Review: Le St. Regis Istanbul | Marriott Bonvoy

Location

Converted to a Marriott hotel in 2015, St. Regis Istanbul is seven stories high and has 550 rooms, including fourteen suites and a majestic appearance that reminds us a little of Europe.

It is located in the upscale Nişantaşı district of Istanbul. In this part of the city, the biggest names in fashion have established themselves, but it is also where you will find the most significant number of cosmetic surgery clinics per square foot. Surrounded by the neighbourhoods of Beşiktaş and Beyoğlu (Taksim), it is at the heart of the action.

The hotel does not offer transfers to the main airports in Istanbul. However, they use a limousine service and private transportation, which can be booked directly at the hotel.

Booking

I had a 40,000 point certificate to use (one of the annual benefit choices as a result of achieving Titanium status), so it seemed like a good idea to use it at this kind of hotel. Moreover, the room was offered at that time at the price of 510 euros per night.

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Hotel details

Hotel reception

At the St. Regis Istanbul, everything is done smoothly. As soon as you arrive, a valet will immediately take care of your luggage and take you with courtesy to one of the two reception desks. The employee will inform you about the hotel’s services and opening hours, among other things. I visited this hotel in the middle of a pandemic, so many services were either closed or with limited access.

I had asked via the application’s chat if it was possible to have a suite; I was offered a luxury room with a view of Maçka Park. I tried again on site and was advised that the majority of the suites were not « open » for reservations during this time of pandemic.

Lobby

Art is omnipresent at St. Regis Istanbul. Whether in the hallways or the rooms, you are sure to be able to admire them. The lobby has an impressive collection of vases, collectibles and various paintings.

The chic decoration of this space matches well with the furniture: leather sofa, velvet armchairs, marble floor and without forgetting its numerous glass bookcases. The jeweller Gezer even presents some of his jewelry on display.

Deluxe room, 1 king bed, Maçka park view

The room

A butler accompanied us – with our luggage – to room 407 and offered to bring us champagne or other drinks. My partner does not drink alcohol, so we chose tea. To accompany this tea, we were treated to a tray of Turkish Delights, as well as a basket of fruit. The stay starts with a bang!

Decorated with paintings and artworks from Demsa Art’s private collection, it lives up to our expectations. Its size is impressive, and the natural light is very present. It has large windows that give a beautiful view of Maçka Park. Its large bed, overhung by a leather headboard, is very comfortable. It also has a control panel above the bedside table for the lights, blackout curtains and exterior electric shutters.

Its resting area includes two armchairs, a side table, a television and a work desk. The Nespresso coffee machine is placed on the huge wooden credenza. Decorated with art objects, we find inside the mini-fridge / mini-bar a drawer of sweets and all the necessary to enjoy a good bottle of wine (wine glass, bucket, bottle opener). Complimentary bottled water is provided daily.

Bathroom

The marble bathroom has a deep soaking tub and a separate glass shower. Its huge mirror and vanity with double sink give brightness to this room. The St. Regis Istanbul uses « Acqua Di Parma » brand products for personal care… nothing less!

The cabinet section, also made of marble and divided by a door, has a large mirror. At the back of the bathroom is a small room with a small desk and mirror, an open closet, storage space, a safe and robes.

Hotel services

Spago, the restaurant of the renowned Wolfgang Puck is located on the 7th floor of the St. Regis Istanbul. It was the first international restaurant of the American chef. Its modern and subtle cuisine will please everyone, and the superb view of Maçka Park and the Bosphorus is worth the trip.

Usually, lunches are served at St. Regis Brasserie, but we had ours at Spago. It consisted of products offered directly at the table: Olives, jams, bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, nuts, cheeses, fruits, Börek and yogurt.

In addition to all this, we had a choice of hot dish. I chose the waffle and my friend the pancakes. Needless to say, it was exquisite! And what about the A1 service offered by the staff, it was up to the standard of this kind of restaurant. We didn’t eat our evening meals, but the menu looked as good as the lunch.

Located in the Lobby, the St. Regis Brasserie offers international cuisine: burger, fish, pasta and more. We tried the burgers which were very good and most importantly reasonably priced (around $16). This is also where you can have afternoon tea and offer cocktails in a relaxed atmosphere.

The Bar Spago serves a variety of cocktails, wines and beers, among others. Also located on the 7th floor, it is right next to the restaurant of the same name.

You can have a drink on their terrace or in their indoor section. Prices range from $10 (mocktails) to $20 (cocktails).

Our experience was not very good at this bar. We were already reprimanded for our clothing (clean Jeans – without holes – and a t-shirt), but on top of that, they put us in the corner of the terrace, although the place was practically empty. Unlike the hotel and restaurant staff, they were not very friendly! And honestly, the drinks weren’t worth the asking price.

Located on level -2 and open at all times, the training room is well equipped for cardio and hardcore workouts. Boxing enthusiasts are not left out with the addition of a punching bag.
The Iridium Spa is the place to be for those who prefer to relax. Located on the same level as the « Gym, » it has modern facilities and offers massages and personal health care. Three pools, steam rooms and a tea bar complete the Iridium Spa’s offerings.

One of the most popular services at St. Regis Istanbul is obviously the butler service. As our butler mentioned: there is no request too small or inaccessible no matter what time of day. Don’t worry, we didn’t test it at 3 am.

But what can we ask him?
He can take care of unpacking (and repacking) your luggage. He can bring you your morning coffee and local newspapers when you wake up. He can also take care of ironing your clothes (two free per person). We had impeccable service, but our requests were simple: a morning coffee.

My general impression of the hotel

The St. Regis Istanbul is an excellent hotel. Its exceptional service – given by some of the employees – and its location make it a must on your list if you ever plan a visit to Istanbul. Having a butler service is obviously a plus. The rooms are comfortable and the food service is quite unique. It is in my top three hotels in Istanbul so far.

Read on for our other reports from Turkey:

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