Fodor's Expert Review Imaret Hotel

One of the rare masterpieces of Ottoman baroque in Europe, this hotel began its life in the early 19th century as a complex of charitable buildings, including a soup kitchen and a school providing a secular education. Falling into disrepair in the decades after the fall of the empire, it was restored in 2001 and transformed into a luxury hotel. Interior touches change according to the season, from rich velvets and silks in the winter to light French linens in summer. Suites are especially lush, with sunken mosaic bathtubs, Egyptian chandeliers, emerald brocade bed coverings, and massive marble bathrooms. Rooms surround 32,000 square feet of interior gardens, marble arcades, fountains, and orange trees. The original hammam and cistern now serve as the hotel's spa. The hotel's restaurant Le Chat Noir, with its menu changing daily, is one of the top dining options in the city.