I used points to book a $4,690 business-class flight with Turkish Airlines. Its famous Istanbul airport lounge and food lived up to the hype.

One offering that is vastly overlooked, however, is Istanbul’s food scene. In reality, the city has a far broader, eclectic mix of dishes and experiences to sample.

Opened in 2023, the Istanbul outpost of the Peninsula brand occupies four waterfront buildings in the Karaköy district; three of them are gorgeously renovated fin de siècle landmarks.