Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul

This place was once my top destination, a spot I frequented with enthusiasm. Fast forward to 2024, and my recent experience was nothing short of a disappointment. Despite a quiet Sunday, I sat at my table for 20 minutes without a single staff member acknowledging me. The female manager was completely indifferent to the situation. To make matters worse, I arrived with my dog, who had previously been welcomed, yet this time they insisted on moving him to another room—even after I showed them video proof that he was allowed just a few months prior. It's truly unbelievable how far the service has fallen. With so many superior options offering genuine five-star service and quality in Istanbul, I’ll never return to this place.

I had an incredibly disappointing experience at the Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel during afternoon high tea at the Gazebo restaurant, and I feel compelled to warn potential diners (and guests) to stay far away from this establishment.

While the flavors of the food were decent, two items were missing from our high tea set, and the hot dishes arrived cold. A complete letdown for a five-star hotel. The service was nothing short of abysmal. Our server served the food without any introduction, leaving us confused. When we noticed the missing items and asked about them, the server was visibly unsure how to respond. Another staff member's attempt to address our concerns was even worse. She insisted that everything was present until we pointed out the missing items. She returned with them but placed them on the table without so much as an apology.

To add insult to injury, when the restaurant manager came over to check on us, we expressed our dissatisfaction with the experience. His reaction was shocking. He simply smiled and said "okay" before walking away. This blatant disregard for customer feedback highlights a severe lack of professionalism at every level of management.

While the ambience was nice, with lovely views of the Bosphorus and comfortable sofa seating, it simply cannot make up for the poor service and overall experience. I strongly recommend that potential diners (and guests) steer clear of this hotel. It does not live up to its five-star reputation.

Our last visit for tea time in the Gazebo was a disappointment compared to our experiences from the past. It has been a couple of years that I haven't been there and I am not sure since when they reduced the menu significantly. The menu was rich in savory and sweet snacks that 2 trays of 3 layers were served to each. Now it is reduced to only 1 tray, mixed sweet and salty in 3 layers. They were short in refilling our hot drinks and they even forgot the prosecco! Visiting Ciragan for an afternoon tea used to be one of the pleasures of an Istanbul visit but unfortunately I am not anymore looking forward to the next visit to Ciragan.