Introducing Debrah Brown: A classy hotel near the Tel Aviv beach
Debrah Brown is in the same building as the original Debrah Hotel, Tel Aviv’s first luxury kosher hotel which opened in 1964.
The welcoming rooftop at Debrah Brown has glorious views of Tel Aviv.(photo credit: Courtesy)BySTEVE LINDEJerusalem Report logo small (credit: JPOST STAFF)
We were warmly received at Debrah Brown, a new luxury boutique hotel at the intersection of Ben-Yehuda and Gordon streets near Tel Aviv’s beachfront. The friendly woman at reception even ushered us to what is called an executive sea-view room on the 11th floor – the top floor – looking out toward the Mediterranean.
The 89-room hotel, which officially opened in July 2021, is the latest link in the international chain, Brown Hotels. “Inspired by uptown New York with a neoclassical twist, Debrah Brown ushers an air of refinement to Tel Aviv’s beachside hotel offerings,” according to Brown Hotels.
Debrah Brown is in the same building as the original Debrah Hotel, Tel Aviv’s first luxury kosher hotel which opened in 1964.
Tel Aviv beach in the summer. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Led by the architect Prof. Yossi Friedman, the hotel’s design presents an amalgamation of concepts inspired by New York’s sophisticated hotel scene and classic European accents. Friedman describes this as “a harmony of contrasts,” blending the two styles to create a discerning aesthetic with a bold twist. With an opulent atmosphere, the hotel’s decor boasts a palette of steel grey and stone, dark wood parquet flooring, green velvet and gold finishings.
The rooms are furnished with velvet headboards with elliptical mirrors, stone velvet sofas, wooden floors and monochromic appurtenances. The lobby features an impressive gold chandelier over a large, teal-green velvet seat, stone-colored sofas and armchairs and a classic Brown Hotels library stacked with English books.
The hotel offers six types of rooms for singles, couples and families: the urban room (16 square meters) for single occupancy, executive rooms with city or sea views (22 sq.m.) for double occupancy, a family room (27 sq.m.), a terrace room with a spacious balcony and city view (32 sq.m.) and an executive suite (41 sq.m.).
With the exception of the urban room, all rooms and suites have king-sized beds with Egyptian cotton linen, a minibar, HD TV with satellite channels and Netflix, as well as a wardrobe, safe and desk. All bathrooms have a rainfall shower, Molton Brown toiletries and towels, bathrobes and slippers.
According to Brown Hotels, the entrance of the hotel will soon feature the second branch of acclaimed chef Eyal Shani’s kosher restaurant, Malka. By the end of 2021, a large spa and fitness center is also scheduled to open, as are an intimate performance hall in collaboration with the Tel Aviv production and events company Barby, a conference hall and a synagogue.
The rooftop offers a sunbathing lounge and jacuzzi baths, with sweeping views of the city and sea. Rather than having breakfast delivered to our room, we enjoyed an overly generous but delicious Shabbat spread that neither of us could finish.
Debrah Brown provides 24/7 reception and concierge services, free Wifi, luggage storage and bicycles for guest use. Animals up to 9 kg. are welcome at no extra cost with advance notice.
Laundry and ironing services are available at an additional cost, while parking is available at a nearby lot for 80 shekels per day. (A special thank you to the hotel doorman who helped us change a flat tire!)
One thing we discovered, by the way, is that when it comes to going to a restaurant, you can’t just hail a taxi in Tel Aviv. You need to download a taxi app and be very patient indeed. We ended up walking and then catching a cab to a wonderful restaurant called La Shuk at Dizengoff Square.
We thoroughly enjoyed our weekend at Debrah Brown and highly recommend it to anyone wanting a warm and classy getaway not far from the Tel Aviv beachfront.■
