Dani's Logbook: Destination Istanbul and Beyond: Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts opens 2nd hotel in Istanbul: Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul Golden Horn

Dear readers,

I don't know how many of my readers are aware of this, but Istanbul is a major metropolis city with a population of at least 13-14 million (the number might be higher as I can't remember the last time a census was done).

The city is growing so quickly with new neighborhoods, mega housing projects & office buildings metro lines... not counting the number of new shopping malls, restaurants, hotels etc. that are sprouting around the city that it's hard to keep up with the developments.

Case in point... until just several weeks ago, I wasn't even aware that the Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts had opened their second hotel in Istanbul (fourth in Turkey - the other 2 are in Ankara & Izmir) in March of this year!

Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul Golden Horn

Several weeks ago I received an email from Buket Oğuz, Director of Marketing & PR at the Mövenpick Istanbul Hotel inviting me to a special tasting menu prepared by Robert Speth, owner and Michelin Star chef of Chesery Restaurant in Gstaad Switzerland and Wolfgang Weissert, a former chef at numerous hotels in Switzerland and Singapore and since 1997 a smoked salmon producer in Saanenland, Switzerland.

First, I would like to say that I was totally overwhelmed with Chef Speth's cooking style and techniques but won't share the details of the meal itself, because it was a "one-time" tasting dinner and won't be repeated again. Kudos to the Mövenpick team for organizing such a gastronomic treat and if you find yourself in Gstaad, make sure to visit Chesery! I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

with Chef Robert Speth

As a result, this is how I found out that the Mövenpick chain had opened a hotel on the Golden Horn in Eyüp! I was impressed with the property and thought it worthy of sharing with my readers.

To be quite honest, the "Golden Horn" or "Haliç Bay" is not an area I visit often and the last time I was in the area was to visit the Rahmi M. Koç museum with my nephew a few years ago!

It is a historical part of the city and it has developed in leaps and bounds in the last few years. The Haliç Congress Center is home to major concerts, meetings etc. I already mentioned the museum... their is an amusement park, university and so much more. For complete details I suggest you google Golden Horn to read more about the areas rich history and other historical sites.

Offering all the comforts of a contemporary hotel with Swiss hospitality, the Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul Golden Horn is only 10 minutes away from the historical sites in the "Old City", 16 km from Atatürk International Airport and is convenient to the business and shopping areas in the city.

To quote Ola Ivarsson, Chief Operating Office of the Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts in Europe, "This location is not only rich with history, but also perfectly located for the needs of contemporary travelers, whether they are travelling for business or leisure".

Golden Horn view from the Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul Golden Horn

The hotel has 136 contemporary designed rooms (and 7 suites) ranging in sizes from 26 square meters to 32 square meters and all offer a panoramic view of the Golden Horn and of course all the conveniences and amenities of an upscale hotel property.

I didn't get a chance to see the rooms, but I was impressed with the decor of the lobby and bar and lounge area on the main floor.

Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul Golden Horn lobby

Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul Golden Horn Lobby Lounge & Bar

Based on the info I received from the hotel to prepare this post, the hotel's decor is a mix of naval motifs (i.e. compass designs & interlinking chains), wave wood paneling, soft application of watery blues and generous use of white marble, black and white harbor photographs and lavish historical maps reminiscent of Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman styles.

Our tasting dinner menu was held at Pruva Swiss Grill which offers an indoor dining area for 146 and a terrace for 90 guests.

Pruva Swiss Grill (supplied by the Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul Golden Horn)

With an open kitchen...

Open kitchen at Pruva Swiss Grill

Where the chefs prepare specialties from Mediterranean, Turkish and Swiss cuisines.

Also, the Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul Golden Horn has 6 meeting rooms (23 to 120 square meters) and a 380 square meter ballroom for up to 440 guests.

Finally, to wind down after a day of shopping, sightseeing or attending meetings you can visit the hotel's state of the art Wellness and Fitness Center.

To wrap up...

“Sustainability and innovation is at the core of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts and also at the heart of every thing that we do, so this was a natural partnership,” says Volkan Ongel, Managing Partner of Akgel Real Estate Investment (the hotel's Turkish partner). “Our innovative design and use of natural elements such as wood and stone not only creates an unforgettable sense of architectural harmony for guests but also complements perfectly the hotel’s unique historical setting.”

I totally agree! So, if you plan on visiting Istanbul and want to stay in contemporary settings in the historical part of the city, then I think you should consider staying at the Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul Golden Horn.

Stay well,

Dani