Six years after it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tel Aviv's historic Bauhaus quarter finally has a hotel that lives up to the accolade: the 12-room Hotel Montefiore, hotelmontefiore.co.il.
Although surrounded by Bauhaus beauties, the Montefiore is actually a renovated mansion from the earlier 1920s Eclectic period, festooned with a mishmash of European, Ottoman and Arab architectural motifs — from bijou Juliet balconies and an intricate filigreed façade to soaring Levantine arches and domes. Owners Mati and Ruthie Broudo have kept the rooms period-appropriate using antique 1930s furniture, including original pieces by German Bauhaus design firm Thonet. (See Time.com/Travel for city guides, stories and advice.)
A clubby downstairs bar serves some of Israel's finest vintages to perhaps the nation's most fashionably dressed, while the adjacent restaurant delivers a menu of Euro-Asian goodies inspired by the Broudos' numerous Asian sojourns. They're served amid hardwood floors, cream banquettes and tropical foliage.
Although the hotel lacks a formal reception or concierge desk, the staff are Tel Aviv insiders who are well connected with local nightlife and the city's cultural and culinary happenings. They can also arrange after-hours guides and valet service at the nearby beach, making the Montefiore a perfectly positioned addition to Tel Aviv's urban scene. Rates from $280 a night.
Got an awful travel gripe? The Avenger may be able to sort it out for you. Click here to tell us your problem.