HotelChatter

The Club is on the hotel’s 12th floor with its own reception and concierge desk where, as with all Ritz-Carlton lounges, club guests are checked in. The whole lounge is comprised of a main salon living room area where guests are invited to have beverages and snacks near the windows overlooking a soccer stadium, and the Bosphorus beyond.

Adjacent to the living room on either side are two small dining rooms where meals and snacks are served throughout the day including breakfast from 7:00 – 11:00 am, a lunch from 12:00 – 2:00 pm, snacks from 2:00 – 4:00 p m, hors d’oeuvres, dinner and beer, wine and cocktails from 5:00 – 8:00 pm, and dessert and night caps from 8:00 – 10:30 pm.

All meals and drinks are complimentary, so if you don’t have much time in the city and need to get going immediately, it’s a quick, easy way to fill up on food before heading out into town. That said, we didn’t want to spend too many meals here since the food in Istanbul is phenomenal, so we usually just made it up there for breakfast, which included hot and cold buffets, fruit, vegetables, all kinds of cheeses and meats, eggs, pancakes, yogurt, cereal, juices, coffee, tea and, of course Turkish coffee.

We also spied what they were serving at dinner one evening, and noted lots of mezze plates with fresh vegetables, spreads like eggplant and yogurt dips, some heavier meat dishes, soups and pastas, and even a sushi platter, as well as little dessert pastries.

Apart from the meals, a Club Level rate also includes two clothing items for pressing upon check in (perfect for unwrinkling your suit if you have to get to meetings) and complimentary use of notebook computers in the lounge. It also includes free high-speed WiFi access in guest rooms, and daily edible amenities like fresh and dried fruit, and even a platter of housemade chocolate bonbons (and Turkish delight, of course).

Though the advantages of Club Level and lounge access for business travelers are apparent—it provides a place to meet, pressing services, internet access, quick easy meal options and a dedicated reception staff—the benefits for leisure travelers are also pretty great. 65 euros is definitely a premium, but when you think about the cost of food, beverages and WiFi at a property like this, you’ve practically made your money back.

Rates in May start at 382 euros ($495).