Istanbul: Where to Stay: Hip: Sofa Hotel

Sofa Hotel

Situated in the prestigious shopping area of Nişantaşi, the eighty-two-room Sofa Hotel is for the design-minded traveler, who’d rather unwind in a hip lounge than a stuffy lobby and who prefers a young plugged-in staff to old-school concierges. The large rooms (ask for a “tranquility suite”) feature amenities like high-speed Internet connection, rain-shower faucets, L’Occitane bath products and plates of strawberries and figs instead of the clichéd bananas and apples. Although the hotel’s restaurant Tuus, which serves light “new Mediterranean” dishes, is enjoyable, particularly if you have a table on the terrace, the hotel staff will gladly direct you to the city’s hot spots. Because of its location (it’s only a three-minute walk from the ICEC convention center), this is also a good choice for business travelers. Rooms from $405.