Sheraton Grand Istanbul Atasehir5

Sheraton Grand Istanbul Atasehir comes across as a first-class business hotel, offering guests a high level of comfort on the Asian side of Istanbul. Guests highly praise the exceptionally spacious rooms with high ceilings, magnificent panoramic city views, and one of the best fitness centres in Istanbul. A particular advantage of the hotel is the outstanding performance of the staff, who regularly receive personal thanks from guests. However, the overall impression can be marred by inflated charges for in-house services, complaints about the laundry service, and some distance from the main historic attractions of the European side.

Key Observations

Outstanding fitness centre and spa: Guests are unanimous that the hotel’s gym is one of the best they’ve seen in a hotel: it is equipped with professional equipment, very spacious and impeccably clean.

Rooms with superb ergonomics: Rooms impress guests with their four-metre-high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, and comfortable signature beds.

Exceptional personalised service: The names Neslihan, Yagiz, Kaan and Mert are constantly mentioned in reviews for their prompt assistance and genuine care.

Mixed feelings about breakfast: While many find the buffet plentiful and high-quality, long-stay guests note a high degree of repetition and monotony in the hot options.

Trajectory: When comparing reviews from 2024 with recent comments from 2026, there is a clear rise in enthusiastic feedback about the quality of personalised service at the front desk (especially noting the work of Neslihan). At the same time, in 2026 the problem of inflated charges for ancillary services, including the laundry and minibar, has worsened—guests used to complain about it much less frequently.

Main Pros

• Spacious, modern rooms with high ceilings and excellent soundproofing.
• Professional gym and a great indoor pool.
• Warm hospitality and proactivity of the staff, especially at the front desk.
• Convenient free on-site parking with valet service.
• Proximity to Watergarden shopping centre with its famous singing fountain and Ülker Arena.

Main Cons

• Extremely high prices for additional services (e.g., a bottle of sparkling water for 18 €).
• Issues with the laundry service (guests report damaged clothing without proper compensation and disputed bills for basic items, quoted in euros).
• Paid access to the club lounge and spa area when booking certain standard categories.
• Significant distance from the historic centre of Istanbul and the European side.
• A mandatory swimming cap for the pool must be purchased on site (around 300 TRY).

Overall Grade: A-

Hotel Overview

Basic Information:

• Name – Sheraton Grand Istanbul Atasehir
• Address – Barbaros, Mor Sumbul Sokagi No: 1, Atasehir, Istanbul, 34746
• Contact – +90-216-5470000, [email protected]
• Year opened – 2015
• Number of rooms – 165
• Positioning and category – A five-star premium hotel, part of the Marriott Bonvoy chain, oriented towards the business segment and corporate travel.

Description: The hotel is an elegant 27-storey tower located in the dynamically developing business district of Atasehir. The design concept combines contemporary crispness with a high level of comfort: a spacious lobby, floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, stylish interiors. The facilities include two restaurants (including The City with international cuisine), a cosy lobby bar, a coffee shop, conference spaces covering more than 1,000 sq. m, as well as a magnificent wellness hamam complex and a pool. The room rate typically includes access to basic fitness services, while spa treatments and lounge access depend on the tariff.

Target Audience: The hotel is ideal primarily for business travellers, conference attendees, and sports fans coming to events at Ülker Arena. It also suits family and romantic stays for those who prefer the calm atmosphere of Istanbul’s Asian side.

Location & Transport

Location: The hotel is situated in the modern high-rise district of Atasehir on Istanbul’s Asian side, next to the financial centre. The area is clean, safe and well-kept, though it lacks historic charm. The upper floors offer panoramic views of the city and partial views of the Bosphorus.

Key Points of Interest: Ülker Arena is literally a 10-minute walk away, making the hotel an ideal choice for attendees of basketball matches and concerts. Watergarden shopping mall with its musical fountain show is within walking distance. The Metropol, Palladium and Optimum shopping centres are within a 1.5–2 km radius. A taxi to Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) takes 45–60 minutes, and to the new Istanbul Airport (IST) about 1.5–2 hours.

Transport: The hotel offers a paid airport transfer. Guests note the concierge’s prompt assistance in ordering a taxi (usually a car is summoned within minutes).

Walkability: The neighbourhood is pleasant for walking to shopping centres and restaurants, but public transport in the immediate vicinity is poorly developed. The nearest metro station is about a 20–30-minute walk, which is inconvenient for daily commuting.

Grade: B

Rooms & Cleanliness

The rooms earn the highest praise. Guests especially highlight the ceiling height (around 4 metres), which creates a sense of incredible space and air. The Sheraton beds are exceptionally comfortable, with high-quality linen. In-room amenities include a Nespresso capsule coffee machine, automatic blinds, a laptop-sized safe, and quality toiletries. Soundproofing is good – street noise does not disturb rest, although the call to prayer from a nearby mosque can be heard early in the morning. Cleanliness is maintained to a high standard through thorough daily housekeeping. There are isolated, rare remarks about carpet stains or robes that aren’t soft enough.

Grade: A

Service

The quality of service is one of the hotel’s brightest aspects. Manager Yagiz, front desk staff Neslihan, Gamze, Ali and night manager Kaan have earned countless glowing reviews for their personalised approach, assistance with early check-in and quick resolution of any issue. However, the service is marred by sharp complaints about the laundry: there have been instances of damaged clothing without proper compensation and disputed bills for basic items, quoted in euros. There is also a recorded case of a double charge at check-in (via an OTA and directly at the front desk).

Grade: B+

Dining

Breakfast is served as a generous buffet with a wide selection of international and Turkish cuisine. Guests praise the chef’s fresh smoothies, honeycomb, hot simit and croissants. The evening menu in the restaurant also receives complimentary remarks for tasty dishes. Downsides include the monotony of the menu during extended stays (more than 3–4 days) and excessively overpriced drinks (e.g., a bottle of water for 18 €).

Grade: A-

Facilities & Amenities

The hotel’s pride is its wellness area. The gym is equipped with professional equipment and is one of the best in the city’s hotels. The indoor pool is large, clean, and heated. A swimming cap is strictly required for the pool (it can be purchased on site for 300 TRY). The spa area, hamam and sauna are well-maintained and perfect for relaxation. Wi-Fi in public areas and in rooms works reliably, although there have been isolated complaints about attempts to charge for super-fast internet at check-out.

Grade: A

Important Notes

• The hotel is far from the traditional tourist sights on Istanbul’s European side; transport costs and travel time can be significant.
• Prices for additional services within the hotel (laundry, in-room water, bar) are extremely high and often quoted in euros.
• The pool has a strict rule about wearing swimming caps.

Practical Tips for Guests

• If you are a light sleeper, opt for rooms on upper floors away from the mosque to avoid the morning call to prayer disturbing your sleep.
• Carefully check the laundry price list before handing over any items, paying attention to the currency (euros), to avoid shocking bills at check-out.
• When planning trips to the European side, allow an extra 1–1.5 hours for a taxi given Istanbul’s traffic, or use the concierge service to find the best route.
• If you are attending a match or concert at Ülker Arena, book a room with a view of the arena (e.g., room 2311), which offers an excellent vantage point.

Final Verdict

Sheraton Grand Istanbul Atasehir offers superb accommodation and excellent service on Istanbul’s Asian side, making it an ideal business hotel.

Overall Grade: A-

Breakdown: Location: B | Rooms: A | Service: B+ | Dining: A- | Facilities: A | Value for Money: B+

Best for: Business travellers, guests attending sports events at Ülker Arena, those who love comfortable secluded stays and high-quality fitness centres.

Not for: Tourists planning daily classic sightseeing on Istanbul’s European side (Sultanahmet, Taksim).