Raffles Istanbul

The one thing

Raffles Spa builds its whole identity around the Turkish hammam, and does so at a scale most Istanbul hotel spas do not attempt: three full sized working hammams inside one 3,000 square metre spa. The signature Kese ritual follows the old method closely, a traditional exfoliating kese mitt followed by a foam massage made with olive oil soap, the same zeytinyagli sabun used in hammams across the country for generations, and the private hammam experience closes with Ayran and Turkish sweets served in the relaxation lounge, a detail that keeps the whole ritual rooted in genuine Turkish tradition from start to finish.

The verdict

Raffles Istanbul sits inside Zorlu Center, a modern complex in Besiktas on Istanbul's European side, with 181 rooms and suites across the hotel. Its own spa runs to seven treatment rooms, including two couples suites. The hotel sits within the wider Zorlu Center complex, putting shopping, performance space and the surrounding business district within walking distance of a treatment.

The water

The wet side of the spa runs to an indoor pool measuring seventeen metres, a sauna, a steam room, a jacuzzi and a run of sensory showers, with separate relaxation areas for men and women to settle into afterward. These sit alongside the spa's hammams, open to any guest who books a treatment, not only to those staying in a suite.

Treatments

Beyond the hammam rituals, the spa runs named spa journeys built for longer visits: A Moment for You, Peaceful Pace and Raffles Deep Revival each combine several treatments into one extended session. The Signature HydraFacial uses HydraFacial's own device technology, while Biologique Recherche and The Organic Pharmacy supply named facials and body treatments, including a Vitamin C Brightening Facial and a full body sculpting treatment. A children's menu, Happy Feet, Happy Shoulders and Kids Yoga among them, runs alongside the adult treatments.

Getting in

Treatments run daily from midday to ten at night, and the hammams and other wet facilities open earlier, from seven in the morning. Both overnight guests and day visitors can book: a day entrance ticket gives access to the pool and wet facilities without staying at the hotel, and three, six and twelve month spa memberships are also available for regular visitors. Istanbul's airports are within reach of Besiktas by taxi or hotel transfer, and bookings for both treatments and day access go through the spa's own booking form.

What to know before you fall in love

This reads as a large, busy city hotel spa rather than an intimate retreat, so travellers wanting a hushed, country house style escape should look elsewhere. The spa sits inside a wider shopping, dining and business complex, so there's more everyday foot traffic around it than a standalone resort spa would have.

Best for

Best for anyone drawn to genuine Turkish hammam tradition, the same kese exfoliation and olive oil soap used in hammams for generations. Best for families, with a dedicated kids' spa menu and a family hammam package built around them. Best for travellers who want internationally credentialed skincare genuinely paired with an authentic local ritual.