Haute hotel face-off: Istanbul’s two newest properties

SOHO HOUSE

The lure

The exclusive members-only club, founded in London, is on an expansion streak — and Turkey’s outpost is lucky number 13 worldwide. VIPs including Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne and “50 Shades of Grey” star Jamie Dornan attended the opening bash this spring.

A restored 19th-century palazzo with soaring rooms and painted frescoes serves as the place to relax and party, while 87 rooms and suites are located in an adjacent annex and a newly constructed glass building.

The look

Soho House founder Nick Jones’ fascination with emblems and relics of the British Empire — especially gentlemen’s clubs — is visible everywhere. Chesterfield sofas and leather club chairs set against modernist decor result in an uber-chic pub vibe.

The location

Soho House is located in the Beyoglu district, a European-influenced area north of the Golden Horn that is home to embassies, galleries, shops, restaurants, cafes and vibrant nightlife.

The rooms

Homey wood, colorful tile, and patterned rugs are in abundance, as are artsy touches such as record players, a selection of fine teas, and sweet-smelling Cowshed toiletries. Bathrooms feature rain showers and, in bigger rooms, soaking tubs.

The luxuries

No trip to the former Ottoman Empire is complete without experiencing a hamam, baths and sauna that used to be where Muslim Turks went to cleanse before attending mosque. At Soho House, luxuriate on gorgeous slabs of marble while being scrubbed with a traditional kese, or a rough mitt. Attendants ply guests with bubbles from a pillowcase and pour hot water from copper bowls.

The delicacies

At rooftop eatery Mandolin Terrace, enjoy delightful Greek and Turkish mezes while sipping a Raki Fizz cocktail, mixed with Beylerbeyi raki (an ouzo-like liquor), lime, sugar and champagne. Be sure to come at sunset to watch the minarets of the Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque glow with mystery and romance.

The letdown

Mandolin Terrace serves a traditional lamb doner kebab, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the way the locals prepare this Turkish delight in the Grand Bazaar.

The roof

Atop the Soho House sits a poolside cocktail lounge and the Embassy nightclub, made up of a warren of intimate wood-paneled rooms complete with bar and DJ.

Contact

Rooms from $240; sohohouseistanbul.com

THE ST. REGIS

The lure

The hotel, which opened its doors in March, is a glamorous, Art Deco-inspired gem designed by renowned Turkish architect Emre Arolat. It exhibits edgy contemporary art from Turkey and beyond from the Demsa family’s private collection, which includes a large Botero in the lobby. The facade has a complex window-shutter system that reacts to the elements; the changing light transforms the interior as the day progresses.

The look

The decor combines relics of the past with the sleek lines of the future. Mocha leather wall coverings, walnut paneling and burnt bronze niches make up a palette of earth tones. A chandelier entitled Supernova dominates the lobby, as does a magnificent wooden cabinet with beveled glass that houses curated objets d’art.

The location

Northeast of Soho House, St. Regis is located in the Nisantasi neighborhood — one of Istanbul’s most exclusive, with ample outposts for luxury shopping and dining. One-time guest John Malkovich agrees.

The rooms

The St. Regis Istanbul has 118 rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking either the Bosphorus river and Maçka Park or the buildings that line chic Abdi İpekçi Street. Guests stay amid opulence, with local Mamara marble used abundantly in the bathrooms, contemporary furniture, and more fine piece on loan from the Demsa.

The luxuries

Lovers of the finest automobiles can reserve the Bentley Suite, created in partnership with the luxury carmaker. Crafted in bespoke Bentley leather, a built-in sofa equipped with hidden champagne coolers anchors the space, echoing the strong curves and lines of the Continental GT model. There’s a rug with a wool-and-silk abstract depiction of the car’s matrix grille, a custom-made humidor for cigars, and his-and-hers jewelry boxes.

The delicacies

Drop by the Petit “O” Bar off the lobby and order the signature Bloody Mary. (Each St. Regis has one.) The Misty Mary contains red turnip juice, fresh thyme, Turkish raki, and a garnish of red basil, and it’s served in a container of dry ice — hence the mist. While sipping in a light fog, check out the whimsical mural above the bar, dubbed “Bosphorus Breeze.” It’s modern, place-specific homage to the St. Regis New York’s iconic counterpart in its King Cole bar.

The letdown

Enjoy swimming in a full-sized pool? You’ll have to settle for doing laps against a water jet in a 170-square-foot relaxation pool.

The roof

You’ll find the first international outpost of Wolfgang Puck’s Spago restaurant — originally just in Beverly Hills, Maui, and Las Vegas.

Contact

Rooms from $456; stregis.com/istanbul