PRICE:
Frommer's Very Highly Recommended

Located on the corner of a busy intersection, Jerusalem's newest luxury hotel (1998) does not have the tranquil buffering gardens of its rival, the King David, but unlike other new hotels in town, it has a distinctive architectural style that mixes Jerusalem stone and traditional arches with sleek postmodern design and decor. It also has a fabulously convenient location complete with views of the Old City. The mood here is younger and livelier than at the King David, and the dining room, under the direction of renowned Chef Eric Attias, is more innovative. There is also an excellent (kosher) sushi bar each evening. Rooms are the last word in comfortable design, combining calm, pale beiges and natural textiles with sleek, elegant furnishings; all have views of the Old City, and offer many extra amenities, including bathrooms with both tubs and separate stall showers. There are nonsmoking rooms and rooms for travelers with disabilities. Israel's special Ahava Dead Sea soaps, shampoos, and cosmetics are set out on vanity counters. The CYBEX fitness center is probably the best in Jerusalem; the outdoor swimming pool is heated and open all winter, with a water entrance from inside the fitness center, so you can slip into the warm water without freezing. Tip: In summer, much of the pool falls under cool shadows after 3pm.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Israel, 4th Edition, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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