The facts: The Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus opened its doors in August 2021 with 77 rooms and 23 suites, 95% of which feature a balcony or terrace. Rooms range from Superior to the enormous two-bedroom Royal Bosphorus Suite, which has, true to its name, hosted its share of royals (and Hollywood royalty, too). All are spacious and sumptuously furnished, with marble-clad bathrooms featuring double sinks, oversized showers and Diptyque amenities.

Signature restaurant Novikov is the hotel’s flagship, featuring a dual menu of Asian and Italian delights at lunch and dinner along with a wide-ranging buffet breakfast of Turkish and international dishes. Offshoot Novikov Lounge Bar and Pool Bar mean the top-quality cocktails and impeccable service continue both day and night, and the addition of Hakkasan this summer will add another string to its fine-dining bow.

That said, Italian restaurant Olea edged into the lead as my favourite spot. The combination of dishes – stuffed courgette flowers, rich ragu-topped fettuccini, earthy truffle pizza and creamy tiramisu among them – along with a convivial indoor-outdoor space with boats passing to and fro just metres away, makes it an ideal venue both day and night.

Top it off with an after-dinner drink at & The Bar, an outdoor bar in an eye-catching shade of bright emerald, for the ultimate evening by the water.

Ideal for: Urban explorers who like to combine elegant, design-led accommodation with a city break that’s packed with stunning sights and places to eat.

Explore: Venture out on foot for top-quality local dining in some of Istanbul’s trendiest neighbourhood spots. You’ll find great restaurants, bars and exclusive nightclubs in Ortaköy and the nearby districts of Kuruçeşme and Arnavutköy, as well as Bebek – dubbed by one in-the-know local as “the Beverley Hills of Istanbul”.

It’s a 15 to 30-minute drive to the shores of the Golden Horn – a horn-shaped inlet on the Bosphorus – and across the Galata Bridge to the old city, Sultanahmet, but the hotel has its own private dock for clients who want to skip the traffic and sail instead.

Wow: The thoughtful touches – a delicately decorated bookmark left on the bedside table or a microfibre cloth considerately placed alongside my sunglasses – elevate the service at the Mandarin Oriental to exceptional. Yet the real wow factor here comes from its enormous wellness facilities.

Fitness-focused clients will love the large and expertly equipped gym or the two outdoor pools, but head to the spa to indulge in a steam room, sauna and separate male and female hammams where attentive therapists offer the traditional Turkish bath experience in a glistening white marble enclave.

Its 11 treatment rooms surround a beautiful Zen wellness garden with olive trees and other flora, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Book it: A Mandarin Bosphorus View Room costs from €1,835 including breakfast, plus 8% VAT and 5% service charge per night, per room. mandarinoriental.com