Small and chic

New boutique hotels springing up all over Tel Aviv compete for the attention of seasoned travelers.

By NERIA BARR
Eden House Premier (photo credit: Courtesy)
Eden House Premier
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Most of the small boutique hotels in the heart of Tel Aviv’s liveliest neighborhoods are renovated buildings, each trying to provide a different atmosphere. After reviewing two hotels last week that celebrate Tel Aviv in their design, trying to bring back the charm of old Tel Aviv (The Rothschild) and promote contemporary art (Townhouse), this week we review two hotels designed by well reputed interior designer Ruby Israeli.
Although each is distinct in its own way, both hotels exude international elegance.HOTEL B – BERDICHEVSKY
The new Hotel B – Berdichevsky is designed in urban boutique chic. Located on Berdichevsky Street, less than 100 meters from Rothschild Boulevard in the center of Tel Aviv, the hotel has 23 rooms, including one suite. The sizes of the rooms range from Junior to King Junior Suite.
The reception area is accessible through the hotel’s bistro-café, which doubles as the lobby bar and breakfast room for guests and other diners.
The color scheme of the guest rooms is warm browns, gold and whites, with furnishings in leather and black. There are marble floors, crisp white linens of highquality Egyptian cotton and comfortable bathrobes. But the best feature is the bed.
An excellent mattress, coupled with an assortment of high-grade pillows, assures a great night’s sleep.
There are no bathtubs in the rooms, but the showers are spacious and ultramodern, and the quality soaps and toiletries provide a luxurious feeling.
Courtesy
Courtesy
There is a free high-speed Internet connection and a desk in each room, as well as cable TV, a safe, a hair dryer and other necessities of modern life.
The hotel’s dining area, which serves as the cafe breakfast area and the hotel bar, is designed like a Parisian bistro, with leather couches and chairs, marble tables and plaid Ralph Lauren wallpaper.
The tempting menu offers eight egg dishes.
created by chef Roee Sofer, and service is fast and attentive. I especially enjoyed the eggs Benedict, the fresh bread basket and baked goods brought in from a nearby bakery.
In fact, since staying there, I have adopted the bistro as our new place for quiet tête-à-têtes. At night the bistro turns into a bar, serving tapas and a large selection of alcoholic beverages.
The hotel has a large treatment room with Jacuzzi and dry sauna. It is large enough for two massage tables. It is not a full-fledged spa, but it provides an indulging and relaxing experience, with an expert masseur. The spa is available to hotel guests and other clientele as well.
I like the Hotel B – Berdichevsky for its quiet elegance and luxurious feel, so different from the Tel Aviv shabby chic, and for its very warm and friendly service.14 Berdichevsky Street, Tel Aviv. Prices range from $200 to $300.
EDEN HOUSE PREMIER
Located within a short walking distance from the center of the city and the beach, it’s surprising that the neighborhood of Kerem Hateimanim, behind the Carmel Market, wasn’t considered to be an appealing area. Rundown and neglected, the quaint, low-built neighborhood was just waiting for someone to discover it. As in many cases, it was the young people and the artists who discovered the area when the high real-estate prices drove them to look for new options. They made the Kerem their home and were soon followed by entrepreneurs who saw the opportunity in the up-and-coming neighborhood.
Among the entrepreneurs were two new immigrants from Russia – Sergey Solovyov and Michael Ustinov – who quickly opened the Blue House and then the Eden guest house, both of which became instant successes. Then they felt it was time for another project, the Eden House Premier boutique hotel, and it looks like another success for the two.
Coming across the Eden House while strolling along the picturesque alleyways of the neighborhood, one immediately feels like one is somewhere in Europe.
Courtesy
Courtesy
The hotel is a hidden gem – a perfect choice for those seeking pampering accommodation, quiet but close to everything, It’s a home away from home. Here one finds old world atmosphere combined with modern comforts and 24-hour personal service.
The 12 guest rooms are not large – resembling hotel rooms in Paris or Rome – but the beds are very comfortable, the linens are of the highest quality, the balconies are breezy, and the amenities are first class.
Much attention is paid to detail, such as a basket filled with miniature bottles of alcohol (free of charge) and the romantic interiors that don’t stop at the gold faucets. There are the necessary free Internet connection and cable TV, as well as terry-cloth bathrobes and hair dryer, but no mini-bar.
Instead, the staff will bring to your room anything you request.
All the rooms are furnished and decorated in warm colors, with reds and pinks, flowers, angels and romance everywhere.
Each room has a slightly different character and provides a different experience. If possible, ask to be shown a few rooms before you settle in. Combining old-time European hotel hospitality with the direct and friendly Mediterranean approach, the Eden Premier is a great choice for locals and tourists alike.
Hotel guests enjoy a complimentary breakfast in the sweet and intimate restaurant near the entrance. The restaurant serves hotel guests, as well as other diners, offering one of the best breakfasts in Tel Aviv, with a menu of 11 choices. I loved the two kinds of eggs I had, and promised myself that next time I’d try the blini. For dinner, the restaurant offers French bistro cuisine.
I like the Eden House Premier for its romantic feel, warm hospitality, European atmosphere, attentive service and reasonable prices.
Eden House Premier, 11 Yishkon Street, Tel Aviv. Rooms range from NIS 700 to NIS 1,200. For dinner, reservations are required. (03) 545-5900.