HOTEL: The Galata Istanbul MGallery by Sofitel
Picking a hotel always leaves me feeling extremely nervous. Even once I've booked one, I'm constantly second-guessing if I've picked the right one, if I'm in a good area, and if I could have found a better-suited hotel for me. This time, however, I felt really satisfied with my decision. When I arrived outside the hotel and saw the red carpet at the entrance, my face lit up. "They've brought the carpet out for my arrival, ah, I'm a superstar." It turns out the carpet is always there, but it was definitely a welcome touch!
Based in the Karaköy district, the MGallery is relatively new. Even though it is just over a year old, the venue has lived a full life. To open an MGallery, there must be a history behind the building. Back in the day, the venue was an Italian bank. If you look behind the reception desk, you can see deposit boxes, which really add flavour. If it's not seasoned, I'm not impressed. The lounge area also houses a bar serving everything from hot drinks to cocktails.
“The first thing I noticed was the dark brown wooden shutters, and I developed an unhealthy infatuation with the bathroom.”
The spa offers many treatments, with English prices, of course. However, you could be swayed by the Turkish hammam, which dates back more than 300 years, giving you an authentic experience. Certain packages also grant you access to the sauna and steam room. Plus, in the spa's chill-out area, you receive complimentary tea and snacks. I love complimentary stuff.
Rooms
This boutique hotel has 83 rooms spread out across 4 floors, and not once did I see anyone on my floor. I love feeling like I'm the only guest at the hotel, and I was very much made to feel that way throughout my stay. The staff were smiley and always happy to assist, and their energy felt genuine.
I originally stayed in the deluxe king room and I fell in love with the room's decor. It wasn't loud; the colours were neutral and had a real warming flair. The first thing I noticed was the dark brown wooden shutters, and I developed an unhealthy infatuation with the bathroom—especially the tiles! As soon as I was introduced to the bed, I was a goner. I was actually, knocked out clean for hours, to the point that I woke up frazzled and it was dark outside. I had to order room service, because I had no intention of getting out of my bathrobe and cute MGallery slippers! The only thing missing for me was a bathtub. That said, the shower was fantastic.
Speaking of water, bottled water was delivered to my room every morning without fail. And all rooms have a minibar, and the suites even have champagne stocked in them. Inserts Nigerian voice "Hayyyy" if you cannot afford it, don't touch it!
The rooms on the higher floors have the best views of the city, and many rooms come with balconies. However, if you forfeit a balcony, you do get to enjoy the breathtaking ceiling detail on the second floor. Plus, there's a hidden game-changer on that floor too—the cutest ever 2-level suite. On the lower floor, it has a living room with a toilet, and then on the upper floor, there's a king-sized bed and master bathroom. I spent my last night lying in bed with cake, planning on how I could get away with moving permanently into this suite.
I'm usually indifferent to the complimentary shower gel and toiletries in the bathroom because more time than not they feel basic. But don't sleep on MGallery's products. The body lotion made me feel like I was in a premium advert and shock horror, the hair conditioner actually hydrated my hair. I could write a blog post about hair products in hotels and still be rolling my eyes at the time it would take someone to travel around the world and back, but can we have a moment? These products hooked my afro up.
Side note: I was feeling extra sensitive, because my hair products did not make it out of the airport. So the realisation that these products worked on my hair, hit that little bit deeper!
Nightlife
From 5 pm, the hotel opens its rooftop bar on the second floor. The Anton Peran bar attracts the 18-30-year-old quirky Turkish crowd, allowing you to meet and vibe with locals. Initially, I thought the daily parties going on until 2/3 a.m. would mess up my sleep, but once your room door is shut, you can't hear a thing. The hotel takes soundproofing to a whole different level. Additionally, people attending the bar use a different entrance and exit.
The music genre changes each night. On Tuesdays, they play electronic music, which is not my style at all, but I loosened up because the vibe was so contagious. As someone who doesn't drink alcohol anymore, a good vibe is everything because I can't drown a dead vibe out with tequila shots! On Wednesdays, they play R&B and hip-hop. Don't get too excited though; I'm talking Destiny's Child and Sean Paul (with Kainrow) tunes! MGallery, book me to DJ and bring the good-good up-to-date tunes.
Food
The food hit the spot. All food matters go down in the Civarda Peran restaurant, open from 6:30 am to 11 pm, serving traditional Turkish and worldwide dishes. Breakfast was a banquet. Everything I wanted and didn't know I wanted was there. As someone who doesn't eat pork or cheese, I have always found securing a filling breakfast in Europe to be difficult.
But I felt like a kid in a candy store. Lentil soup, fresh waffles, omelettes with all the trimmings, turkey sausages without the plastic taste, fresh fruit galore... I could go on and on, but the big exclamation mark moment was... drum roll... the unlimited freshly squeezed orange juice.
Laziness is not going to cost you your taste buds, and it's also not going to create a hole in your pocket. Room service offers a variety of options. I ordered meatballs, rice, and chips. Turkish meatballs and English meatballs are two different sizes. I didn't get the round spaghetti meatballs; I was delivered mini-burgers without the bun—four of them! I couldn't finish all the "meat mega-balls," so I ended up eating the rest at 3 a.m. while half asleep. You can have 99 problems, but going hungry at MGallery is not going to be one! I knew that MGallery and I would have matched on Tinder when they brought me, as standard, three different types of seasoning next to my food!
Small small tips
Avoid the rooms that face the main road- I felt like I was in a horror film because of the abandoned building staring back at me through the window. If you don't want to be disturbed, make sure you put your "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door because the staff are really punctual and quick to enter your room to clean.
Wrap Up
I strongly suggest staying at this luxury hotel, and I would happily return to Istanbul and book this hotel again. It aligns with the respectable Sofitel brand, but it's very much its own hotel. You are so close to many staple places, but you're also not overwhelmed by being on their doorstep. The Galata Tower is a 7-minute walk away, and the old town is four tram stops away. I was in a lavish establishment and felt like I belonged there, which isn't always the case when I travel.
The nightlife in the hotel attracts a younger audience, but I really can't put an age range on who this hotel is for because there is enough to satisfy everyone who walks through their doors.
