HotelChatter

Berstein’s room was “large and beautifully proportioned” with a mix of modern style and hints of Islamic architecture. The TV appears “spectrally” via a “huge mirror” that “hangs in front of an exposed brick wall.” He likens the bathroom to a “mini-hamam” — shower and toilet compartments, panels that conceal a vanity and sink. Free Wi-Fi in the hotel’s public spaces (but, alas, it costs a sickening $25 a day in guest rooms). Both Berstein and Levine were glad Jean-Georges Vongerichten opened a Spice Market at the hotel.

Lowlights: “Given how much thought went into the design, why would the hotel litter the room with dozens of items for sale?” Bernstein asks. “Do you really want to wake up staring at a can of Pringles? (I don’t.)” Levine was similarly annoyed by the lack of free bottled water. Bernstein describes the room service as “spotty,” the spa “tiny,” and the gym “small and windowless.”

Bottom line: “If you’re looking for a high-rise hotel with a Bosporus view, or a big resort with pool, this isn’t it. But if you’re looking to add a little glamour to your Istanbul trip, this W delivers,” Bernstein concludes. Rates start at 216 euros, tax included.

[Photo: Yoray Liberman for The New York Times]