Review: Six Senses Kocatas Mansions hotel review

Sitting pretty beside the Bosphorus, Six Senses’ Istanbul outpost has been created from two refurbished Ottoman mansions in the leafy, prosperous Sariyer neighbourhood, a private-boat-ride from the centre. It’s deliciously elegant: creamy as lor cheese, inside and out. Vast windows let in beams of light, illuminating the soaring spaces of pale marble, delicately panelled walls and intricate cornicing, and allow Bosphorus views from the big brass beds in the best of the 45 rooms and suites. The sprawling spa opened late last year on a hill above the hotel, and has sensational views across the strait. Appropriately, treatments include East-meets-West options such as the traditional Hammam (a full-on scrub down from a local therapist) and the Alchemy Bar workshop (making your own products using organic ingredients from the garden). Indeed, Istanbul’s unique east-west offerings are in evidence everywhere, from the ingredients in the two restaurants (pan-Asian and Italian) in colourful dishes artfully presented, the cultural experiences recommended by insiders, and the community-focused initiatives run by the hotel’s Earth Lab, which runs educational eco workshops for guests.