Our journey home from our Asian adventure didn’t go exactly according to plan as Air France cancelled our flight. Fortunately we were able to make lemonade out of lemons as the airline put us up at the Hilton Mall of Istanbul and rebooked us via Emirates later in the day. While unexpected, we ended up having a very nice stay.
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Booking our Stay at the Hilton Mall of Istanbul
Since this was an unplanned visit, we didn’t go through the typical booking channels. The reservation was made on our behalf by Air France after our flight was cancelled and we were told to head over to the property.
Typically for a hotel stay I like to book directly with the property and had I booked this myself I would have gone through Hilton.com. Since Air France got the bill, I have no clue how much our stay cost but rooms here appear to go for $180-200 per night.
Hilton Mall of Istanbul Location
As the name indicates, the hotel is located at the Mall of Istanbul on the northwest side of the city at the intersection of the O-7 and E80 highways. The entrance is located on the backside of the mall and is well marked with a large Hilton sign on the facade.
The property can also be accessed from the Mall of Istanbul though you’ll need a room key to get in.
Hilton Mall of Istanbul Lobby and Check-In
We arrived at the hotel around 4:00a and were some of the first people from the cancelled flight to check-in as the lobby was empty aside from one other couple. Like the JW Marriott, our bags were sent through metal detectors upon arrival and we were then sent to the check-in desk.
The check-in agent was friendly and, though I wouldn’t be earning points on this stay, he added my HHonors number to the booking which as a Diamond member got us free breakfast, access to the executive lounge, and a room upgrade to a suite.
The lobby itself was quite large and had a variety of different furniture throughout. It was very rarely used during our stay and the only time I saw anyone sitting here was a flight crew as we were checking out.
Hilton Mall of Istanbul Guest Room
We were assigned to room 2101, a one bedroom corner suite on the 11th floor of the building. The hotel tower stands 25 stories tall but residences occupy the 13-25th floors.
Due to the curvature of the building the room had a unique shape and some odd angles throughout. For a quick stay, it was more than sufficient for our needs. Upon entering the room there is a short hallway that leads to the living room.
While the hotel only opened in 2020, the furniture felt a bit dated. In the living room there was a sofa against one wall and a chair by the window situated around a small coffee table. A flat-screen TV was mounted on the wall across from the couch.
To the left of the TV was a dining table with three chairs. It would be difficult for three people to eat a meal here but it was a great spot for me to get some work done.
The kitchen was located off to the left upon entering the room and was a good size. A full sized refrigerator and freezer along with a microwave, kettle, and electric cooktop were in the kitchen along with a full sized sink.
There was a ton of storage available in the cabinets above and below the countertop as there were only a few plates, pots, and pans available. Tea and coffee were also located in the cabinets.
To the right of the living room is the bedroom which was on the small side. The odd shape of the room made the entry feel tight between the bed and the dresser.
Nightstands flanked both sides of the bed and power outlets, room controls, and lamps were mounted to the bedframe against the wall.
A chair and side table were on the far side of the room against the window but we didn’t use this during our short visit.
The in-room television was mounted on the wall above the dresser which had plenty of space for clothes if you were staying long enough to unpack.
Like the bedroom, the bathroom was also an odd shape and felt cramped based on the layout.
The sink was a good size but the surrounding vanity was small, to the point that a tray holding the toiletries was hanging over the edge.
The shower offered an option between a rainfall showerhead and and a handheld showerhead. Toiletries from Crabtree & Evelyn were in reusable bottles mounted to the wall.
Towels, extra toilet paper, slippers, and a hairdryer were located in a drawer underneath the sink.
One of the unique features of this room was the balcony that overlooked the area surrounding the hotel. It was a decent size but, since our room was facing away from the city, the only thing we had a view of was warehouses and various businesses.
For a quick daytime stay this room was perfect. Having the ability to put ATX Jr. to sleep on his schedule while still having the ability to work, move around, or watch TV in the other room was great. The room itself had some unique design elements based on its position in the building and I feel like it would have felt increasingly cramped had we spent more time here.
Hilton Mall of Istanbul Food and Beverage
There are two food and beverage establishments located on property and guests also have access to the food court in the mall which is located close to the hotel entrance. The Lobby Bar is open between 8:00a and midnight daily and has a small section of bar seating as well as a range of couches and lounge chairs.
During the day, pastries, sweets, and other items can be purchased from the counter and the bar has a large selection of liquor, wine, and some local beers.
Kuzine is the hotel’s full service restaurant and is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
We ended up eating breakfast here during our stay which was presented buffet style, though a waiter came to check in from time to time and took our drink orders. The buffet was huge and featured traditional breakfast items along with local Turkish cuisine.
In addition to the large buffet, there is a made to order station at the rear of the restaurant with a variety of different items available.
Hilton Mall of Istanbul Executive Lounge
In addition to the two food and beverage outlets, the hotel has an executive lounge available to elite members and those with qualifying room stays. The Executive Lounge is located on the first floor between the Lobby Bar and Kuzine Restaurant. While it is supposed to be an exclusive area, the door was propped open throughout our visit which would allow anyone to walk in.
The lounge is split into two sections. The first is a lounge space with a mix of seating and a large flat-screen TV.
The other half of the lounge is dining space with eight tables with seating for 2-4 people each.
A buffet is located at the rear of the lounge but, since I visited in-between meals, nothing was set up. Instead, there was a selection of sweets and fruit available on the console table nearby. A self-serve cooler with sodas and water was also available for guests.
Hilton Mall of Istanbul Spa and Fitness Center
Down in the basement you’ll find the spa, fitness center, and indoor pool at the property. The hotel is built into a hillside so there is still plenty of light down here in the pool and fitness center. The pool itself is good sized and wasn’t getting much traffic during our stay.
The fitness center had a variety of equipment and there was plenty of space to spread out. Cardio machines were located along the window and free weights and machines were located in the middle.
The spa offered a variety of services, including algae peeling (?) which was being advertised near the entrance. We didn’t get anything but they also have a hair salon on site should you need a fresh cut.
Summary
The circumstances around our stay aside, this was an interesting hotel stay. This property appears to be frequented by travelers heading to or from the new Istanbul Airport as well as locals going on shopping trips to the attached Mall of Istanbul. This isn’t a place than many tourists visiting the city will choose to stay given its location on the outskirts of the city.
I appreciated our upgrade to a suite, though the layout was somewhat quirky, and the staff was friendly and attentive in our limited interactions. I wouldn’t stay at this property again, specifically due to the location. It appears to be popular with flight crews as it is one of the closest full service airports to Istanbul Airport, though it is still a 25 minute drive away.
