Istanbul's Reinvention

One of the world’s oldest and best-known tourist destinations is suddenly packed with 21st-century allure. L’Officiel Arabia had the opportunity to visit Istanbul and stay at the luxurious Shangri-La Bosphorous.

Cornerstones are changing in a city whose “New Mosque” is 357 years old. In Taksim Square, the grand plaza that has long been the heart of the modern city, the Atatürk Culture Center, which includes an opera house and art galleries, opened in October, the same month that an international contemporary art fair debuted at Tersane, a new venue that has revived the historic Haliç Shipyard in the Golden Horn district. And the megaproject Galataport, an underground cruise ship terminal, which also launched in October, now anchors a part of the city that had been derelict and inaccessible since the late 19th century. Indeed there is now a truly new mosque, Grand Çamlıca, completed in 2019 as one of the largest in Turkey.

Even centuries-old tourist draws have new life. The Blue Mosque is wrapping up a major renovation. As of last July, visitors can take rooftop tours of the Grand Bazaar. The 5th-century Theodosius Cistern now hosts an hourly state-of-the-art light show. There’s an elegant new restaurant atop the 18th-century Cağaloğlu Hamam, while previously off-limits parts of the Ottoman sultan’s sweeping spread, Topkapi Palace, have been restored and opened to the public. “Old, dusty things have a new shine or sheen to them,” said Esin Kara, who has been running her citywide tours for 22 years. “It gives the tours and the experience a new energy.”

SHANGRI-LA BOSPHORUS, ISTANBUL – AN ENCHANTING RETREAT ON THE BOSPHORUS STRAIT

Located on the Europe side of the glistening Bosphorus Strait, Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul is an enchanting retreat in the financial and entertainment district of Besiktas of the Capital of Empires. The hotel yields breath-taking views of the deep blue Bosphorus Strait as guestrooms and restaurants look out to the Asian side of the storied waterway.

The hotel is a modern oasis, taking design cues from the glamorous Dolmabahçe Palace with swathes of marble, glittering chandeliers and a mix of European, Asian and Turkish design. A grand staircase wends down the hotel’s three-story atrium, transporting guests from the lobby to the elegant ballrooms and other venues below. Dazzling to behold, the dome-shaped atrium is lit by a natural skylight and massive Bohemian chandelier that rains crystals nearly two storeys. Also decorating the atrium is The Garden of Peach Blossoms, a stunning 18-metres-tall silk painting, which was commissioned for the hotel. The hotel showcases more than 1,000 pieces of European and Asian art. One masterpiece, located behind the reception desk, is an exquisite southern China lacquer craft carving depicting a Bosphorus water scene.

After check-in, we had some time to relax before hitting Le Bar, where the bartender was at his innovative best churning out one cocktail after another. We had dinner at IST TOO which was the breakfast restaurant but served everything from authentic Turkish cuisine to Sushi boats. We had a few meals here but it never felt like we were coming to the same restaurant. The Iconic Shang Palace – which also has branches in Abu Dhabi and Dubai serves authentic Cantonese cuisine and Chinese food, lived up to its reputation globally.

The next day was a trip planned to Istiniye Park, which is the luxury mall in Istanbul to experience the luxury stores Istanbul had to offer. After the currency crisis few years back, Istanbul was the go to destination for luxury shoppers. A Turkish lunch at Nusr-Et restaurant which was in the news lately in Abu Dhabi for a team of F1 drivers racking up a bill of more the $ 150,000!