Review: JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus

For the last stop on our trip across Asia we spent four nights at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus. The hotel is located inside an old soap factory on the European side of the city in the eclectic Karaköy neighborhood. It provides great views of the Bosphorus from the upper floors.

Booking the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus

There are a variety of different neighborhoods on both sides of the Bosphorus to explore in Istanbul but, given it was our first visit to the city and we had a 10 month old in tow, we wanted to stay close to most of the major tourist attractions.

When I booked this trip, Marriott was running a double elite night promotion so I definitely wanted to stay at a property that participated in Marriott Bonvoy this trip. I searched on Marriott.com and found a few different hotels that looked like good options before landing on the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus.

I booked directly with the hotel via the website and ultimately paid 922.88 EUR for our four night stay in a Deluxe King Atrium View Room. I booked our initial stay months in advance but, as prices continued dropping I rebooked the trip two weeks before our arrival. Ultimately, the room cost roughly $250 per night as the Euro was in a slump when we visited.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Location

As I mentioned above, the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus is located in the Karaköy neighborhood where the Golden Horn and Bosphorus meet. The property is located one block from the water and is separated from the Bosphorus by The Peninsula Hotel and Galataport.

We arrived at the property after the worst Blacklane ride I’ve ever had and we were dropped off curbside after the trip in from Istanbul Airport, which is located roughly 25 miles to the northwest.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus

The property was clearly marked and we were greeted by hotel staff as soon as we pulled up to the curb.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Lobby and Check-In

Before entering the lobby we first had to go through a metal detector and send all of our luggage through an X-Ray machine. Initially this was a bit alarming, especially due to the ongoing unrest during our visit, but the staff were all friendly and we walked in and out with ease for the remainder of our stay.

The best part about security was the fact that Ada, the hotel’s adopted street dog, was usually there to greet us throughout our stay.

a dog lying in a dog house
The JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus unofficial mascot.

Once we made it through security, we found ourselves in a gorgeous, but narrow, atrium. A concierge desk was set up on the righthand side.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Concierge Desk
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Concierge Desk

The lobby was essentially one long hallway with rooms coming off of both sides. Most of these were associated with the various food and beverage establishments but some had seating and lounge space.

a room with a table and chairs
Tea Lounge at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus
a room with a brick wall and chairs
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Lobby
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Lobby
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Lobby

In the center of the hallway was a large piano, though it appeared to be more decorative that practical as I never saw anyone using it for the duration of our stay.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Lobby
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Lobby

The check-in area is located off to the right after entering and is on the smaller side. A couple with way too much luggage (this is coming from a guy traveling with a 10 month old) was checking in in front of us and it took a few minutes before we were helped.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Check-In
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Check-In Desk

Once we made it to the front we were quickly checked in and assigned our room. While we waited, we were offered towels and a non-alcoholic welcome drink.

I knew from FlyerTalk not to expect any upgrades at this property and we were assigned exactly what we booked, a king bed, atrium view room. With check-in complete we were led up to our room by a bellman who had our luggage in tow.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Guest Room

We were assigned to a room on the fifth floor that overlooked the atrium. Based on the layout of the building and the buildings on both sides of the hotel, most rooms at this property are atrium view rooms. Our room was on the far side which meant we needed to cross over using the bridge (which had floor to ceiling glass) which provided a nice view of the lobby.

a building with many windows
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus

Upon entering the room the bathroom was off to the right with the bedroom directly ahead. Of all of the hotels on this trip, our room here was definitely the smallest but there was still plenty of room to accommodate ATX Jr.’s crib.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room

The king sized bed was located on the right side and was flanked by two nightstands.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Bed
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Bed

One nightstand held tissues and an alarm clock while the other had the in-room phone, notepad, and pencil. Lamps were located on both nightstands and power plugs and room controls were located on panels mounted in the wall.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Nightstand
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Nightstand
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Nightstand
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Nightstand
a close up of a wall outlet
Power outlets and room controls are mounted in the wall above the nightstands.

Across from the bed, a large flat-screen TV is mounted on the wall above the desk. Instead of a chair, the desk had a stool so it likely wouldn’t be comfortable to work from here for long periods of time.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Television
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Television

When we arrived, some snacks and a welcome note from the property were waiting on the desk which was a nice touch.

a cake on a table

To the right of the TV is a chair and side table which also has a lamp above it. Windows look out into the atrium but, with other guest rooms so close, we kept these closed most of the time.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Table and Chair
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Table and Chair
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room View
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room View

To the left of the desk was a luggage rack that was sturdy enough to hold Mrs. ATX’s giant suitcase.

a wooden rack with straps
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Luggage Rack

Next to the luggage rack was a cabinet which held the coffeemaker, mini-bar, and refrigerator. The coffeemaker was from Nespresso and made the smaller, espresso style, pods. Two bottles of water, mugs, a kettle, and an ide bucket were all kept here and replenished throughout our trip. Coffee, tea, cream, and sugar were in a drawer underneath.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Coffee Maker
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Coffee Maker
a coffee machine with a tray of coffee cups and tea bags
Coffee, tea, cream, and sugar were located underneath.

The mini-bar didn’t have a massive selection and with plenty of shops and markets located around the hotel, we never took anything from it.

a glass table with food and wine bottles
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Mini-Bar
a refrigerator full of drinks
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Mini-Bar

A large selection of glassware was also available for guests and we used the wine glasses during our visit.

a wooden box with glasses in it
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Glassware

Finally, back by the front door, was the in-room closet. It held an iron, ironing board, bathrobe, extra linens, and a variety of hangars.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Closet
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Closet

The bathroom was located to the right as you entered the guest room. It had a single vanity and a walk in shower which was a bit of a disappointment with ATX Jr.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Bathroom
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Bathroom
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Sink
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Sink

Toiletries were Aromatherapy Associates branded and came in refillable bottles next to the sink and in the shower.

a group of bottles of liquid and soap on a counter
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Toiletries
a group of soap bottles on a shelf
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Toiletries

The toilet was located in a separate room inside of the bathroom which is always a nice touch. To this day, I still don’t understand why hotels install phones in the bathroom next to the toilet.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Toilet
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Deluxe King Atrium View Guest Room Toilet

The room was a nice space and fit our needs perfectly. We spent most of our time out exploring the city so the size wasn’t an issue. The only thing I didn’t like was the desk setup but, we were on vacation so I wasn’t working much.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Food and Beverage

There are a whopping eight food and beverage outlets on property, seven of which were open during our visit. Sky Karaköy is the property’s rooftop deck and is only open during the summer months. Unfortunately it hadn’t opened for the season when we visited so I didn’t get a chance to check it out. The photos look amazing though.

Sky Karaköy rooftop deck at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus.
Sky Karaköy rooftop deck at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus. (Image: Marriott)

Of the seven open food and beverage establishments, we visited six of them and ate/drank at three. The only one we didn’t experience is İOKİ Nau Karaköy which serves Far Eastern food, specifically Nikkei cuisine.

Along with İOKİ Nau Karaköy, four other outlets are located on the ground floor. The Tea Lounge and Wine Cellar are both located on the ground floor. Tea Lounge is essentially part of the lobby and has a variety of seating options. Wine Cellar is available to host private dinners at the property.

Wine Cellar JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus
Wine Cellar JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus
Wine Cellar JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus
Wine Cellar JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus

At the rear of the property, along the back street, you’ll find Skull & Bones, the hotel’s cocktail bar, as well as Istanbul Baking Company which serves coffee and pastries all day. After ATX Jr. went to bed, I worked from one of the two depending on the time of day. The bar is open between 3:00p-1:00a and the coffee shop is open between 8:00a-10:00p.

a bar with stools and a colorful skull
Skull & Bones (Image: Marriott)
a tray with a cup of coffee and a dessert on it
Istanbul Baking Company had a variety of coffees and pastries available throughout the day.

The final two food and beverage outlets are located on the 9th floor at opposite ends of the building. Galata Lounge is where breakfast is served each morning. Unfortunately I dropped from Platinum to Gold just before our visit so we chose to eat breakfast out each day. However, I did drop by one evening to grab some photos.

Galata Lounge at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus
Galata Lounge at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus
Galata Lounge at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus
Galata Lounge at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus

Octo is located at the opposite end of the property from the Galata Lounge and has stunning views of the Golden Horn and Bosphorus. We had cocktails up here multiple nights during our visit while taking in the view.

Octo Restaurant at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus
Octo Restaurant at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus
Octo Restaurant Bar at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus
Octo Restaurant Bar at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus
a group of boats on a body of water
The views from the restaurant were amazing….
two glasses of yellow liquid with cucumber on top
…and the cocktails were delicious.

JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Spa and Fitness Center

On the second floor of the property is the fitness center and spa. The fitness center is located at the rear of the building and, while it had a good variety of equipment, they tried to cram too much into the space which made it feel cramped. If the gym was full you’d be stepping over people mid-workout to get to certain machines.

a room with treadmills and machines
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Gym
a gym with exercise equipment
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Gym
a gym with exercise equipment
JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus Gym

Finally, the spa was located towards the front of the building on the 2nd floor and was easy to spot as you stepped off of the elevator. We didn’t get any treatments done but from the little I saw the space is nice.

a sign on a wall
Spa at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus

My Thoughts

While I typically don’t do this section on reviews as you’ve just finished reading an entire post containing my thoughts, I wanted to make an exception to call out the staff at the property. There wasn’t any major grand gesture but rather the little things they did throughout our stay that really stood out.

I was reading a book during the trip and, since I didn’t have a bookmark, I was using some currency I had laying around. One day while our room was being cleaned, a housekeeper stuck a bookmark in place of the money (leaving the money as well) which I thought was a cool touch.

a book with a bookmark
Staff left me a bookmark to use in place of the dollar bill I had been using.

They also left a small gift in the room for ATX Jr. Not knowing if it was a boy or a girl, the staff left a bear keychain and some hair clips which was nice.

a hand holding a key chain and a tag with stars
Some gifts for ATX Jr.

Finally, we had an insanely early wake-up call in order to get to the airport for our flight home. When we checked out and were waiting on our car, they gave us a to-go bag filled with breakfast to eat on our ride.

a person holding food in their hands
Breakfast on the go.

Summary

Overall, we had a fantastic stay at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus. While the room was on the small side the location of the property was fantastic and we were walking distance from most of the major attractions.

Additionally, the staff were fantastic and went out of their way to make sure that we had a good experience. While I always enjoy visiting new properties, I would absolutely stay at this hotel on a future visit to Istanbul.

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