Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul

What a pity. Great location , very willing staff but lack of training and common sense. Chef at restaurant not good enough for a Shangrila. They try to help and fix but are always late and disorganised.

This is my first visit to the lovely Istanbul and definitely a stay at Shangri-la Istanbul is a no-brainer for a Jade Member. The hotel is well located with close proximity to the Piers, dining and shopping areas. Not to mention, a short walking distance to the must-visit Dolmabahce Palace. I enjoyed this stay very much and most of the staff were very friendly. I also received a lot of kind attention from the Front Office, Duty Manager and Dina the Guest Experience Manager who were very helpful and eager to ensure that I had a comfortable and enjoyable stay, thanks! The only "disappointment" was that there was no walk-in shower in my room which is rare for my stays at many other Shangri-la properties. I nearly slipped one night while stepping out from the bathtub and the Duty Manager had arranged for anti-slip mat to be placed in the bathroom. Anyway, thanks for making my stay an enjoyable and comfortable one.

Overall, our stay at Shangri-La (21–25 May 2026) was mixed. The hotel itself is beautiful, visually impressive, and certainly delivers a luxury atmosphere. However, the biggest issue throughout our stay was the language barrier with staff, which repeatedly impacted the experience. At almost every interaction, I felt I had to explain myself multiple times to ensure I was understood. Even the reception team, who appeared to have the strongest English, sometimes struggled with requests. The most disappointing issue involved the tea lounge near reception. We asked whether the desserts and cakes displayed were complimentary and were told they were. We later realised there had likely been a misunderstanding. Over two days we took only two slices of cake, yet at checkout we discovered we had been charged for two full afternoon tea experiences, costing around 7,000 Lira. More frustratingly, at no point did any staff member advise us we were incurring these charges. We also experienced service issues elsewhere. Room service took over 30 minutes to bring tea bags and communication was difficult. At Ist Too restaurant, lunch service was very slow, with food arriving before drinks and staff needing reminders. I fully understand that English may not be every employee’s first language and I do not expect perfection. However, at a hotel of Shangri-La’s standard, stronger communication and more consistent service should be expected, especially when misunderstandings can lead to unexpected charges. The hotel itself is stunning, but repeated communication problems and service inconsistencies unfortunately made what should have been a relaxing luxury experience feel more frustrating than seamless.

Perfect location, beautiful property, could not be cleaner. Every staff member went out of their way to assist. Coskun at the front desk was a pleasure to deal with.

So if this was a solid experience, why I gave 4 out of 5 points ? Simply Shangri-La chain is one of my favorite hotels and I personally experienced slightly higher level of being pampered in other Shangri-La hotels beyond Turkey. Apart from this, nothing to complain. One of strongest assets of this hotel are its employees. All of them are super friendly, professional and trying to help you in any subject you report. From a lady with a beautiful smile who opens and entry doors, to front office manager, from waiter at The Terrace restaurant to bartender at Le Bar. I have to mentioned exceptional breakfast buffet !