Last Updated on September 10, 2026 by Home in the World
It was my fourth attempt at visiting Istanbul, following three failed trips in the past. For those plans, I had trawled through the internet trying to find a suitable hotel among the city’s vast offering.
On each occasion, I had booked different properties, but evidently none of them were meant to be. So, going for my fourth time lucky, I again went about my search, and stumbled upon The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi.
This wellness property, the first Westin in Istanbul, was built in 2023, and I had never come across it before. But after reading its rave reviews and finding a room within my budget, I was ready to lock in my stay… hoping that, this time, I would finally actually make it to Istanbul!
Fortunately, I did. Phew! Read on to find out how my stay at The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi ended up going.
First impressions & arrival
My first interaction with The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi actually came well before I had booked anything. At that point, I wasn’t even sure I was going to visit Istanbul; I was just speculatively looking around at potential travel-plan options, as you do!
A search of Istanbul hotels revealed the property to me. It was the first time I had come across it. I was particularly interested in the Family Suite, but wanted to check if it had a guest washlet, as it was not clear from the website photos.
I sent a quick email to the hotel, asking them to clarify this, and within a very short space of time, I was sent a full 360° video of the entire suite. Impressive service! (And yes, there is a guest washlet).
If you have read any of my hotel reviews before, you will know that, when a hotel responds swiftly and professionally to my email enquiries, it immediately gives me a good impression – because it is the first indication a guest has of that property’s attention to customer needs.
So when we eventually went firm with our plans to try and visit Istanbul again, there was no doubt in my mind I would be booking The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi. And the prompt email replies continued for all my subsequent questions and reconfirmations in the lead-up to my trip (including when I had to email them the day before arriving when our flight ended up having a 5-hour delay!).
Our rate also included an airport pick-up, and the hotel provided such clear, easy instructions on how to find the driver, including photos and videos of the route to take from the arrivals area to the pick-up area. Such attention to detail, and an awareness of how discombobulated guests often feel when first arriving in a new city. Their instructions made everything so easy and we were able to find our way to the driver without a hitch.
The contractor they used for the pick-up, I believe the company was called Prime, was excellent. The vehicle was spacious and luxurious, and our sweet driver gave us small bouquets of flowers and a bowl of Turkish delight to enjoy on the trip.
We were already feeling very welcomed by the time we eventually arrived at the hotel, but then we met their staff and the level went up even more!
Check-in was completed quickly and efficiently by the warm, friendly Ikram from guest relations, who immediately made us feel at home.
The lobby is intimate in size but very aesthetic, featuring modern, nature-inspired biophilic design by Hande Tözün Interior Design, who are responsible for all interiors throughout the property. Their design was indeed shortlisted for the Hotels Under 200 Rooms – Global Award category in The International Hotel and Property Awards 2023. There was always refreshing lemon water available on tap too – a nice touch in the summer heat.
Our bags, meanwhile, were brought to our room by 2 porters, Ferhat and Dervis, who were equally obliging and kindly showed us around our suite, explaining everything to us and showing us where everything was. They were so keen to make us comfortable and ensure we were satisfied, and it was really lovely to see. We definitely felt in good hands!
The room
As mentioned, I booked a Family Suite to give us a bit more space, and it was perfect. Sleek, modern and immaculate, the colour scheme was one of calming earthy brown & beige tones with pops of blue – pretty on-brand for a nature-inspired wellness hotel.
Having only opened its doors in early 2023, the entire property still felt new, and the room was no exception. Even the corridors had that ‘new house’ smell.
I was struck by how spacious and bright the Family Suite was. As you stepped through the door, a dining area with table for 4 sat to your left, naturally flowing into the living area, consisting of a comfy couch (which converted into a double sofa bed), nested coffee tables, an occasional chair, a console table, flat-screen TV and large cabinet containing a complimentary (!) minibar, fridge and coffee-making facilities. A small guest toilet with basin also ran off this living area (it would have been nice to have a tiny bit of vanity space in there though).
Completely separated from this living area via a solid wooden door was the main bedroom, comprising a plush king bed, flat-screen TV, open built-in cupboard space with drawers, a free-standing wardrobe with doors, and a small console table.
While there were universal plug sockets and USB charging ports either side of the bed, there were no bedside drawers. I am finding this is a growing trend at hotels these days and I must say I do find it a little inconvenient.
The entire suite was always filled with natural daylight thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows in both rooms. And indeed the bedroom even had a small balcony overlooking what appeared to be some kind of school ground with basketball courts, as well as some local back streets and the hotel’s own courtyard. It was lovely and peaceful.
The ensuite bathroom running off the main bedroom was once again large and modern, with ample vanity space, double basins, a bathtub, and separate cubicles for the toilet and shower (rainshower and hand-held) – a feature I particularly liked.
All in all, a very practical, comfortable, modern suite that was a perfect place to call home during our 5-night stay.
Dining
In terms of dining, we tried both room service and the breakfast buffet at the Corte Verde restaurant.
The room-service menu is somewhat limited, though there are staples such as pasta, pizza and burgers on there, as well as some Turkish and wellness options. I tried the rigatoni and some slider burgers, which were ok; not the best room service I have ever had, but not terrible either.
We did also try the room-service breakfast on the first morning but that really was borderline inedible. I ordered avocado and egg on toast, and both the toast and the avocado were rock hard. I don’t think the avocado was ripe at all. That room-service breakfast was probably the only let-down of our entire stay, which is really not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
Thereafter we went to the Corte Verde restaurant every morning and it was stunning. The breakfast buffet selection was incredible, with all kinds of cereals (including plant-based milk), breads, pastries (including gluten-free), hot food, eggs to order, salads, dips, condiments, fruit, honeycomb, and an ever-changing array of delectable Turkish desserts.
The staff here were once again excellent, always greeting us with a friendly smile. The restaurant has both an indoor and outdoor area, and we loved sitting amongst the quiet greenery of the outdoor courtyard, a.k.a. the Corte Verde Garden.
The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi also has a seasonal rooftop bar. While the property is only 7 floors high, you do still get a pretty decent panoramic view of the city’s rooftops and the Bosphorus. While snacks are available, we only had drinks. The beverage menu is quite small, with a limited selection of cocktails (no mocktails), beers and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The prices are pretty steep too, but it’s all about the experience and vibes, right?!
There is additionally a lobby café called Primo Café & Bar, which has both indoor seating and an outdoor terrace overlooking the busy Halaskargazi Street, but we did not try it.
Other facilities & services
The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi has a 24/7 gym, which, in keeping with its philosophy as a ‘wellness hotel’, includes yoga and sound therapy. I did not try this, however.
There are also 3 meeting rooms on the top floor; one is large, one is medium-sized and the other is a small private room. I saw these by chance when I was visiting the rooftop bar and commented to a staff member about how nice the hotel was. He then offered to show me the 3 meeting rooms. They all appeared very modern, well appointed and perfectly equipped.
It is worth mentioning that the hotel does not have a pool. This is not something that bothered me but if you like a hotel with a pool, be aware that you will not find one at this property.
Location
The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi is not one of those huge towering hotels with sweeping driveways and sprawling gardens. With only 7 floors, it is quite compact and had an almost boutique feel, which is precisely what made it so nice. It was just the right size.
It has an unobtrusive entrance right on bustling Halaskargazi Street in the heart of the upscale Nisantasi shopping district, complete with a few resident cats that will often be snoozing near the door (this is extremely common in Istanbul; there are cats literally everywhere)!
Right on your doorstep is the Osmanbey metro station, from which you can access all the main parts of the city. Ubers and taxis are also readily available, and it is an approximately 20-minute drive to Sultanahmet, where major attractions such as the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia are located.
Immediately adjacent to the hotel is the Lotus Walk shopping mall, which has a supermarket and a number of al fresco restaurants, among many other outlets.
We loved the location, as there was always a sense of vibrancy and life when you stepped out, with plenty of eclectic shops to explore. And the proximity to public transport cannot be beat.
How to book The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi
You can book your stay at The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi via its official website or using your preferred booking platform:
The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi on Expedia
The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi on Hotels.com
The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi on Booking.com
Getting to Istanbul
Istanbul is arguably one of the world’s major aviation hubs, with its strategic location right at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Its IST airport (the larger of the city’s 2 international airports, the other being SAW) routinely ranks among the world’s top 10, and rivals LHR as one of the busiest airports in Europe. Türkiye’s national carrier, Turkish Airlines, meanwhile, flies to the most destinations on earth, according to its slogan.
So Istanbul is certainly a very accessible city, with most major airlines flying there. I personally flew there direct from Singapore on Singapore Airlines.
To find options suitable for your trip and compare the best fares, I recommend using Skyscanner or Trip.com.
Want to buy your flight now and pay later? Then also consider checking out Laters.com, a booking platform that allows you to book flights with 650+ airlines and pay later with Klarna, Afterpay, Affirm, Zip, Atome and Grab PayLater, or pay with crypto or a digital wallet. You can also get 5% off flights by using the code: EMILYFLY.
Why choose The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi
We had an absolutely wonderful stay at The Westin Istanbul Nisantasi. If you’re looking for a spotless upscale property that offers comfort, modern amenities, a vibrant, well-connected location and incredibly hospitable staff, without an exorbitant price tag, you really cannot go past The Westin.
There must have been a reason for all those past Istanbul plans of mine to not work out – and I think the reason was that I was meant to stay here! I would 100% recommend it as an excellent base for exploring the wonders of Istanbul, and very much hope to stay there again in future.
| THE WESTIN ISTANBUL NISANTASI |
| Halaskargazi Mahallesi, Halaskargazi Caddesi No 38-66A Sisli, Istanbul, Türkiye, 34371 |
** This stay was not sponsored in any way; it is a genuine, non-biased review based on my own personal experience as a full-paying guest **
** This post, like everything else on this website, has been written entirely by me. No ChatGPT or any other AI tool has been used. It takes longer to create, but I value 100% human-generated content and I hope you do too! **
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Sounds like you made the ideal choice! Looking forward to the Türkiye content to follow
I think so! Stay tuned 🙂