The Credentials:
Decorated with Playboy photography, retro design and vintage glamour, the Brown Urban Hotel delivers a hip hospitality scene and understated luxury to Tel Aviv. Previously a bank, the hotel is located close to the historic White City and within walking distance of the beach. It is the only hotel in Tel Aviv that is a member of the boutique hotel network Design Hotels.
Guests of the hotel receive one of the coveted keys to access their private roof terrace, which offers an amazing panoramic view across the city and an open-air Jacuzzi. The party in the main bar starts in the late afternoon at the weekend and keeps going until the last guest burns out.
Dine:
The hotel doesn’t serve meals but has an agreement with five local restaurants that offer guests a choice of breakfasts, including The Romantic and The Trendy. We opted for a nourishing and filling The Organic on the outdoor terrace of Meshek Barzilay – all ingredients are brought from the Barzilay farm in Yarkona village to be cooked on the premises.
Sleep:
Our room was compact but stylish and expertly designed to maximise comfort and give an atmosphere of indulgence. It felt full of character, with stand-out features including a black marble walk-in shower, generously stocked minibar, fully equipped desk and Egyptian cotton towels and linen.
The view included a multi-storey car park and construction works but we didn’t hear any street noise.
Who goes there?
Tourists and business travellers who are tired of more conventional destinations and are looking to discover somewhere alternative and urban.
Out & About:
Home to a population of over 400,000 in Israel’s largest metropolitan area and granted UNESCO world heritage status, Tel Aviv is an explosion of art, nightlife and a thousand years of history. A beautiful stretch of sandy beach (named one of National Geographic’s top 10 beach cities) runs along the entire west part of the city, creating a buzzy social scene and attracting a community of locals and tourists.
The most central area of Tel Aviv contains the Yemenite Quarter, with its daily bustling Carmel market and home-cooked food; the lahoh bread and lentils are a must. However, I wasn’t brave enough to try the traditional khat juice or leaves, which act as a stimulant and are classed as a controlled substance in some countries. You should also explore the Neve Tzedek area in the cultural heart of the city – the first Jewish neighbourhood to be built outside the ancient port of Jaffa in 1887. It has been home to many artists and writers (including Nobel Prize laureate Shmuel Yosef Agnon) and has become a fashionable and vibrant district.
The recently refurbished spa at InterContinental David has a hair salon, gym, and a wonderful range of treatments that I took advantage of with the signature massage experience, incorporating four different techniques. My hair was styled by celebrity fave Marcel Reboh, recently returned to Israel from his salon in Miami. His top tip for men was to use thinning shears to achieve the best haircut results.
I was also excited to have a private tour of the redevelopment project of the The W Residences in Jaffa. The project is being undertaken by a real estate company owned by New York tycoon Aby Rosen (W Miami, Gramercy Park Hotel and others) alongside world-renowned British architect John Pawson. It will be set within the precincts of the ancient port, where a 19th-century French hospital is being renovated and its historic features, such as the sun-bathed chapel, vaulted ceilings and stained-glass windows are being incorporated into the design. Once completed, guests of the 38 residences will enjoy full facilities including a private shuttle to their own beach club and the Cassis restaurant in a prime beach location.
The Israelis really appreciate good food. Taizu on Menahem Begin Road has a fantastic, lively ambience and impressive array of ‘Asiaterranean’ dishes created by Yuval Ben Neriah, which included a whole fish served with a variety of sides from different Asian regions and a delectable coconut soup dessert to which you added your own fruit and nuts.
Breakfast at the recently opened Mendeli Street boutique hotel was also an absolute delight, with its wonderfully fresh and carefully selected products.
Other meals I enjoyed included dinner at Hotel Montefiore on Montefiore Street, which was classic and romantic and the simple but wonderfully creative organic dishes at 26 Gedera Street. Sunday night fun at Nanuchka, 28 Lilenblum Street, is something not to be missed.
The Worst Thing:
The generosity of the bar staff; I had a terrible hangover on the Sunday!
The Best Thing:
The design, relaxed atmosphere and warmth of the people in the hotel and the legendary sunsets and towering skyline from the beach.
