With so many great hotels in the city, it’s hard to know which to choose for Christmas and New Year’s Eve partying. Rene Ames breaks it down for you.

Unless cooking for family and friends is really your thing and the recession wouldn’t let you do otherwise, the year’s last two major celebrations can be enjoyed fuss-free and in style. Why go through the trouble of setting up a feast when everything’s being laid out grandly in some of the city’s best hotel restaurants? I’ve sifted through what gourmet goodies those places have to offer, and in hopes of minimizing stress a bit, have decided to exclude the dessert section- I reckon that, during the holiday season, everyone’s bound to come up with patisserie confections that will simply amaze and delight.

 *Price per person includes VAT, unless otherwise indicated.

 

Çırağan Palace Kempinski

Çırağan Caddesi 32 Beşiktaş  

(0212) 326 4646 

 

When? Christmas Eve and day

Why? To get pampered like Ottoman royalty.

How much? Tuğra 180TL*; Laledan 140TL*

Holiday treat: Caramel and chestnut Yule log; complimentary flute of champagne

 

TUĞRA’s set dinner: Marinated red mullet, sea bean pancake; duck foie gras kibbe, dried fruit marmalade and pomegranate syrup; oven-roasted stuffed turkey leg and breast, chestnut/pears/apple toppings, pan-fried cabbage with pastrami and light gravy; grilled monkfish wrapped in wine leaves, aubergine mantı, tahina sauce.

LALEDAN’s: Terrine of foie gras marbled with figs, sour pumpkin mash, duck aspic, grilled country bread; mock lasagne of scallops; large clams, mussels and prawns with roka beurre blanc and shellfish coulis; roast turkey and sides; seared grouper, shallot compote, celery root puree, baldo rice in wine leaves.

 

When? New Year’s Eve 

Why? Decadently enjoy the last hours of 2009 in a real Ottoman palace.

What else? Live jazz trio performance and DJ music at Laledan; live classic Turk music at Tuğra.

How much? Gazebo 280TL, 910TL/couple (includes bottle of Louis Roederer NV champagne); Laledan 290TL*, 980TL/couple (Louis Roederer 2003 champagne); Tuğra 340TL*/person, 1080TL/couple (Louis Roederer 2003 champagne), 1880TL/couple (Louis Roederer Cristal 2002.)

 

 

GAZEBO’s dinner buffet: duck foie gras terrine; large prawn tails; Moroccan starters; mixed seafood bouillabaisse; pan-seared beef medallion.

LALEDAN’s: Crayfish and cauliflower mash, cucumber jelly; lobster and sorrel ravioli; shellfish vinaigrette with spice bread crumble, apple and greens; chartreuse of risotto and crab with roka emulsion; red mullet fillets and scallops, orange anchovy sauce, spinach pancake; seared turbot, crusty potato shell, tomato lasagne, pine nut semolina, mousseline sauce; brie stuffed with mushrooms, mixed greens, walnut dressing.

TUĞRA’s: Lobster “Imam Bayildi”, stuffed zucchini ; dates and almonds filled quails, juniper berry vinaigrette; savory mushroom baklava with truffle sauce; turbot on white bean and tomato stock, artichoke sauce; pistachio crust lamb loin and braised cheek, slow-cooked pumpkin, sweet-sour quince.

 

Conrad Istanbul

Barbaros Blv.Yildiz Cad. Beşiktaş   

(0212) 310-2525

 

When? Christmas Eve and day

Why? Away from the madding crowd.

How much? 66TL*

Holiday treat: Christmas star pastry; complimentary glass of sparkling wine

 

MONET’s 4-course dinner: Duet of salmon with micro greens, honey-mustard sauce; cream of forest mushroom with focaccia croutons; roast turkey and toppings; grilled sea bass fillet on saffron risotto with champagne emulsion, pearls of salmon caviar.

 

When? New Year’s Eve

Why? Avoid annoying party animals let loose in the streets of Taksim.

What else? 8:30pm-3am live entertainment in the Ballroom; live DJ in Summit

How much? Ballroom’s first option, 225TL* (unlimited local drinks) for reservations paid on or before December 15th; second option, 110TL* (limited to two local drinks) 10:30pm-3am; Summit, 125TL* entrance (one cocktail).

 

 BALLROOM’s gala buffet: Salads and appetizers; an Asian Pyramid section (sushi/sashimi); seafood galore; pasta and risotto; seven fish and meat hot dishes; whole turkey and salmon carving station.

SUMMIT: “deluxe” canapés and tripe soup after midnight.

 

 

 

Four Seasons Sultanahmet

Tevkifhane Sokak No. 1, Sultanahmet-Eminönü  

(0212) 402 3000 

 

When? Christmas Eve and day

Why? A singularly atmospheric setting inside a neoclassic prison with Istanbul’s fabled Blue Mosque and Topkapı Palace in sight.

How much? 125TL* (62.50TL* for children 6-12 years old.), December 25th, 90TL (45TL for children)

Holiday treat: Christmas pudding and log pastry; welcome sparkling cocktail.

 

 

SEASONS’ 4-course dinner: Chicken liver royale, mini corn muffin, quince marmalade; seafood cannelloni, shrimp bisque sauce; turkey roast and toppings. December 25th: pan-seared scallops, eggplant caviar, ginger pumpkin cream; turkey roast and toppings or oven-roasted sea bass fillet, orange-braised leeks, chardonnay clam sauce.

 

When? Christmas Eve

Why? Romantic and elegant dining by the Bosphorus.

How much? 150TL* 

Holiday treat: Welcome drink.

 

 

AQUA (Four Seasons Bosphorus): Seafood and shellfish in basil sabayon gratin or symphony of duck liver with deer bresaola, port wine jelly; porcini mushroom lasagnetta, light cream and thyme sauce or oxtail consomme with prawn dumpling, vegetable pearls; braised dry-aged rib-eye, glazed chestnut, creamy porcini, potato ragout; turkey roast with toppings or broiled fillet of sole, safir wine and orange sauce, toasted black olive, glazed fennel, truffle potato.

 

 

When? New Year’s Eve

Why? Instead of braving the throngs of revelers elsewhere in the city, why not in history-rich Sultanahmet?

 

SEASONS’s 6-course gala dinner:  Warm lobster medallion, passion fruit vinaigrette; orange ricotta ravioli, tiger prawn, chestnut cream; wild sea bass, cod Brendan, tangerine chardonnay drizzle; grilled aged beef medallion, veal Cankara reduction.

 

What else? Live music during dinner; DJ music until the first hours of 2010; welcome drinks, cocktails and midnight sparkling wine toast.

How much? 275TL* (with unlimited local drinks); 225TL* (excluding beverages).

 

Hilton Istanbul

Cumhuriyet Caddesi, Harbiye

(0212) 315 6000

 

When? Christmas Eve and day

Why? If you’re stuck in the ‘Bul on business or pleasure.

How much? Bosphorus Terrace dinner and brunch 80TL*; The Roof 120TL*

Holiday treat: holiday croquenbouche

 

 

BOSPHORUS TERRACE’s dinner buffet: Salads, appetizers and soups; roast turkey and veal leg carving; five fish and meat hot dishes, ricotta-spinach ravioli. December 25th brunch buffet: cold/seafood/Japanese/Turkish counters; doner kebap and sea bass in salt carving; pasta and eggs selections; eight fish and meat hot dishes; dim sum, etc..

The ROOF’S 6-course dinner: Herb-marinated scallops with salmon, avocado-shallot-dukkah dressing; pan-fried John Dory fillet, trumpet mushroom risotto, tomato-saffron sauce; grilled beef tenderloin with spinach-porcini mushroom cannelloni, artichoke puree, truffle-red wine jus; roast turkey and toppings.

 

When? New Year’s Eve

Why? It’s a skip-hop away if you want to join the fun in Taksim Meydan afterwards.

How much? Bosphorus Terrace 235TL*; The Roof 325TL*

What else? Live band/ music in both the Terrace and Roof; complimentary welcome drink in The Roof.

 

 

BOSPHORUS TERRACE dinner buffet: Soups and appetizers; chestnut-stuffed roast turkey, doner kebab and sea bass in salt carving; ten seafood and meat hot dishes.

The ROOF’s 6-course dinner: Vodka-beetroot-marinated salmon and scallop carpaccio; pan-fried turbot and lobster ravioli, creamy spinach-saffron fondue; slow-roasted beef fillet and five-spice veal short-rib confit with foie gras, celery puree and morel mushroom-apple jus.

 

 

Ritz-Carlton

Süzer Plaza, Elmadağ, Askerocağı Caddesi 15 Sişli

(212) 334 4444 

 

When? New Year’s Eve

Why?  For a taste of Ali Ronay’s Nouvelle Turque Cuisine (TOIST 10/09).

How much? 369TL* (with unlimited local drinks); 399TL*(unlimited local drinks with flow of champagne).

What?  Live music 8:30pm-1:30am

 

CINTEMANI’s 5-course dinner: Amuse-bouche: cauliflower panna cottta, lobster consommé, black caviar; gateau de foie gras, 70% Callebaut chocolate-rhubarb sauce, chilled lobster-scallop salad-tomato-confit-avocado; exotic mushroom and herb risotto; wild-caught sea bass, roasted fennel-turned vegetables; rack of lamb, polenta and shiitake-stuffed ravioli, parmesan truffle butter.

 

 

Arrive and depart in style with Inter Limousine

The last thing anyone should be doing on New Year’s Eve is driving! Not only are the roads packed and unnecessarily stressful but also the combination of alcohol imbibed and careless drivers is a disaster waiting to happen! Inter Limousine is a truly special way to arrive and depart your destination in style on Christmas New Year’s Eve. The comfort, luxury and style are unparalleled. You’ll be spoiled rotten with Dom Perignon champagne, a chocolate basket and exotic fruits or if you prefer, 15-year-old Cutty Sark whiskey. Who knows how long you’ll be stuck in traffic on New Year’s Eve? One thing is for sure: you won’t mind being stuck in traffic in one of Inter’s limousines, in fact, you’ll wish your journey could last a bit longer! Inter Limousine offers this and more, from yacht rentals to private jets and helicopters, you won’t be disappointed.

Prices start at 15Euro per hour.