Sinanation

With the interior smoking ban introduced towards the middle of 2009, Istanbul’s restaurant culture went through a major change. The interiors, once packed with people, were stripped of their popularity. Even the non-smokers ended up choosing outside seating to respect the addiction of their smoker relatives and friends. Restaurant managers decorated their terraces, balconies and gardens with numerous portable heaters and provided extra blankets once the winter arrived.

With this recent update in mind, don’t miss these great restaurants during your stay in Istanbul.

Last updated on 20 January 2010

Ulus 29

Ulus 29 is set on one the highest hilltops in Istanbul above the Bosphorus. Go for dinner. Keep in mind that like many other restaurants in the city, 29 usually rents out another location right next to the shore during summer to benefit from the warm weather. The floor-to-ceiling windows in the lounge, the dinning room and the nightclub give you one of the best views in the city with the Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge winking at you with its traffic lights. If you can, go a little earlier than your reservation time and have a drink at the lounge. Recommended Food: Kasarli Pide (Turkish-style pizza with cheese baked in the oven) and Iskender (thinly sliced lamb and cubes of veal served over  diced pita bread and yogurt with warm tomato dressing and butter on top). Recommended Wine: Okuzgozu (Turkish Red Wine). Web: www.group-29.com

Kiyi

Simply the best seafood in town. The right wing of  the ground floor is the most crowded and is known to be occupied by the regulars of the place. The seafood is always fresh and you can choose your fish from the cooler located on the ground floor. There is no bar so go at the time of your reservation. Recommended Food: APPETIZER: Karides Guvec (baked shrimp with mushroom and tomato sauce), Ciger (liver), Octopus, Fried Calamari, Feta Cheese, Mashed Eggplant Salad,  Roasted Red Peppers; MAIN COURSE: Levrek (sea bass) or Kalkan (Turbot) for fish; DESSERT: Chocolate Souffle. Web: www.kiyi.com.tr

Borsa Restaurants

Famous for its focus on Turkish food, Borsa has two favorite locations: one in Nisantasi and one in Istinye Park. It is known to have more of a corporate clientele, especially during lunch time. Expect to eat delicious Turkish food with less music and entertainment. Recommended Food: Manti (Turkish ravioli with meat and yogurt), Lahmacun (Turkish pizza with meat, parsley, lemon and tomato (baked in the oven)), Iskender, Hunkar Begendi (veal meat chunks served over warm mashed eggplant). Web: www.borsarestaurant.com

Kosebasi at Reina

Although Kosebasi has another location in Levent, the Reina spot is open only during the summer months. It is one of the few restaurants inside Reina, one of the most well-known outdoor nightclubs in Istanbul. The club is located right next to the Bosphorus. Kosebasi is famous for its char grilled meat dishes. The small meat chops called Cop Sis are always a favorite, so are the Adana Kofte, Suzme Yogurt, Findik Lahmacun, Patlicanli Pide and Gavurdagi. Don’t forget to eat Dondurmali Irmik for dessert. Web: www.kosebasi.com

Hunkar

If you are in Nisantasi and looking to get delicious Turkish home cooked meal, Hunkar is the place to go. It welcomes mostly businessman during lunchtime, and offers an extensive selection of food at the open buffet. Hunkar Begendi, a dish prepared with broiled beef chunks served over rice and mashed eggplant is a favorite. Don’t try anything but the warm Irmik Helvasi (one of the best in Istanbul) with vanilla ice cream and Turkish Coffee for dessert. Address: Mim Kemal Öke Sokak No :21 (Keep in mind that the original location is currently under construction, but a temporary location is open just a few doors up)

Bebek Balikci

The most well-known seafood restaurant located in Bebek. Summers are great on the porch which sits right on the top of the Bosphorus with an amazing view of the Asian side. The recommendations for Kiyi also apply to Bebek Balikci. Web: www.bebekbalikci.net

Lucca Bar

Located right across from Bebek Balikci in Bebek, this bar/restaurant is famous for its early evening and nighttime happy hours (Thursdays to Sundays). Web: www.luccastyle.com

Masa

Located right in the middle of the most popular section of Istinye Park shopping mall/residences, Masa (means table in English) is more of a see-and-be-seen spot. It is owned by the same people running the Borsa Restaurants. Especially during lunch, this place gets packed with well-dressed socialites (mostly middle-aged women) with expensive cars on display around its parking lot. Despite the overwhelming scenery, the pizza with bresaola and aragula is a favorite.

Dolce

This hidden small gem in Kurucesme is run by one of the best caterers in Turkey. She also keeps a small cafe for guests to enjoy the best brownies and chocolate souffle in the city. It is best when you enjoy them in the afternoon with Turkish Coffee. Looking directly at the Bosphorus from a high floor-to-ceiling window, Cafe Di Dolce makes visitors feel like they are back in their cozy living room. Every detail here is the work of an extremely talented and perfectionist owner. Besides the desserts at the cafe, birthday/occasional cakes are taken by order only and are strongly recommended. Everything from the flavor to the cookies placed on the top can be personalized. The ingredients are seasonal. If you are in during the peach ripening, choose nothing else but white chocolate and fresh slices of peach inside. Web: www.alladolce.com

Passion

A romantic cafe/restaurant located in Yenikoy. The working fireplace inside keeps the place cozy during winter and the terrace outside is great for summer. Dinner especially recommended for couples. The cheesecakes are one of the best in the city. Address: Koybaşı Cad. No: 78 Yenikoy Istanbul

Mangerie

If you are looking for a hip place that serves something other than traditional Turkish food, Mangerie will answer your prayers. Located on the top floor of an old residential building in the heart of Bebek, this all-white, cozy eatery welcomes visitors with comfortable living room furniture. Delicious deserts are always on display on the table located a few steps away from the entrance. The cherry crumble served warm with a large scoop of vanilla ice-cream is a must. Weather-permitting, the balcony furnished with comfortable couches and large coffee tables is the best place to meet up with friends. Freshly squeezed juices from apple to orange along with menemen (scrambled eggs prepared with onions, peppers, cheese and tomatoes), the steak sandwich are definitely recommended. Bear in mind that you will be challenged with a little work out through the multiple staircases (there is no elevator) leading to Mangerie. Address: Cevdetpaşa Caddesi 69, Bebek, Istanbul

Gina Ristorante

Located in yet another famous and hip shopping mall/residences called Kanyon, Gina replaced its ancestor Gilt as the new Harvey Nichols restaurant. Similar to the crowd at Masa, Gina’s visitors are there to see and be seen as much as to enjoy good food. The lunch gets crowded fashionably late around 2pm and the dinner crowd arrives not before 8pm. Thanks to the heaters mounted on the ceiling, outside seating is always the most popular section of the restaurant. I recommend the Carpaccio (served with a delicious mayonnaise dressing on top) as starter and then the Calzone. Web: www.ginaristorante.com

The U.S. is bombarded everyday with hundreds of gossip headlines from E-Channel to TMZ  and to personal blogs such as D-Listed. Real-time news mixed with Photoshopped images and profane language makes these sources of numb entertainment undeniable. I confess that some of these sources have been the best break for me.

As humans we are equally disgusted by and attracted to spying on and judging the lives of other people. We find it extremely hard to confess this trait to any of our peers. It gives us comfort and alleviation to criticize, envy and comment on things that we are not in control of. It is easy to get a doze of that in the U.S., but not so much in Turkey. The paparazzi is stuck with only a handful people and the media lacks in creative hands to spice up the news, even if it is just a dull update on a famous soccer player’s new car. That is where the infamous Bulent Cankurt comes in.

I first landed on Cankurt’s Turkish gossip column by accident while I was skimming trough the news online at the Turkish Newspaper, Sabah’s website. Dressed in a suit with a semi-serious, funny look this author has been since able to make me laugh with his reporting on the Turkish Hollywood and high society. His use of multi exclamation marks and his seriousness in reporting some of the most absurd stories from the popular spots and galas around Turkey seems to be the window to a completely different view of the country. Constructed on the grounds of respect and courtesy without any profane language, his articles succeed in creating an entertaining superficial bubble that doesn’t exist outside of his column.

I am not here to judge what Cankurt writes about and how he writes it. I see it as the cycle of life and I confess that I always look through his column. 1-2 Cankurt articles a day gives me the perfect break from all the political, religious and financial dilemmas that constantly surround us today. It might have been a different story if I was one of his subjects…

Bulent Cankurt regularly writes (no English translation available) for the Gunaydin edition of Sabah (also available on www.sabah.com.tr).

Currency: Yeni Turk Lirasi (YTL) / The New Turkish Lira; 1 USD = 1.50 YTL (as of 20 November 2009)

Weather: Spring (April to June), Summer (June to September), Autumn (September to November), Winter (November to the end of March)

Religion: Majority follows Islam with a contemporary/urban approach where veils are not custom among women and alcohol consumption and entertainment are part of daily life.

National & Religious Holidays/Events:

• January 1st: New Year’s Day
• April 23rd: National Sovereignty & Children’s Day
• May 1st: Labor &  Solidarity Day
• May 19th: Commemoration for Ataturk & Youth & Sports’ Day
• August 30th: Victory Day (victory of the Turks over foreign forces in 1922)
• October 29th: Republic Day (anniversary of the declaration of the Turkish Republic in 1923)
• Ramadan: One month during the year when the Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset to be equalized in terms of nutrition, remember their creator, the importance of basic needs and the troubles of the poor. The nightclubs will be less crowded during Ramadan. Alcohol consumption will be minimal as religious people will abstain from it. The timing of Ramadan changes every year based on the Islamic Calendar, but usually takes place during the second half.
• Seker Bayrami: Three-day festival when sweets are eaten to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Around August, September or October depending on the Islamic Calendar.
• Kurban Bayrami: Four-day festival when sacrificial sheep are slaughtered for their meat to be distributed among the poor. Around October, November or December depending on the Islamic Calendar.

Cab ride from Ataturk Airport to Downtown: 45 minutes to 1 hour, approx. USD 35

Getting around: Istanbul is extremely dispersed. Driving, thus using cabs, is essential as it takes approx. 15-20 minutes at least to get from one neighborhood to the other.

Best Areas to Stay:

• Nisantasi
• Ortakoy
• Kuruscesme

Tipping:

• Cabs: Not common. Left at the discretion of the traveler.
• Waiters: 10% common, 15% if extremely happy with service

Movie Theaters: You can request specific seats when getting tickets. Unlike the U.S. every ticket holder is assigned a seat number.

Snacks after Clubbing: Burgers of the U.S. become Durum (wrap) or Manti (meat ravioli) in Istanbul. Most common Durum comes with grilled meatballs, melted cheese, tomatoes, onions and chopped lettuce. Manti is served hot with yogurt, melted butter and mint on top. Most Popular Places to Go: Bodrum Manti in Kuruscesme, Ali Baba in Kurucesme.

Popular Attractions:

• Boat Tour on the Bosphorus
• Topkapi Palace
• Dolmabahce Palace
• Hagia Sophia
• The Blue Mosque
• The Grand Bazaar
• The Spice Market
• Istanbul Modern

Visiting Mosques: Everyone is required to take the shoes off before entering the premises. This is the custom as the carpets you will be walking on is the ground where Muslims pray to Allah. Women are asked to cover their hair with a scarf and men are asked to wear shorts below the knee or pants.

Popular Dishes:

• Iskender Kebab with Yogurt: Made from the Döner kebab (a dish made of lamb meat cooked on a vertical, rotating spit and sliced off to order), Iskender is served with tiny squares of bread tucked below the slices of meat with tomato sauce, hot melted butter and yogurt on top. The dish is named after Iskender Efendi, the inventor of the dish from Bursa, Turkey.
• Hunkar Begendi: Eggplant purée prepared with cheese and traditionally served with lamb stew
• Karniyarik: Oven baked eggplant stuffed with meat.
• Manti: Turkish ravioli stuffed with meat and served hot with yogurt, melted butter and spices on top.
• Dolma: Dolma is a family of stuffed (usually with a mixture of cooked ground meat and rice) vegetable dishes. Common vegetables include grape leaves, tomatoes, peppers and cabbage. Usually served with a side of yogurt.
• Lahmacun: A pizza-shaped, thin-crusted, wood-fried piece of dough topped with minced meat. Lahmacun is often enjoyed sprinkled with lemon, parsley, onions and spices.
• Gozleme: Hand made and hand rolled pastry that is rolled out, filled, sealed and then cooked over a griddle. You can choose the ingredient inside which varies from cheese to potatoes.
• Levrek & Kalkan: (Sea Bass & Turbot). Get the Sea Bass grilled and the Turbot fried.

Popular Drinks:

• Ayran: Drink prepared by mixing yogurt with water and salt.
• Raki: An anise-flavored alcoholic beverage served cold with water and ice.
  
• Turkish Coffee: A dark strong coffee prepared by boiling grated coffee in water. Comes in three varieties: No sugar, mild sugar, with sugar. The residual of finished Turkish Coffee is used to read the drinker’s fortune. It is extremely popular among Turkish people.
• Salgam Suyu: Turnip juice mostly served in Kebab restaurants. It originated in city of Adana, in the Southern Turkey.
• Turkish Tea

Popular Desserts:

• Turkish Delight: (Refer to the article titled “Divan’s Chocolate Covered Turkish Delights” for details)
• Irmik Helvasi: Semolina dessert made by blighting semolina flour with butter, water, milk, sugar and pine nuts. Served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
• Baklava: Pastry made of layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey
• Sekerpare
• Firin Sutlac: Rice pudding baked in the oven. Served cold.
• Ayva Tatlisi: Dessert made from quince. Served with nuts on top.
  
• Kabak Tatlisi: Dessert made from squash. Served with nuts on top.
  

Most Popular Shopping Malls:

• Istinye Park
• Kanyon
• Akmerkez
• The Grand Bazaar

Recommended Souvenir Shopping:

• “Istanbul T-Shirts” from the Mavi Jeans Stores Web: www.mavi.com
• Chocolate covered Turkish Delights from the Divan Bakery Web: www.divan.com.tr
• Glasses from the Pasabahce Stores Web: www.pasabahce.com
• “Ottoman Empire T-Shirts” from the Ottoman Empire Store at Kanyon Web: www.ottomanempiretshirts.com
• Carpets from the Hali Sarayi Address: At the Grand Bazaar; Nuruosmaniye Cad. No: 66-68 Cagaloglu, Istanbul Web: www.halisarayi.com
• Baklava & other Turkish desserts from the Gulluoglu Bakery Web: www.gulluoglubaklava.com

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Istanbul has been going through an undeniable transformation. The seven hills the city was built on are no longer high enough to protect their legacy. They are shadowed by the high-rises sprouting out of the hilltops with their crisp marble structures.

The sky and the  currents of the Bosphorus are no longer colored with the white of the Moon but also with the pinks, yellows, greens and blues of mesmerizing rooftop light shows. From corporate offices to hotels, shopping malls and private residence complexes,  the city is bombarded with the undeniable fashions of metropolitan living. The historic, carefully crafted buildings make way to rapid, sharp and plain modern towers.

Spacious living spaces with high ceilings pass their legacy onto the smart compact studio apartments. Just like all the other social capitals around the world, Istanbul welcomes this modern change with great appreciation. With all this rapid change, one begins to wonder if we should have paused a second to digest all we have eaten so far? On the fast lane to modernization, has the city of seven hills been running too fast to catch up and forgetting what it might be leaving behind?

Istanbul has always been a great host to the ancient and the modern. It has been able to preserve and innovate in harmony. I have always appreciated that character. The Byzantine structures welcomed the Ottoman architecture, just like the Ottoman welcomed the modern Turkish. I believe this will always be the case. Yet, I can not help, but wonder if the new structures the city is bombarded with, capture the true essence of this ancient city, which has so much vision, history and culture to offer. It is true that most of the new developments take place around the “modern” neighborhoods of the city such as Etiler and Maslak, but in any case the modern has a lot to take from the ancient and use it to revitalize one of the most sophisticated and intelligent cultures in the world, ridden with the innovation of the Romans, Arabs, Russians, Ottomans and Turks.

The recent boom in luxurious “eat, enjoy, entertain and shop where you live” complexes have been playing a major role in shaping Istanbul’s new look.

Akmerkez, Metocity, Suzer Plaza, Kanyon, Levent Loft, Sapphire, Istinye Park, Trump Tower, Kempinski Towers, Mashattan and the soon-to-be completed Zorlu Center are sprinkled all around the city with their massive complexes including individual shopping malls, sports centers and office towers.

Multiple architecture firms have been hired to construct these modern marvels with their multiple design and ecology awards. Millions of dollars have been spent to lay them on the ground. Nobody can deny the merit of having their global publicity and their contribution to the city’s entertainment. Yet, it is also hard to deny their contrast with the long-lasting landmarks of a city that has been around for centuries. Unlike the previous residential complexes, these new massive structures are visible from almost every angle and make a significant impact on Istanbul’s silhouette. It is a privilege to have them, but it is also necessary to somehow rework them into the mystical and historical aspect of the city.

A few examples which have successfully crafted this detail are the Macka Palace, Istanbul Modern, Pera Museum, the building of the Nu Pera bar & restaurant, the new W Hotel and the Four Seasons.

Having lived in New York for a few years, I am able to see the residuals of the transfromation happening currently in Istanbul. Generic luxury residential towers popped out from every corner of the city until the time came when the majority of the residents decided to rework/renovate the ancient landmarks, such as the lofts in SoHo and the shops in the Meatpacking district and started to choose them as their new modern home. Similar amounts of capital were spent to reenergize the original. I believe this will and should also be the case for Istanbul when enough infrastructure will be applied to revitalize the ancient neigborhoods of the city such as Beyoglu and Karakoy. I hope until then these massive modern complexes we come to love so much will have enough identity to preserve the uniqueness of a city filled with culture and history.

Like many other urban cities, Istanbul is dressed up with numerous popular night spots. One thing that separates the city from its other rivals is its seasonal restaurant-to-nightclub culture. Similar to European cities, Istanbul welcomes the idea of having popular high-class restaurants turn into nightclubs after dinner. The summers are spent in open air right next to the Bosphorus. The colder weather pushes the night scene indoors to hilltops overlooking the city. Dress code is business casual with dark sneakers or dress shoes for guys and elegant cocktail dresses/outfits with combed hair and make-up for girls. Entrance is guaranteed with dinner reservation and will be much easier with local friends if it is after hours. Table service is not recommended unless you are a large group. Do not forget that sea travel (with water taxi) is a much better travel option during spring and summer for the seaside clubs. You will avoid hours of traffic and crowded roadside entrances.

Here are a few of the most popular Istanbul nightclubs:

Anjelique/Wanna
Set in a multi-floored villa right next to the Bosphrus in Ortakoy, Anjelique is known for its deep house music. Starting in 2009, its management, the Doors Group, opened up the lower floor to oldies and pop music lovers. Also known as a popular dinner spot, Anjelique is one of the most frequented nightclubs in the city during summer. It is renovated with cold weather elements and renamed Wanna during winter. This is a strategy used by the Doors Group to keep things interesting and allow visitors to refresh their memories from one season to another.

Reina

What makes Reina so special is how it is managed as a full-service entertainment wonder. It is one of the largest open-air nightclubs built seaside below the European leg of the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. It houses multiple restaurants during summer from Turkish to Chinese cuisine, overlooking the dance floor in the center. Kosebasi, Park Samdan and Dragon are all recommended for dinner. Reina changes completely during winter. Multiple restaurants disappear. Everything packs up inside with only one restaurant, Reina, serving food. The nightclub heats up after dinner around midnight with mainly Turkish and foreign pop songs blasting through the large speakers surrounding the middle dance floor.

Ulus 29
Also known as one of the best Turkish restaurants in Istanbul, Ulus 29 overlooks the city from one of the highest hilltops. The restaurant and the club are separated by a short corridor. 29’s owners usually rent out a place right next to the Bosphrus for the 4-month summer season, which is equally enjoyable as the winter location. The music is a mix of oldies remixed and Turkish and foreign pop songs.

W Hotel

Opened in 2009, this international hotel quickly became a popular winter night spot for its Tuesday night parties. Right above the ground floor lobby, house music lovers gather to enjoy drinks in an extremely crowded scene with lots of familiar faces.

The 86th birthday of the Republic of Turkey was celebrated in Istanbul yesterday, honoring the wisdom and determination of its founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk with an amazing firework show. I wasn’t there, but a friend was kind enough to forward some great photos to me. Thought it would be nice to share. The photos were taken in Ortakoy.

It’s really tough! Every morning at the New York office I contemplate what I should have for breakfast. There isn’t certainly much to choose from. Cereal, cereal bar, oatmeal, croissants, grilled cheese from ‘WichCraft or a 6 inch sandwich with melted cheese and turkey from Subway. Croissants are a favorite but usually get dropped from the list since their ridiculous calorie amount is now on every label written in large fonts. Cereal and its other versions are the most popular until I get so tired of it that I can’t even have another bite.

Within all the hunger and the desperate attempts to make a delicious decision for the most important meal of the day, I long for the incredible breakfasts I have back at home with:

• Fresh green olives marinated with olive oil and thyme
• Red watery tomatoes
• Honey and honey comb
• Feta cheese, string cheese, kasar and tulum peyniri
• Fresh savory pastry, bread and croissant
• Delicatessen
• “Menemen” a Turkish omelet made with chopped green pepper, tomatoes, onions and feta cheese
• Cheese souffle
• Turkish tea

I end up with a watery mouth, a huge appetite and nothing good enough to fight it down with. Once a day, five times a week…

Besides my obsession with Turkish feta cheese and green olives, I have one more rather unexpected obsession from my home country. Cizmeci Gida’s (www.cizmecigida.com) waffle cookies made with nuts and cocoa have a taste I haven’t been able to match anywhere around the world so far. The company, founded in 1993 currently houses close to 35 products mainly focusing on waffle cookies and coated biscuits. So whenever I am back in Istanbul I try to get a few of the 400g boxes and preserve them in the refrigerator. The cold makes these cookies even better with milk. Be careful though these cookies are certainly in the “once you pop you can’t stop” category.

When you live away from home you get the urge to impress the foreign friends with your culture. You are led to be an ambassodor of your country. My way of impressing goes through food. So whenever I go back to Istanbul I try desperately to find the right ingredients to make people go “wow is this Turkish? Its delicious!” From baklava to turkish delights I have tried it all and I think I have finally found what I was looking for. Divan, which is one of the oldest and high quality bakeries of Turkey, came up with the idea of covering our famous turkish delights with chocolate. It turned out to be an amazing invention. Foreigners do not get intimidated by the messy powdered sugar coating and are not overwhelmed by the extra sweetness of the desert. The chocolate makes the best introduction when you fist open the box and the gummy turkish delight with pistachio hidden inside gives the best surprise. Just make sure you get more than one box.

If you ever decide to visit the city of seven hills, the perfect times are between mid-May and late-June. That is when Istanbul starts preparing for the hot summer days. The famous Bosphorus trees called Erguvan blossom with all their strenght, displaying some of the most beautiful pink and white flowers in the world. All the outdoor nightclubs and the restaurants with outside terraces are just beginning to welcome their first customers. Here are my hotel recommendations from my hometown:

1. Radisson SAS Ortakoy

This considerably small (compared to other immense luxury hotels in Istanbul) hotel opened up recently in one of the oldest, yet still the most popular neighborhoods in Istanbul. Ortakoy, which directly translates to “Middle Village” stands as its name suggests in the middle of all the social beat on the European side of the city. You shouldn’t be fooled by the cheap and convenient image of Radisson in North America. Unlike its American relatives, this hotel is decorated with luxury and finished with modern touches. It stands right next to the Bosphorus saluting one of the two bridges that connect the European side with the Asian side. Its walking distance away from famous restaurants such as House Cafe and Xuma Restaurant London that just opened up. It is also two doors away from one of the most popular house music nightclubs in Istanbul called Anjelique.

2. Ciragan Kempinski

If you can afford a more expensive stay and are looking for all the best features a luxury hotel can provide you with, Ciragan is the place you are looking for. Also located in Ortakoy , this immense five-star hotel is named after the Ciragan Palace, which served the rulers of the Ottoman Empire. The hotel is actually connected with the palace, which was renovated a few years ago after a big fire that completely destroyed its interiors. Now the palace houses some of the most exclusive weddings, conferences in the city and also welcomes wealthy individuals who can afford the few suites located inside. Definitely a fan of the outdoor pool at this hotel.

3. Les Ottomans

If you are ready to pay even a little more than Ciragan and are looking for an all-exclusive, small luxurious palace right next to the Bosphorus, Les Ottomans is the hotel for you. This hotel of less than 10 guestrooms was fully completed in 2007 and welcomed international fame such as Kevin Costner, Paris Hilton and Kylie Minogue. The owner of the hotel and its land initially wanted to build herself a private residence, but when she couldn’t get the approval from the government, she came up with the idea of Les Ottomans. She resides on the top floor of the hotel.