Point Hotel Taksim

Description:

• The triangular, even Flatiron-like, Point Hotel is one of the earliest breed of "design hotels" offering something visually more appealing than the beige carpeting and innocuous floral bedspreads that pervade the hotel scene (but not this guide!). Carpeting is checkerboard with Mondrian-esque stripes, and flatscreen TVs on the walls leave thick glass desktops sensibly uncluttered. I'm not sure this is even classified as superior design or just appealing decorating choices. The unmistakable advantage of this hotel, besides the spa and indoor swimming pool (also triangular), is the service, which is attentive, helpful, and friendly. The ground floor Japanese restaurant, Udonya, is extremely popular for the after-hours crowd.

• © Frommer's 2013