Riva Philina M.
Google
We stayed at Sofitel Istanbul for 5 nights, and unfortunately the experience fell far below 5-star standards. While the room was beautiful and the bed and pillows were extremely comfortable, the service throughout our stay was slow and inconsistent.
Every time we requested something simple—water, cotton buds, a wine opener, it took over 30 minutes to arrive, and we had to follow up two or even three times just to get basic items delivered. When I called to follow up on one request, the staff member on the phone wasn’t apologetic at all. In a 5-star hotel, acknowledging delays and offering an apology should be standard.
There were also several maintenance issues. The TV stopped working twice, and one day the hot water wasn’t working. On top of that, the shower gel pump didn’t function, and when I asked for it to be fixed, instead of repairing or replacing the pump, staff simply placed a new bottle on the sink. Small details like this matter, especially in a hotel that presents itself as luxury.
Overall, this has been the only 5-star hotel I’ve stayed in that genuinely felt more like a 3-star experience.
The only highlight was the housekeeping team, who were amazing, friendly, attentive, and the only part of the stay that truly reflected 5-star service.
Unless the service improves significantly, I wouldn’t choose to stay here again.