JEWISH WORLD

By ABIGAIL KLEIN LEICHMAN A whole new crop of remark- able hotels opened this year in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, mainly in the trendy southern neighborhoods near the Jaffa flea market and port, Carmel Market, Nahalat Binyamin artisans fair, high-tech Rothschild Boulevard, artsy Neve Tzedek, and hip Florentin. Other new hotels are sited in cen- tral or “Old North” Tel Aviv for a more traditional taste of the city. All are just a hop, skip, and jump from the city’s famous Mediterran- ean beaches and vibrant nightlife options. Here are nine of the best new hotels in Tel Aviv: SETAI TEL AVIV: Best new luxury hotel T his luxury hotel in Jaffa is the result of more than 20 years of preservation work led by the Israel Antiquities Authority to maintain the building’s original Ottoman-era character. The structure was built as a fortress in 1886 and served as a pri- son and police station, but workers dug up artifacts dating back to the Crusader period. Stone and marble corridors con- nect the property’s five buildings, featuring 120 rooms around a cen- tral courtyard. Address: 22 David Raziel St. (top of the Clock Tower Square) Amenities: Spa, Turkish hamam (steam bath), infinity rooftop pool, Jaya chef restaurant, Kishle bar, Mediterranean Lounge Parking: Valet DAVE GORDON HOTEL: Best new low-budget boutique hotel I f you’re looking for relatively low-cost accommodations in Tel Aviv, this quirky property from Brown Hotels’ new “Son of a Brown” brand fits the bill. Its cen- tral location near the beach gives equal access to the artistic and pro- fessional faces of Tel Aviv in a prime shopping district. Dave Gordon’s no-elevator four- story preserved Bauhaus building is furnished with flea-market finds and “funky, weird, daring and fun” novelties. Guests get vouchers for meals at two neighborhood cafés and a discount at a nearby gym. Address: 17 Gordon St. Amenities: Video game console, library, sitting courtyard, bike rentals Parking: In nearby public lot on Frishman Street THE DRISCO: Best new restored hotel T he Hardegg Jerusalem Hotel, built in the 1860s by John and George Drisco, was the region’s first luxury hotel until it was taken over in 1940 as a British military headquarters and later as a shelter for Jewish refugees from Europe. A $35 million investment and 10- year restoration project brought the hotel back to life earlier this year as The Drisco, part of the Leading Hotels of the World group. Situated in South Tel Aviv’s American- German Colony, The Drisco has 42 rooms, some offering views of the Mediterranean and others overlook- ing Jaffa or the hotel’s courtyard. A second historic building, the Norton House, is part of the com- plex. This three-story wood struc- ture, renamed The Villa Drisco, has a five-room suite and Maine-style porches. Address: 6 Auerbach St. Amenities: Lounge bar, rooftop bar, and chef restaurant Zada featuring a contemporary spin on the Ottoman cuisine Parking: Valet HOTEL SAUL: Best new business- district boutique hotel S aul’s 34 rooms are described as having an industrial yet homey design concept: “Steel and exposed concrete are juxtaposed with wal- nut furnishings and restored street lamps to create an eye catching, contemporary feel that captures Tel Aviv’s unique interplay of old and new, of luxury and grit.” Hotel Saul is not far from Carmel Market and Rothschild Boulevard. But rooms have been acoustically engineered to block out street noise for a good night’s sleep. Guests even get free Netflix and a bucket of popcorn. This hotel prides itself on its mul- tilingual staff (including Russian, Ukrainian, Latvian, Romanian, Italian, French, Spanish and basic Portuguese, and of course English and Hebrew). Address: 17 Tchernikovsky St. Amenities: Barvazi gourmet “sandwicherie,” fourth-floor games terrace, rooftop sundeck, free Netflix Parking: In a nearby underground garage on Maccabi Street FABRIC: Best new theme hotel T he Atlas boutique hotel chain’s 10th Tel Aviv property, Fabric, takes its name from the fabric dis- trict concentrated in this vivacious area of South Tel Aviv. Fabric was designed as a “neigh- borhood saloon” featuring a rough, industrial design and furniture along with colorful art throughout its 43 rooms. In keeping with Tel Aviv’s dog-friendly ambiance, pets are allowed on request. A variety of room configurations includes those with bunk beds — rare for a hotel that’s not a youth hostel. Fabric’s all-day (“from cof- fee till cocktail”) bar, the Bushwick, is a joint collaboration with Tel Aviv’s famous Imperial Cocktail Bar group. Address: 28 Nahalat Binyamin St. Amenities: All-day cocktail bar, free happy hour, free bicycle rental Parking: In nearby public lot THE JAFFA HOTEL: Best new Jaffa hotel T he Jaffa was built within the walls of a 19th century com- plex that once housed Jaffa’s French Hospital. Architects John Pawson and Ramy Gill trans- formed the original structure into a blend of modern-meets-historic. In the lobby you can see the remains of a 12-century Crusader- era wall uncovered during more than two decades of renovations. Tel Aviv’s Hotel Revolution Here’s the best of the crop of the Big Orange’s chic new offerings continued on page 14 NEW HOTELS 8 JEWISH WORLD • DEC. 21, 2018 Setai Tel Aviv, in a restored Ottoman-era building, opened in Jaffa in 2018. Rooftop infinity pool at the Setai Tel Aviv. Courtesy of The Drisco Restored rooms greet visitors at the 19th century Drisco. A homey area for relaxation at the Hotel Saul in Tel Aviv. Photo by Boaz Lavi