New luxury hotel from Turkish fashion house in upmarket Nişantaşı
For a first-class stay in Istanbul, look no further than Vakko Hotel & Residence – a chic hotel located in Nişantaşı, Istanbul’s Little Paris. Vakko is Turkey’s premier luxury fashion house, founded in 1934 as a hat shop, which then branched out into scarves, and is now famous for its ready-to-wear collections, bridal boutique and haute couture. Think Turkey’s own Hermès.
The Hotel and Residence sits above Vakko’s flagship store on Abdi Ipekci – the main shopping street in Nişantaşı, which is like the Rodeo Drive of Istanbul – and offers 31 beautiful self-catering suites with all the mod-cons.
The rooms
My Premier Suite had a kitchen with hob, oven, dishwasher and wine cooler, plus living room area, huge bedroom and a separate dressing room and bathroom. There were no pans or cutlery in my kitchen, so I didn’t cook, but I’m sure you can request them, should you wish to. Instead, I had a beautiful porcelain teapot and teacups, a selection of Vakko teas, and a plate of complimentary macarons.
Guests are also assigned a butler, and mine, Ibrahim, was truly professional and polite. There’s also a ‘Chef Chez Vous’ service, where a private chef will come and cook your meals in the comfort of your own suite.
Bathrooms have a monochrome, retro aesthetic, with pictures of Hollywood stars in their heyday. Black-and-white towels and bathrobes are embroidered with the Vakko insignia. The dressmaking mannequins in my bedroom were a lovely touch, and a nod to the brand’s raison d’être. In my wardrobe was my own personal TechnoGym workout kit, should I wish to exercise in private.
Spa and wellness
In the basement is the Vakkorama gym and Sanitas spa, with sauna and eucalyptus-scented steam room. No less than 98 treatments await the weary traveller. I enjoyed a beautiful Signature Sanitas Massage (60 min. €170), which was performed with aromatherapy oils and eased my aching muscles (Istanbul is surprisingly hilly!).
Dining
On the ground floor is the Vakko L’Atelier – a stylish bistro whose à la carte menu marries modern French cuisine with global flavours. Think French onion soup, poulet au citron and crêpes Suzette. It’s like a little dose of Paris in Istanbul. I particularly enjoyed the scrambled eggs at breakfast, which were cooked to perfection. Service was polite, swift and attentive.
Outside the front of the hotel is an ice-cream stall, with jaunty stripes and staff in straw hats. Vakko has numerous cafes and patisseries around the city, and they make for great places to meet friends for coffee.
The brand is also set to launch a new hotel, hopefully this autumn, on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. One thing’s for sure, Istanbul is definitely having a moment right now. Watch this space ●
Address: Harbiye, Abdi İpekçi Cd. NO:43, 34367 Şişli/İstanbul, Turkey. BOOK HERE.
Phone: +90 212 953 90 90
Website: vakkohotel.com
Fly to Istanbul with any of the major airlines that offer direct routes from the UK. I flew with Turkish Airlines. Kiwi is my go-to platform for searching the best deals.