WHAT’S IT LIKE? This boutique five-star property opened in November 2008 in what was once a 1920s society residence. Although the interior is largely modern minimalist, art nouveau-style light fittings and chandeliers, black and white jazz prints, vintage mirrors and wooden floors add warmth and character. After going through a metal detector past a security guard, you enter via sliding frosted glass doors. Staff are highly professional and welcoming, with doormen outside to call taxis and manage luggage.

WHERE IS IT? In the new part of the city on the European side, tucked away on a discreet street with a side entrance to its restaurant on the corner of Macka Caddesi, one of the main high-end shopping avenues. The Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Centre (icec.org) is nearby. Traffic permitting, it’s about a 25-minute drive to Ataturk airport on the same side, or 50 minutes to Sabiha Gokcen airport on the Asian side. I found that a lot of the time taxi drivers were unsure of where the hotel was, so it’s a good idea to note down the address or carry a map.

ROOM FACILITIES Half the bedrooms face the street while the others overlook the pool. They differ in size depending on category but the décor and layout is the same. Spa rooms have 20 sqm bathrooms. Wired and wifi internet access costs €18 for 24 hours and rooms all come with flatscreen TVs measuring at least 25 inches, DVD players, safes with laptop chargers, air conditioning, 24-hour room service, combined clock radio/iPod docks, robes and slippers, blackout blinds and daily newspapers. The minibar is expensive – a small bottle of Coke is TL12 (£5) while an Efes Pilsen lager is TL16 (£7).

My Deluxe corner room was on the fourth floor. It had a high ceiling and was of a good size, with a generous entry hall and separate seating area with a coffee table and a dish of fresh fruit. There was a large workdesk with a reading lamp, power sockets, UK adaptors and wired internet cables. An ice bucket was refilled nightly at turn-down. The bathroom was exceptional, with twin sinks – one for filtered tap water – Blaise Mautin toiletries, a heated floor, a freestanding bath with coloured mood lighting above, a separate toilet and bidet, and a combined steam room and rainshower.

Although on the whole the room was great, there were a few downsides. The housekeeping was a little too thorough – one morning it took me nearly five minutes to find my shoes, which had been placed under the bench at the foot of the bed. There was quite a lot of noise from the street at night when I had the windows open (ask for one at the back if this is a concern), and I had difficulty staying connected to the wifi when using my iPhone. Iron and ironing boards and tea and coffee-making facilities are not supplied so you need to call reception for these.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS The Lounge is part of the lobby and is open 6.30am-12am daily for breakfast, all-day dining and afternoon tea. There is a bar with a glass-fronted wall of wine opposite, and by the pool is the Terrace, open May to September, where a buffet and à la carte breakfast is served along with lunch and dinner. The deck is fringed with potted orange trees, flowers and bamboo, and there are comfy cream sofas. I enjoyed a beautifully presented meal here one evening beneath the stars.

The Terrace shares its menu with the hotel’s signature restaurant, the Prime, which is adjacent. It specialises in grilled meat and seafood so there is not much in the way of vegetarian options, but when I was there the chef was happy to accommodate my dietary requirements. There is an extensive wine list and a live cooking station, with set one-hour business lunches available for TL45 (£19) for two courses and TL55 (£24) for three courses. It’s open Mon-Sat 12pm-3pm and 7pm-11pm.

BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES There are two boardrooms, one for eight delegates and the other for 12. A small 24-hour business centre behind reception has two laptops and free internet.

LEISURE FACILITIES The heated outdoor pool is open May-October from 8am to 7pm. Accessed by a separate lift in the lobby, the spa is in the basement and features a sleek gym with Life Fitness machines, three treatment rooms, steam rooms, saunas and a relaxation area. In-room treatments are also available, and those staying in Spa rooms can enjoy a full Turkish hammam experience.

VERDICT A superb top-end boutique business hotel with elegant bedrooms fitted with all you need for both work and relaxation. The restaurant and staff were also commendable.

Fact file

HOW MANY ROOMS? There are 90 in total – five Queens (35 sqm), 50 Deluxe (40-55 sqm), 25 Spa rooms (60 sqm) and ten suites (50-250 sqm).

ROOM HIGHLIGHTS The combined steam room and rainshower, the comfy bed, the French doors that open to let in fresh air, and the sophisticated décor.

PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in November started from €216 for a Queen room.

CONTACT Park Hyatt Istanbul – Macka Palas, Tesvikiye, Bronz Sokak No 4, Sisli; tel +90 212 315 1234; istanbul.park.hyatt.com