The Grand Park Esil is that rare thing in Astana: a hotel located in an early 20th-century colonnaded building as opposed to a soaring glass and steel tower, and probably boasts the most attractive exterior of any hotel in the city. It can be found on Astana’s Central Square close to various Right Bank government buildings. The 132 rooms tend to be on the small side but are well-equipped and predominantly decked out in neutral tones save for the profusion of dark wooden furniture – the décor is generally rather nice and suits the hotel’s classical façade. The hotel prides itself on catering to the business community and is under the same Turkish ownership as the InterContinental Hotel in Almaty, meaning that one can expect a good level of service and some English-speaking staff. The restaurant promises ‘the best of Ottoman cuisine’, but for those who happen to over-indulge there is also a health club, sauna and pool.