Bebek Hotel

The Stay Collection was already responsible for quite a few of Istanbul’s hippest hotels, and when the 1950s-vintage Bebek Hotel came up for sale, they didn’t hesitate. Here, in the upscale neighborhood of the same name, the Bebek Hotel is perched dramatically at the water’s edge, affording many of its rooms — and its restaurant, with its wide windows and outdoor terrace — a stunning view of the Bosphorus. And though its mid-century glamour is still proudly on display, its new proprietors did more than just restore it — architect Mahmut Anlar reimagined its interior spaces, filling them with contemporary design furniture and contemporary art.

The City Suites face the street, not the water, but they’re spacious, stylish, and packed with comforts. Corner Suites, on the top floor, face both the city and the water, while the Bosphorus Suites are what you came here for, facing directly across toward the Anatolian side of the city. Even more impressive views are available from the rooftop bar, and the two restaurants are local fixtures — the hotel’s lounge serves modern Turkish fare with a seafood focus, while Dragon is the city’s best-known purveyor of upscale Chinese cooking.