Nisantasi is Istanbul's answer to New York's Upper East Side—an upscale neighborhood that has the city's best shopping. It's not an area where tourists usually stay, but the Sofa, a stylish and ambitious hotel that opened in 2006, is starting to change that. The emphasis here is on design, with large rooms that have sleek metal and wood furniture—and the eponymous trademark sofa. The top floor hosts international art exhibits, while the basement has a full-service spa—a subterranean oasis to unwind in after a hard day of shopping at City's, the posh new shopping mall across the street. Pros: luxurious rooms; original design and feel. Cons: no Bosphorus view from rooms; expensive neighborhood.
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