• Rating: 9/10
• Rooms at Elkonin Tel Aviv start at $704 (£560) a night
• Rooms at Elkonin Tel Aviv start at $704 (£560) a night
Tel Aviv is a city filled to the brim with exciting, luxurious and utterly unique hotels. I was lucky enough to spend over a month traveling through Israel and Palestine during two separate solo trips that took me across the vast and varied landscapes of these enchanting Middle-Eastern wonders. While Tel Aviv impresses with intimate boutique properties like The Drisco and Hotel Montefiore, Palestine wows with one-of-a-kind boltholes, like the incredible Walled Off Hotel, otherwise known as the Banksy Hotel. But the White City’s newest boutique property—having only opened its immaculate doors in February of 2023—is Elkonin Tel Aviv, sitting proudly in the same building that housed Tel Aviv’s very first hotel.
 |
| The stunning L'Époque at Elkonin—Robuchon's first restaurant in Israel |
Located in the neighborhood of Neve Tzedek, on the same street as The Vera Hotel, and close to Nordinyó (home to some of the best coffee in Tel Aviv), the building has been transformed by Dominique Romano who acquired it in 2004 with the aim of reinventing the historic landmark.
What’s the vibe at Elkonin Tel Aviv?
Spacious, calm and brilliantly light-filled. As soon as I stepped foot in Tel Aviv’s newest hotel I was overcome with a sense of serenity—not an easy feat in even the most intimate of hotels. When I visited at the very beginning of April, the hotel had only been open 38 days yet the professionalism and efficiency of staff felt like they’d been there a lifetime. Communal spaces are vast and open, delightfully designed by Adriana Schor—I particularly loved the elegant custom-made light fittings created by Art et Floritude—but the history of the original building has been artfully preserved, especially on the staircase where delicate ancient wall paintings and floor tiles have been preserved.
 |
| Ancient details have been preserved in some areas of the hotel |
Hallways showcase a striking custom-designed carpet with a design based on oversized terrazzo fragments in shades of cobalt blue and carmine red.
How are the rooms at Elkonin Tel Aviv?
As with my favorite hotels, intimacy is key at the Elkonin with just 42 rooms and two suites. I stayed in room number 207 which upon entering impressed me immediately due to three floor-to-ceiling double doors that opened out onto not one, but two of my very own terraces. Natural light in a hotel room is supremely important to me, I’m not a fan of dark spaces and the way the sun beamed in through these expansive windows created gorgeous shadows and beams that danced across the room throughout the day.
 |
| Sunbeams in my room at Elkonin |
Aesthetically the room's decor and furniture—including a gorgeous rattan wardrobe—reminded me of Pereh in the Golan Heights, another of my favorite Israeli boltholes. The bed was comfortable and immaculately dressed with starched white sheets, and flanked by an oversize almost art-deco style headboard with clean curves and a deep-coral coloured accent, slightly reminiscent of Dorothée Meilichzon’s interior design style at Menorca Experimental and London’s Henrietta hotel.
 |
| My bed in room 207 |
The room was spacious and calming with a rust-coloured velvet sofa at the foot of the bed and modern-vase topped table. The bathroom was equally spacious featuring another floor-to-ceiling double door with terrace access, a huge rainfall shower, gorgeously scented Clarins bath products, a flawless terrazzo washstand, plus slippers and robes as standard.
What is there to eat and drink?
Rooms each include a coffee machine, Palais des Thés tea, and a fridge with still and sparkling water alongside other soft drinks and beers. Downstairs on the ground floor of the hotel is where I found L’Époque, the very first Robuchon restaurant in Israel headed up by executive chef David Alves, a close collaborator of Joël Robuchon for 20 years. Breakfast, like most hotel breakfasts in Israel, is a huge event with numerous dishes. The menu for my stay was made up of bread and pastries—all of which are outstanding with the pastries being some of the best I’ve ever eaten in my life—accompanied by an Israeli salad or fresh fruit plate, compotes and homemade jams, and a hot dish, I opted for shakshuka. Juice and coffee are also part of the breakfast offering and non-guests can have breakfast at L’Époque too for $49 (£40).
 |
| L'Epoque's breakfast included some of the best French pastries of my life! |
I also had dinner in the restaurant and was equally impressed with the inventive menu that combines Fresh gastronomy with Mediterranean accents and local produce. For my visit I chose to eat shrimp with tabbouleh and herbs to start, followed by roasted sweetbreads and Robuchon’s signature potato puree—wow, was it good! Cocktails are also outstanding and include custom blends topped with fresh flowers giving the best cocktails in London a run for their money.
Any highlights?
Having stayed in eight hotels in the buzzing capital of Tel Aviv, Elkonin is up there with the best. I loved everything about this perfectly designed hotel and don’t have a single complaint. The rooftop pool, though compact, is perfect for hot summer days, while on the lower ground floor, I loved the Clarins spa and hammam area.
 |
| Elkonin's rooftop pool |
With five treatment rooms decorated in shades of bright white, beige and gold I indulged in a full body massage and wasn’t disappointed. I absolutely adored my stay at Elkonin and can’t wait to return again soon.
Anything they could improve on?
Pool dips outside of summer months are slightly chilly since the pool isn't heated.Check rates with Booking.com
Post a Comment