I'm going to be the contrarian and say that I actually like most of the MLLs better than the CIP Lounge in IST.

Yes, the food in IST is great, but I find the lounge incredibly noisy, either with people or with the loud refrigerators that are in every seating area. The seating is also much less comfy than the MLLs.

Sure, the IST lounge is a spectacle at first, but it wears thin after being there dozens of times. MLLs, on the other hand, don't get old for me and feel much more comfortable.

@YXXFlyer, there is an airside hotel right next to the bottom floor exit of the lounge in IST. I would take that in a heartbeat over pulling an all-nighter in the lounge.