Situated in an exquisite 19th-century heritage building in the American-German Colony, The Drisco was once considered to be the finest place to stay in Tel Aviv, so its meteoric return as one of the hottest new boutique hotels in town comes as no surprise.
The warmest of welcomes awaited us on our arrival, together with a large glass of wine. The owners clearly love the stuff as much as we do – each night we were steered into the bar for a complimentary glass.
The hotel’s roaring first-floor restaurant – with the very OutThere name of George and John – serves modern Israeli food that’s simply mouthwatering. Equally magnificent is the breakfast buffet, where guests can take their pick from freshly baked pastries, vibrant salads, eggs made to order and refreshing juices. But rather than linger in the lacklustre basement dining room, make your way out to the courtyard at the side of the hotel – it’s a real sun trap.
Rooms at The Drisco are bright and breezy, with hints of the arabesque – plush Turkish carpets, fabulous patterned tiles in the Carrara-marble bathrooms and pendant lanterns that make dramatic statement pieces. Add to that a collection of books by author Mark Twain, who once stayed at the hotel.
On offer are 37 rooms and five suites (check out the magnificent Villa Drisco next door). We recommend opting for a higher category, as suites come with balconies and top-floor guests can enjoy a view of the city and sea.
The Drisco also has a tiny gym to get you pumped for the beach, as well as a small rooftop to relax on.
| Perfect for | Fly into | Right on time |
| The Insider | TLV | GMT +3 |
| While you’re Out There |
| The hotel sits on the boundary of the Neve Tzedek neighbourhood of the city. Like a little piece of Tuscany, Neve Tzedek is a labyrinth of meticulously presented and restored old buildings full of independent boutiques, coffee-shops and infamous restaurants. |
Photography courtesy of The Drisco
