With a sparkling outdoor swimming pool perched over the Bosphorus strait, generously sized suites and a setting encompassing several protected historical buildings, The Peninsula in Istanbul was one of the city's most hotly anticipated openings when it threw open its lobby doors in 2022.
Now the hotel — from Hong Kong-based Peninsula Hotels — has been awarded the prestigious 'One to Watch' ranking by a panel of global hospitality experts from The World's 50 Best, which releases an annual list of the most luxurious places to stay across the globe.
Judges praised the five-star property in the Turkish capital's trendy Karaköy district for having "a foot in the past and an eye on the future", with a high-tech gym, a mosaic-tiled indoor pool and some of the city's largest suites tucked into its historical exterior.
Three of its four buildings are from the early 20th century, including a former cruise ship terminal, with designers painstakingly restoring the original fountains, tiles, crown mouldings and ornaments.
With rates starting at EUR1,050 (SAR4,350) per night, rooms offer sweeping Bosphorus views from large windows, balconies and private terraces, with some featuring direct access to the property’s manicured gardens, swimming pool and private boat dock.
Bespoke furnishings, marble bathrooms and a 10pm check-out time
The hotel's interiors are decorated with bespoke furnishings, original art and modern Turkish design elements including kilim-style carpets and sumptuous bathrooms clad in Marmara marble.
The top-category Peninsula Suite comes with its own hammam, gym and rooftop swimming pool — with all guests able to check in from 6am and check out up to 10pm to maximise their time at the hotel.
Emma Sleight of The World's 50 Best Hotels said that The Peninsula's properties — including ultra-luxe hideaways in London, Hong Kong and Shanghai — "set the gold standard for the future of hotels" by building on a legacy dating back decades.
She added: "Hotels of this stature and consideration don't open often and The Peninsula Istanbul's launch created real excitement across the industry. The historic buildings have been adapted sensitively and seamlessly, without compromising their heritage."
World's 50 Best Hotels to be announced later this month
The award comes just weeks before the announcement of this year's World's 50 Best Hotels list in a glittering ceremony in London.
Last year's inaugural ranking included 21 hotels in Europe, with the exquisite 18th-century private villa Passalacqua on the shores of Italy's Lake Como taking the top spot.
From the Middle East, La Mamounia and Royal Mansour in Morocco came in sixth and 23rd place respectively, while the relatively new opening of Atlantis The Royal in Dubai ranked 44th.
Hotels in Asia to feature included the towering Rosewood Hong Kong at number 2, Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River at number three and The Upper House in Hong Kong coming in fourth place overall.
From EUR1,050 (SAR4,350) per night
@thepeninsulaistanbulhotel
Kemenkeş Caddesi No34, Istanbul, Turkey 34425
