The Jaffa, Tel Aviv

A microcosm of Tel Aviv captured within a luxury hotel, The Jaffa is an effortless fusion of the Old World and New. Set within the ancient port town of Jaffa’s old French Hospital, the design is nothing short of meticulous. Lofty ceilings and arched windows usher forth sentiments of the past whilst bespoke furnishings and a high-tech finish in each of the 120 rooms keeps you rooted in modern-day Tel Aviv. Looking from the window, the Mediterranean stretches out before you with only a few rooftops of Jaffa separating you from these silken city sands. At The Jaffa, it’s all about nodding to the past whilst still looking to the future.

Location

Just 30 minutes from Ben Gurion International Airport and you’ll find yourself amid the calm oasis of the Jaffa. The perfect location, it’s a slice of old Tel Aviv with Shuk Hapishpeshim flea market and the Museum of Antiquities just a short stroll away. But it’s not afraid of Israel’s modern side either with a host of trendy bars, restaurants and shops nearby cementing its reputation as “Little Paris”.

Your Room

Taking sides between the contemporary and the traditional, the 120 rooms and suites of the Jaffa have a little something different for every taste. Natural materials and period features are played off against vibrant shades of plum and lime to create spaces that represent the city which you’ll look out over from your private balcony. Adding to the sense of place, you’ll find ornate mashrabiya blinds and artwork from local photographer, Tal Shochat. Elegant and refined, much like Jaffa itself, there’s a pervading sense of tranquillity as soon as you step through the door here.

Why we like it

Dining here is a thoroughly New York affair with the restaurants of the Jaffa drawing inspiration from across Manhattan. Set within a tree-filled courtyard, sit down to traditional Italian dishes infused with local Israeli flavors at Don Camillo as the skies fade from dusky pinks to inky blacks above. For something a little lighter, Golda’s Delicatessen is one of our favorite lunch spots in the city with their signature thickly schmeared bagels and lox – served fresh from the open kitchen. End the night gathered around a game of backgammon, drink in hand at Sheshbesh Bar.