Even after living in Israel for some 40 years, for this Jerusalem-area resident, going to Tel Aviv is like a foray into big city excitement.
And no location says Tel Aviv more than the Nahalat Binyamin surroundings. Imagine waking up above the bustling pedestrian mall, with the aroma of fresh-baked breads and pastries wafting in the air and the famed Carmel Market a few steps away.
The Hotel Nordoy provides that and much more from its perch at the fulcrum of city activity but in an environment of tranquility and luxurious surroundings. It’s impossible to miss – a stately pink structure at the junction of the beginning of the pedestrian mall and Gruzenberg Street.
And it’s been a landmark there for 100 years, as one of Tel Aviv’s oldest hotels, operating continuously since its opening in 1925. But is it Nordoy or the more natural and Israeli-sounding Nordau? Signage, literature, and advertisements toggle between the two spellings, sharpening the mystery.
The delightful day manager, Ilana, explained that when the hotel was first opened by the Markus family as the first Tel Aviv building designed specifically as a hotel, they spoke in Yiddish, and their well-meaning Nordau ended up transmitting as Nordoy, so the latter name stuck.
The family managed the hotel until 2015, when it was sold, and at the end of 2024, it was acquired by Fattal Hotels for NIS 56.5 million. After investing another NIS 10 million in renovations, the Nordoy reopened for its 100th anniversary as an 18-plus boutique hotel three months ago.
The building, considered one of the city’s most significant landmarks, combines European, Jewish, and Eastern motifs, and its silver corner dome has become an iconic element of Tel Aviv’s skyline.
Upon passing through the gates of the hotel next to the always-busy Nordinio café (from which the aroma of baking emerged), you forget that you’re in the middle of Tel Aviv mayhem. There’s a softness that’s immediately felt, enhanced by the refined furniture and silk rugs that dot the common areas and the 22 rooms.
Each of 22 relatively spacious rooms and suites features balconies overlooking the urban Tel Aviv landscape and provides hours of free entertainment, as life down below is never dull. There is one caveat, though. At night the area is hopping with restaurants and bars, and even with the windows closed, there is some street-level noise that permeated our second-floor room until about 11 p.m. or so. The best antidote is to just join the revelers and stay up with them until they crash.
The hotel’s top floor has been transformed into an inviting urban rooftop with a panoramic view of the city, a Jacuzzi, and a beverage counter that self-serves glasses of red or white wine from a spigot. Again, hours of free entertainment.
Lots of fun right outside Hotel Nordoy's door
But as attractive as it would be to stay within the Nordoy’s confines, there’s a whole world of sites and fun right outside the door. There’s a very attractive artists’ crafts fair along Nahalat Binyamin every Tuesday and Friday, with dozens of artisans selling their wares. And of course, the Carmel Market is not to be missed. Situated in central Tel Aviv, it’s only a 15-minute walk to the beach or to Rothschild Boulevard. In short, the entire city is at your disposal.
In the morning, a delicious and filling breakfast is provided at the Pere restaurant adjacent to the Nordinio café. A modern non-kosher bistro at night, it opens in the morning exclusively for guests of the hotel for a dairy-only repast, complete with fresh breads, pastries, and eggs of choice.
Light jazz music plays in the background, and the atmosphere with the city waking up recalls Paris or Rome. It’s not the grandiose buffet that Israeli hotels have become famous for, but it was just as delicious and totally relaxing.
If you come to the Nordoy by car, the parking is somewhat pricey, but use the Central Park app and park at the Gruzenberg lot (a two-minute walk) for a substantial discount. The Allenby light rail stop is the closest to the hotel, only a few minutes’ walk away.
The Nordoy prices are competitive with Tel Aviv hotels; it’s not the most expensive but not the most economical. Plan on spending upward of NIS 1,000 a night, depending on availability and the day of the week.
But if it’s an urban escape that you’re looking for that provides comfort and peace alongside the hustle and bustle of one of the world’s greatest cities, the Nordoy won’t disappoint.
The writer was a guest of the hotel.