The Grand BOSPHORUS – Istanbul, Turkey

Sitting on the city’s European shore while overlooking Asia, Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul offers the best of both worlds.

Loaded with elegant Asian design details, you would never guess that the Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul is housed within what once was a tobacco warehouse in the Thirties. Today, the 186 guest rooms and suites are some of the most spacious and sophisticated in the city. Marble bathrooms with heated floors, Bulgari toiletries and views over the hotel courtyard, the Besiktas neighbourhood or the Bosphorus Strait are just some of the rooms’ premium features.

It’s well worth dining at the hotel’s four restaurants and bars. 1ST TOO offers all-day dining with cuisine from around the world and a 12-metre-long charcoal grill. Savour deep-fried shrimp rolls or roasted whole Peking duck at Shang Palace, the only authentic Chinese-Cantonese restaurant in Turkey. And keep an eye out for the Kung Fu tea master’s show, an acrobatic display of a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. Stop off for a nightcap at the Lobby Lounge, or head to LeBar for classic cocktails and an exquisite selection of bubbly.

Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul was also the first to bring CHI, The Spa to Europe, with Asian-inspired healing philosophies to restore balance and harmony. Eight private spa suites come with hammam facilities and organic products for pure pampering; at the fully equipped health club guests can work off indulgent meals. Known for its world-class service, the hotel is also ideally located for accessing Istanbul’s top entertainment, cultural and business hubs.