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Home » Reviews » Hotel Reviews » Review: Grand Hyatt Istanbul
Hotel Reviewsistanbul

Review: Grand Hyatt Istanbul

Matthew Klint Posted onApril 3, 2024April 3, 2024 17 Comments

a building with lights on it

The Grand Hyatt Istanbul is both an affordable and centrally-located hotel in the heart of Istanbul.

Grand Hyatt Istanbul Review

I spent my first night in Istanbul at the Grand Hyatt, located in the Taksim Square area. At $130/night it also was a great deal considering all the benefits I received as a World of Hyatt Globalist member.

I was not upgraded to a suite this time, but my room, 822, was spacious enough and the bed quite comfortable. I was able to sleep well and managed to avoid jet lag on this trip.

a hallway with black doors and a light on the wall

a door with a red tag on it

a sign on a wall

a room with a bed and a desk and lamp

a bed with white sheets and pillows and a lamp on top of it

a desk with a lamp and coffee cups on it

a corner of a room with a couch and a lamp

a bedroom with a bed and a mirror

a bathroom with a glass shower and sink

a bathroom with a mirror and sink

a bathroom with a bathtub and shower

a toilet in a bathroom

a group of bottles of shampoo

a tray with tea cups and saucers on it
The Grand Hyatt Istanbul includes Nespresso espresso pods in each guest room

A big jet-lag fighter for me is a strenuous workout followed by a round in the sauna and steam room. I started my morning there and it made the rest of the day quite productive.

a room with treadmills and treadmills

a room with exercise equipment

a room with exercise equipment

a bench in a locker room

a room with a blue light

I did not use the pool (outdoors only).

a pool with a fountain in a city

The breakfast buffet in “34” Restaurant is quite expansive and includes a huge salad bar, Turkish and Western dishes, a juice bar, and full bakery. Eggs made-to-order are offered and the coffee is acceptable (Turkish coffee is probably a better choice than the espresso-based drinks).

a buffet table with food on it

a buffet with fruit and food on it

a buffet table with different food items

a buffet in a hotel

a display of pastries on a counter

a tray of food on a table

a plate of food on a table

a bowl of shredded red food

a bowl of soup on a table

a cup of coffee on a saucer

As a Globalist, I also had access to the Grand Club, where evening hors d’oeuvres and cocktails were served each night from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm (I arrived after 8:00 pm so I missed that). Coffee and tea (plus light snacks) are available daily from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

a piece of paper with black text

a room with tables and chairs

Overall, this was another nice stay and I would not hesitate to return.

My original review, from November 9, 2019, is below.


a sign on a wall

I’ve stayed at the other Hyatt properties in Istanbul, so I decided to try out the Grand Hyatt during my last visit. It proved to be a great two-night stay.

Istanbul is one of my favorite cities in the world and over the years I have stayed at a trio of great Hyatt hotels in the city, including:

  • Park Hyatt Istanbul – Maçka Palas
  • Hyatt Centric Levent Istanbul
  • Hyatt Regency Istanbul Ataköy

Thus, it was an easy choice to try the Grand Hyatt for this visit. The room rate was about $120/night plus tax, which I thought was reasonable for a midweek rate.

I arrived about 6:00PM from an airport bus, which dropped me off near Taksim Square just a couple blocks away. Istanbul’s new airport is much further from the city than Ataturk International and does not yet have a metro, but the bus service was surprisingly efficient and quite productive with wi-fi onboard.

Security is tight at the hotel, with former side entrances sealed off. It took a bit longer than anticipated to enter the hotel since I had to go all the way around to the front. There, my bags were screened and I had to pass through a metal detector before entering the lobby.

a walkway leading to a building

a lobby with a vase of flowers

a lobby with a checkered floor and chairs

The agent who checked me in promptly recognized my Globalist status then informed that I had been upgraded to a suite on the club floor. I was invited to use a special elevator next to the concierge desk to enter that wing of the hotel.

a elevator door with a sign

a hallway with a light on the ceiling

Grand Hyatt Istanbul Suite

My room, 849, was at the very end of a long and winding hall. As I opened the door, I walked down a small L-shaped hallway that opened in the living room and dining room area of the suite. On one side of the hallway was the guest restroom and on the other side a closet.

a door with a sign on it

a table and a framed picture on the wall

a hallway with a living room and a couch

a closet with a shelf and a shelf

a bathroom with a sink and toilet

a living room with a couch and a desk

a room with a table and chairs and a television

a living room with a couch and a table

a desk and chair in a room

a room with a television and a table

The bedroom included a king-size bed, a couch, and a mini-bar cabinet with the TV on top.

a bedroom with a bed and a door open

a bedroom with a bed and a couch

a room with a bed and a television

Another closet and a large bathroom with tub, shower, and water closet.

a closet with white robe and clothes from it

a bathroom with a sink and a bathtub

a bathroom with a sink and a bathtub

a shower with a round shower head

a group of bottles on a shelf

a black box with a white towel and a bottle of shampoo

a bathroom with a bathtub and sink

a toilet in a bathroom

I appreciated the Nespresso coffee machine at my desk, where I spent the bulk of my time while in the room.

Grand Hyatt Istanbul Grand Club

With the Grand Club down the hall, I made use of it…often. Coffee? Check. Water? Check. Afternoon cakes and tea? Check. Breakfast spread in the morning and appetizers in the evening? Yep, that too.

a double doors with glass windows

a room with couches and tables and chairs

a room with tables and chairs

a room with a television and chairs

a table with plates of food and silverware

The staff was great in the lounge (proactive in offering you drinks or helping you carry your plate to the table) and the evening spread quite nice for appetizers. I enjoyed crudités, delicious yogurt soup, pita and hummus, dolma, and some nice Turkish sweets. But my favorite treat was white chocolate-covered strawberries.

a tray of pastries and bread on a counter

a table with plates of food and utensils

a table with plates of food and plates of food

a table with plates of food and plates of vegetables

a table with plates of food and bottles

a group of white bowls with food in them on a table

a plate of food with a bowl of soup and a spoon

a table with plates of food and a spoon

a plate of food on a table

a plate of strawberries and a piece of cake

Grand Hyatt Istanbul Pool

The outdoor pool is a perfect place to soak in the afternoon sun…though it is getting cold in Istanbul The weather, however, was quite pleasant during my October visit and many were out sunning themselves.

a swimming pool with a large building in the background

a stone benches in a courtyard

a stone stairs with a pot on top

a pool with chairs and tables

Grand Hyatt Istanbul Fitness + Spa

Inside the Gaia Spa & Fitness Centre, the 24/7 gym offered late-model equipment and was empty when I used it.

a glass doors in a room

a room with exercise equipment

a room with exercise equipment

a gym with weights and a shelf with towels and a door

a gym with exercise equipment

a room with exercise equipment and a mirror

a gym with punching bags and a mirror

The spa includes a full Turkish bath (not pictured) as well as a gender-segregated wellness area with sauna and steam room.

a room with a curved bench and trash can

a bathroom with sinks and mirrors

a sink with a bowl of ice on a pedestal

a room with a tiled floor and a bench

a room with a door and a glass door

a wooden sauna with a light shining on the wall

Grand Hyatt Istanbul Dining

34, the hotel’s main restaurant, offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Although I ate my evening meals offsite, I had breakfast one morning here. The spread was truly extensive. Rather than list everything, check out the picture below. In short, if you want, they had it.

a restaurant with tables and chairs

a food on display in a restaurant

a bakery with bread on shelves

a buffet table with food on it

a table with food on it

a table with bowls of food on it

a chef standing at a counter in a restaurant

a buffet table with food items on it

a tray with food on it

a trays of food on a table

food on a counter in a restaurant

a cart full of fruit

a buffet table with plates of food

a display of food on a counter

a display of food in bowls

a salad bar with different types of vegetables

a trays of food on a counter

a trays of food on a table

a row of glasses with different colored liquid in them

a bowl of butter on a table

a honeycomb on a plate

a plate of food on a table

a waffle and croissant on a plate

a plate of omelette with a cherry tomato on it

a glass of orange juice next to a mug of coffee

But if you want a nice esspresso-based beverage, forget it. The machines don’t’ make great coffee. After quickly realizing this, I moved to Turkish Coffee.

a cup of hot chocolate on a saucer

The Library Bar serves as the main bar for the hotel, though the Mezzanine Lounge & Bar also offers drinks  and coffee. It’s also a nice common area of the hotel.

a room with a bar and chairs

a bar with a row of chairs and bottles

a lobby with a chandelier and people standing in front of it

a piano in a room

a lobby with a large white floor and columns

In the pool area, Gazebo offers cocktails, pizza, Turkish pides, and other light food.

a building with a patio and chairs

Grand Hyatt Istanbul Location

I found the location of this hotel to be ideal. I did a lot of walking during my two days in the city and thought the location was perfect, especially considering the ease of airport transport I mentioned above.

CONCLUSION

I appreciated the great staff, comfortable room, and nice amenities at this hotel. Then again, I did at the other three Hyatt properties in the city as well. I think I’ll try thee Nish Palas, part off the Unbound Collection and the last Hyatt property in the hotel I have to review. Or perhaps I will go back to the Park Hyatt next time because there are steam rooms in select guest rooms, but I enjoyed my stay here and recommend this property highly. Note that it is often the cheapest Hyatt in Istanbul as well.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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17 Comments

  1. Aaron Reply
    November 9, 2019 at 10:01 am

    So if you had to rank the hotels you’ve stayed at in Istanbul, who would they compare to each other?

    • EndlosLuft Reply
      November 9, 2019 at 10:10 am

      Thanks for the report I’ll be staying there in the future.

      What Bus company did you use and what was the cost go Taksim?

      • Matthew Reply
        November 9, 2019 at 10:14 am

        There was only one company I saw and it was only 18 TYL. I’ll do a separate post on it.

    • Matthew Reply
      November 9, 2019 at 10:16 am

      Separate post coming, but that’s a difficult question because each hotel does something well. For example, Park Hyatt has the best room, Hyatt Regency the best service, Hyatt Centric the best wellness area. And Grand Hyatt has the best location. Overall, I think I’d pick the Park, but really loved all of them and especially the Regency (but that is an airport hotel, essentially).

  2. mojo Reply
    November 9, 2019 at 3:35 pm

    Great review, thanks for posting 🙂

    Wife & I will make it to Istanbul someday…

  3. 121Pilot Reply
    November 9, 2019 at 4:02 pm

    Great Review. How expensive is the breakfast if you don’t have status?

    • Matthew Reply
      November 9, 2019 at 5:39 pm

      About $24.

  4. Paolo Reply
    November 9, 2019 at 9:00 pm

    I’ve had the same room before, a couple of times. I really like this hotel: it’s not the most ‘hip’ property in town but it does strike a very good balance of quality, location and price. I’m glad the bus is still convenient from the new airport: it’s far and away the best option for transferring.

  5. Mary Cousins Reply
    November 10, 2019 at 1:35 am

    Love Istanbul, my favorité city. I’m flying out of the new Istanbul aerport in December. Do you know if there is an aerport hotel on site and somewhere to leave luggage?

    • Matthew Reply
      November 10, 2019 at 11:05 pm

      There is a transit hotel plus a facility to store your luggage. Enjoy your trip!

  6. Christian Reply
    April 3, 2024 at 2:40 pm

    Cash prices have gone up notably. I have a points reservation there in September and seeing the great cash prices you listed for both visits I rechecked in case I’d missed out. It turns out that for my dates the member rate is 237 Euros a night. Props to you on getting great cash prices both times.

    • Jerry Reply
      April 3, 2024 at 2:58 pm

      This hotel is definitely worth €237. At least it certainly is with Globalist benefits.

      • Christian Reply
        April 3, 2024 at 4:48 pm

        I’ve been booked at 12K points a night which is a better value to me than 237 Euros plus taxes. I’m a little torn on whether I should use a Globalist upgrade if you have any thoughts.

        • Jerry Reply
          April 4, 2024 at 1:54 pm

          I got a large suite on NYE without using a suite upgrade. I think they like Globalists here, but there’s obviously no guarantee.

  7. Jerry Reply
    April 3, 2024 at 2:57 pm

    I rang in 2023 here. A great property. I still laugh about all the cats at the outdoor tables lapping up discarded cappuccinos from guests that didn’t finish them.

  8. Love Turkey! Reply
    April 3, 2024 at 6:29 pm

    Love Istanbul, Park Hyatt is wonderful, BUT Breakfast sucks. even the Hotel will tell you it is not the Best of Hyatt.

  9. Oregontransplant Reply
    April 4, 2024 at 12:48 am

    Not sure when your visit was but there is a metro from the airport. Note though it does not run all night and bc of this I had to take the bus from taskim early in the AM which was inexpensive and actually very nice.

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