Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, Istanbul

The hotel is beautifully placed on the Bosphorus, and after sightseeing in Istanbul’s traffic, it was a delight to return to the calm. If you mainly want to enjoy the hotel’s hospitality, facilities and service and stay around the property, you’ll be happy here. Getting a taxi to the main attractions and back can be quite horrendous, though I suppose that’s to be expected in Istanbul. We spent six lovely nights at the Mandarin Oriental Istanbul. They remembered our wedding anniversary, one of those thoughtful touches that made the stay memorable. Breakfast on the terrace overlooking the Bosphorous was a daily pleasure, with a beautiful setting, good food and service. Dinner at the Novikov Restaurant was just as good. At check-in, MO charged my card for the full stay plus another 2000 euros for possible extras. I expected a pre-authorisation, with the final amount settled at checkout. My card was charged before we or our cases reached the room, and I was due a sizeable refund at the end. As I write this, two days later, the credit still hasn’t arrived.

Small dogs are allowed with a reservation, and the hotel provided a comfortable dog bed and water bowls for ours. The staff were warm and attentive, and we’re especially grateful for the care and love they showed our dog. It’s a very nice pet-friendly place, and the SPA is wonderful. The managers and team at the Olea Restaurant also deserve special thanks for their outstanding service. Everything was perfect. We had an amazing stay and would happily return. I’d highly recommend the hotel to anyone traveling with pets.

I only came in for a spa treatment, so I didn’t stay overnight. The hotel itself seemed a bit dated, though everyone working there was lovely. I hope the spa equipment and techniques are more consistent across locations, since some have been great and this one was just okay. I had a light meal at the cafe afterward, and Bahar was very sweet and welcoming.

At breakfast, Ergazi is friendly, professional, and attentive every morning. His positive attitude makes us feel welcome and really helps the day get off to a good start. Halide is also always polite and greets us kindly, making breakfast a comfortable start to the morning. We appreciate all your hard work, Ergazi!