, they send you to the other side of the Palace where they celebrate de events to park your car and come back walking from outside the hotel, that again, if it is good weather, the walk is fantastic, but if not, they don’t have an alternative for you. Before, they used to take your car, give you a ticket and park it until you needed it.

With alternatives like the Four Seasons or the Mandarin Oriental in the same area, the Çiragan should have put more effort into keeping their quality standards. Therefore, we definitely will not book again in the Çiragan and try these alternatives in the subsequent visits to my parents and siblings.

I told the lady in the reception already everything I am...