Reconciling Ancient Heritage & Luxury In Tel Aviv

by | Feb 14, 2019 | Lux Stays

The Jaffa is an elegant tribute to the ancient city it resides in

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Like most historic cities, Tel Aviv’s coastal city of Jaffa – once home to quiet, gold-cobbled streets and aged buildings with their histories written on every brick – seems to be in danger of losing its soul to modernisation.

Construction cranes are as common as the swaying palm trees that line the roads, and glitzy glass buildings seem to overwhelm the stooped brick houses of centuries past – which is why developments like the newly opened Jaffa Hotel Tel Aviv are so remarkable and vital in preserving the cultural heritage of the city, especially one as storied as Jaffa.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Deluxe Junior Suites have arched ceilings and lots of sunlight by Amit Geron

Deluxe Junior Suites have arched ceilings and lots of sunlight by Amit Geron

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Located on a hilltop of what was once a crumbling 19th-century French hospital, The Jaffa has been updated – but not overhauled – to create an intoxicating blend of 4,000 years of heritage and modern luxury. Restored stained glass windows and sweeping Roman arabesques are coupled with all the plush trappings that modern travellers expect in each of its 120 rooms and 32 residences.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

The hotel’s serene pool by Amit Geron

The hotel’s serene pool by Amit Geron

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You’re just as likely to find backgammon boards in the secluded courtyard for guests to play a quiet round or two as you are to find a poolside bar serving up mid-day cocktails. Rooms are sleek, their clean lines and minimalist aesthetic mixing with earthen tones to create an atmosphere of warmth. Private balconies also offer panoramic views of the neighbouring Mediterranean sea.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Don Camillo by Amit Geron

Don Camillo by Amit Geron

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Jaffa encapsulates the soul of its historic city without compromising on the comfort of its guests. Israel’s rich heritage and warm hospitality are on full display at The Jaffa, which, instead of detracting from the culture of the city it exists in, instead aims to reconcile that gap. ◼[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Subscribe to the latest edition now by clicking here.

 

© This article was first published in Dec-Jan 2019 edition of World Travel Magazine.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

World Travel Magazine Edition

Newsletter

Seychelles Luxury Travel: Why Summer Is the Time to Go

A first-person guide to the granitic Inner Seychelles — Mahé, Praslin and La Digue — with North Island, Frégate, giant tortoises, and why summer is the season.

The Kimberley in July: Luxury Cruises, Lodges & Art

When to visit the Kimberley and how — the July dry-season window, luxury expedition cruises (True North, Ponant, Seabourn) and where to stay.

Kandy to Ella Train: Sri Lanka’s Tea Country by Rail

On the slowest, most beautiful train ride in Asia, a carriage full of strangers, and a grandmother who found her childhood at 6,000 feet.

Swimming With Humpback Whales in Vava’u, Tonga

On swimming with humpbacks in the South Pacific, the fear that comes before wonder, and the day the ocean rearranged what I thought I knew.

Essaouira in July: Morocco’s Cool, Windswept Coast

A July guide to Essaouira, Morocco: the windswept Atlantic coast where the alizés keep the blue-and-white medina cool while the interior swelters.

Why the Matterhorn Is Better in Summer, Not Ski Season

The world photographs the Matterhorn in snow and skis past its finest season — green, golden, warm, and half-empty of everyone still dreaming of powder.

Torres del Paine in Winter: Patagonia’s Puma Season

In July the crowds are gone from Torres del Paine, the light lies gold all day, and the pumas step out against the snow — and the place is yours.

Why Busan Beats Seoul: Korea’s Easy Coastal City

Korea’s coastal second city has the beaches, the seafood, and the film-festival swagger — and none of Seoul’s restless ambition.

Guelaguetza 2026: Oaxaca’s Hill of Beautiful View

In Oaxaca this July, sixteen cultures climb one sacred hill to dance — and the whole festival turns on what happens at the end of each performance.

Inside Punakha Dzong: The Himalayas’ Great Fortress-Monastery

Punakha Dzong may be the most beautiful building in the Himalayas — a masterclass in how architecture can hold a whole civilisation together.

Related Articles