7 Best Boutique Hotels in Tel Aviv: Which One is Right for You?

You are coming to Tel Aviv and looking for accommodation that’s small, intimate and personalised?  You’re in good company - the demand for boutique hotels in Tel Aviv is growing by no end, with customers willing to pay good money for accommodation that’s both unusual and unique.  In a busy and chaotic world, this kind of accommodation can be a real treat, with guests provided with a bespoke and immersive experience, making you feel special - a great way to start a holiday!

The whole concept behind the Tel Aviv boutique hotel trend is twofold - on the one hand, guest-staff relationships are critical because this kind of hotel takes the view that you’re an individual (with your own personal needs) from the minute you walk through their door.   It’s also about decor and ambience - whether it’s effortlessly stylish, relentlessly quirky or just elegantly understated because any boutique hotel in Tel Aviv worth its salt will want to stand out from the crowd (and will often hire a top interior designer to make this happen!).

So today, we’re forgetting about the beachfront chains and focusing on intimate, quaint and stylish establishments all over the city, from the bourgeois Old North to the trendy Rothschild area, and from downtown Tel Aviv to magical Old Jaffa.  

Here are our top seven picks:

1. The Norman

The Norman boutique hotel in Tel Aviv is divine, there’s no two ways about it.  With a winning combination of bespoke design, gourmet fare and a fabulous location (just a stone’s throw from elegant Rothschild Boulevard) you’ll need deep pockets to stay here but it’s bound to exceed your expectations.

Located in two historic Bauhaus buildings, Norman’s decor is eclectic - vintage and antique pieces fused with contemporary art and high-tech gadgets.  You’ll be greeted with fruit plates, chocolates and artisanal bath toiletries on arrival and for those who like city skylines, head up to the rooftop which boasts panoramic views of Tel Aviv as well as an infinity pool.

As for food and drink, their restaurant Alena offers superb Mediterranean-themed cuisine, the reading room is serene and stylish and their Library Bar is sumptuous and elegant - the perfect place to enjoy one of their much talked-about cocktails, mixed by barmen in bow ties.  This is contemporary luxury at its finest.

One of Norman Hotel Tel Aviv buildings

2. The Drisco

Nestled in the heart of the pastoral and picturesque American-German Colony neighbourhood in Jaffa, the Drisco boutique hotel in Tel Aviv stands on the spot which was once a hotel built by the Drisco brothers (American colonists who arrived in the Holy Land in 1866) and named ‘the Jerusalem’.  

Historically, it was a stopover for pilgrims arriving in Jaffa by boat and en route to Jerusalem - today it’s a heritage landmark, five-star superior hotel with spectacular views and outstanding service.

Expect bathrooms with Carrera marble, complimentary juices and chocolate in the mini bar, spa treatment rooms, a Mark Twain lounge, and a lovely rooftop bar.  The exceptional restaurant ‘George and John (serving ‘modern Israeli dishes) wows customers with its sweetbreads, steak tartare and mille-feuille.

An easy walk away is ha Tachana (the Old Station), the trendy Noga area and all the attractions of Old Jaffa - consider taking a Perfect Tel Aviv walking tour to learn more about the area's history.

The Drisco Hotel Tel Aviv

3. The Melody

Tucked away up in the Old North, two minutes walk from the beautiful Hilton Beach (Tel Aviv’s official gay beach) lies the Melody boutique hotel, boasting four stars and two great views - the Mediterranean sea in one direction and the city skyline in the other.  

Espousing a ‘Work and Play’ philosophy, the hotel has good business facilities but also offers meticulously designed rooms, an eighth-floor rooftop where they serve complimentary Happy Hour drinks and bites, free bikes, beach towels (complete with little packets of sunscreen - what a nice touch!) and notably attentive staff.

Breakfast is plentiful, with all kinds of hot and cold options which change regularly, and you’re just a block from the Tayelet boardwalk and sandy white beaches.  Just over a ten-minute walk north will get you either to the Tel Aviv Port (full of restaurants, bars and stores) or the verdant HaYarkon Park, the city’s ‘green lung,’  

The Melody is friendly, welcoming and a ‘home away from home’ say many repeat guests and a reasonably priced Tel Aviv boutique hotel.

Melody Hotel Tel Aviv

4. Poli House

In the heart of Tel Aviv, a moment from lively Sheinkin Street and the bustling Carmel Market (wonderful for strolling around and a great place to take a Tel Aviv food tour) you’ll find the Poli House boutique hotel, owned by the Brown group who are firm believers in the concept of a personalised experience.

Offering guests a heated rooftop pool, jacuzzi, sun loungers and spa facilities, the 40 rooms (designed by world-renowned architect Karim Rashid) aren’t large but well-equipped (with complimentary bottles of Prosecco and Ouzo placed in the fridge for your arrival). Vivid colours meet with Bauhaus geometry (it’s a wonderfully restored 1930s building) and the Poli has a relationship with a nearby local institution, Cafe Birnbaum, where you will be able to enjoy a hearty dairy breakfast.

This is next-level hospitality in the White City!

Poli House Hotel Tel Aviv

5. The Vera

Situated close to Neve Tsedek, arguably Tel Aviv’s most charming and beautiful neighbourhood, design lovers may feel that they've died and gone to heaven on arrival at the Vera boutique hotel. With its contemporary look, back in the 1950's it was an office space and the interior designers bore this in mind when renovating, which is why a few rough-plastered walls remain.

Yes, the Vera aims to pay homage to industrial-chic design (which it does well) using everything ‘local’ that it can. Rooms feature bespoke furniture designed by local Tel Aviv Tomer Nachson and lighting by Ohed Benit.  The bedrooms are luxurious - expect Egyptian cotton sheets, sumptuous bath robes and fruit plates, not to mention organic bath products made by Israeli artisans.  

As for amenities, the Vera offers free bikes, yoga and pilates classes and its two-level rooftop ‘oasis’ boasts sun loungers and a free-flowing beverage machine (from which you can try excellent Israeli wines) Finally, what their concierge doesn’t know about local attractions isn’t worth knowing!

The Vera Hotel

6. Fabric

Owned by the Atlas chain, the Fabric boutique hotel in Tel Aviv sits on the lively and beautiful Nahalat Binyamin street, which is pedestrianised and perfect for strolling along.  The street also plays host to a bi-weekly arts and crafts market (everything made by local artists) as well as plenty of thought-provoking local Tel Aviv street art.

Fabric is a trendy little place, which prides itself on exceptional service in the form of warm staff and plenty of complimentary offerings, including loan bikes and free access to a nearby gym.  Whilst the rooms are not large, they are modern, stylish and comfortable and their terrace overflowing with plants is the perfect place to enjoy your free  Happy Hour cocktail. 

Finally, guests rave about their vegetarian and vegan breakfast options - and let’s face it, breakfast in Tel Aviv is a big deal!  So if room space isn’t an issue for you, and you’re not looking to take out a mortgage Fabric is a good Tel Aviv small hotel choice.

Fabric Hotel Tel Aviv

7. Market House 

Like the Drisco, the Market House boutique hotel is situated in Jaffa, just a few steps from the Ottoman-era clock tower. The first boutique hotel to open in the area, it’s comfortable and modern but its design is very much influenced by the neighbourhood's fascinating history - as you walk through the door, look down through the; lobby’s glass floor - you;ll see the remains of a Byzantine church!    

Although in a historic building, the Market House is renovated and wonderfully maintained, with comfortable modern rooms (complimentary cold drinks in the fridge and a pair of flip flops by your bead). Guests rave about the welcoming staff and the delicious breakfast, not to mention how easily they can walk to the Jaffa port, Artist’s Quarter's famous Jaffa flea market. And if you do want to explore further afield, they offer free bikes (with helmets and locks!) so you can cycle off to Neve Tzedek or Florentin for fun.

Buzzy, friendly and perfect for a couple's break, Market House is a terrific find.

Market House Hotel

If you’re coming to Israel and looking to see as much of the country as possible, why not consider taking one of our day trips - from the holy sites of Jerusalem, the churches of Nazareth and the Galilee and an action-packed adventure at Masada fortress and the Dead Sea, you’ll have a day you won't forget in a while.