Also worth noting: the hotel’s excellent rooftop restaurant, Gallada, which blends East Asian influences with local Turkish delicacies in a menu inspired by the cultural interchange of the historic Silk Road, and is overseen by two Michelin-starred chef Fatih Tutak, whose restaurant Turk Fatih Tutak is one of the city’s buzziest dining destinations. The spa, too, is a thing of wonder, with a centerpiece of a gargantuan 82-foot indoor pool, eight marble-lined treatment rooms, traditional hammams, saunas, and every kind of wellness gizmo you could possibly imagine.
Courtesy of The Peninsula Istanbul
As for why it was The Peninsula Istanbul specifically that made the cut, in the words of World’s 50 Best? “From the sensitively restored historic buildings of its setting to the sumptuous interiors by acclaimed Turkish designer Zeynep Fadillioglu and warm, dedicated approach to authentic Turkish hospitality, The Peninsula Istanbul is a worthy winner,” Sleight adds. “This new opening revived a collection of forgotten port buildings, breathing new life into a historic area that is fast becoming one of the most exciting neighborhoods in Istanbul, establishing The Peninsula Istanbul as an icon in the making.” We don’t disagree.
