Elkonin Hotel in Tel Aviv begins with the room. At the entrance to Neve Tzedek, inside a preserved building from 1913, there are 44 rooms and suites, every one of them planned and designed by a single designer, Adriana Shore. Here is how the rooms are put together, what you find in them, and what it feels like to stay somewhere built to slow the pace, in the heart of the city.
The Rooms at Elkonin Hotel: One Designer, Two Buildings
Having one designer behind every room and suite gives them a shared language. The rooms, the public spaces and the rooftop form a continuous line between the historic house and the modern city, so moving from one space to the next feels natural rather than jarring.
The hotel is made up of the historic building and a glass tower, and Superior rooms are found in both. You can wake up in a house more than a century old, or in the glass building that joins it. From the rooms you see either an urban view or the Mediterranean, and either way it is Tel Aviv: a little removed from the noise, close enough to feel it.
What Is in the Room, and What It Does to the Morning
The small things set the tempo. Every room has a Nespresso machine and a coffee and tea kit at no charge, with a minibar beside them. The shower is a rain shower, and bathrobes are waiting. There is air conditioning, a safe, free wireless internet and a smart TV of 45 or 50 inches, and an iron is available on request.
A morning in the room then looks simple: a first cup of coffee, water falling from above, a robe, and no reason to hurry. It is the kind of indulgence that needs no explaining.
From Superior to the Malka Suite: Sizes and Uses
The easiest way to read the hotel is to climb the square-metre ladder. A Superior room is about 20 to 23 sqm, and Deluxe rooms average about 22 sqm. The Executive sea view room, about 25 sqm, has a king-size bed and is meant for two guests; its name tells you about the view.
The Junior Suite, about 30 sqm, separates a bedroom from a distinct seating area, a place to linger over coffee without leaving the room. The Menachem Suite, about 33 sqm, sleeps up to three adults or a couple with two children. The Malka Suite, about 38 sqm, is made for three guests, sits on the top floor of the glass building and looks out to the sea.
The names of the two suites are not accidental. The Menachem Suite is named for the original founder, Menachem Elkonin, and the Malka Suite for his wife. So the largest suite and the family suite both carry the names of the couple who opened the first door.
Elkonin Hotel Through the Years: Malka, Menachem and a House That Keeps Living
In 1913 Malka and Menachem Elkonin founded the hotel, and it was the first hotel in Tel Aviv. The building stood in Neve Tzedek and in the young Tel Aviv of its day, and over the years became part of the local fabric. Among its guests were Albert Einstein and David Ben-Gurion.
After a renovation the hotel reopened in 2022, as part of the MGallery collection of Accor. The preservation keeps architectural details and the connection to the surrounding streets, so that history can go on living inside a contemporary experience. The result blends European elegance, local design and a Tel Aviv character.
The streets outside are made for slowing down too. Neve Tzedek is a neighbourhood of quiet alleys, restored stone houses, galleries and cafés, and an easy walk through it is a natural continuation of a morning in the room.
Beyond the Room Door: Rooftop, Spa and Breakfast
On the roof is an infinity pool that looks out over the Mediterranean, with a view of Tel Aviv. It can also be entered through a Day Pass. On the ground floor is Rova Alef, led by chef Eviatar Malka, a kosher dairy chef’s restaurant; dinner is served Sunday to Thursday from 18:00. The whole hotel is kosher.
The Spa by Clarins is the first of its kind in Israel, with five treatment rooms, one of them a couples’ room, plus a quiet rest lounge and a hammam. The spa is open to hotel guests and to the public. Give yourselves the time, and after a treatment take a short walk in the neighbourhood.
Breakfast is served at an unhurried pace: a basket of house-made breads and pastries, vegetables, dips, coffee and/or juice of your choice, and a main dish from the selection. Rates and offers change, so current prices and benefits are best checked directly with Elkonintelaviv.
Frequently asked questions
How many rooms does Elkonin Hotel in Tel Aviv have, and what types are there?
Elkonin Hotel in Tel Aviv has 44 rooms and suites. The types are Superior, Deluxe, Executive sea view, Junior Suite, Menachem Suite and Malka Suite, all planned and designed by Adriana Shore.
Which room at Elkonin Hotel suits a couple with two children?
The Menachem Suite, about 33 sqm, hosts up to three adults or a couple with two children. It is named for Menachem Elkonin, the hotel’s original founder.
Which rooms at Elkonin Hotel have a sea view?
The Executive sea view room (about 25 sqm, king-size bed, two guests) and the Malka Suite on the top floor of the glass building (about 38 sqm) look out to the sea. Across the hotel, rooms have either an urban view or a Mediterranean view. If the view matters to you, mention it when you book.
What is included in a room at Elkonin Hotel?
Rooms include free wireless internet, air conditioning, a safe, a 45 or 50 inch smart TV, a minibar, a Nespresso machine, a rain shower and bathrobes. A coffee and tea kit is provided at no charge, and an iron is available on request.
Is Elkonin Hotel kosher, and what can I eat there?
Yes, the hotel is kosher. Rova Alef is a kosher dairy chef’s restaurant, and breakfast brings a basket of house-made breads and pastries, vegetables, dips, coffee and/or juice and a main dish of your choice. Dinner at Rova Alef is served Sunday to Thursday from 18:00.
Does Elkonin Hotel have accessible rooms, and who do I contact?
Yes, the hotel has accessible rooms, and the reservations department can give details. An accessible entrance is on Yehoshua HaTalmi Street. The accessibility coordinator is Eva Ben Shoshan, on 03-5484011, who also handles requests, accessibility faults and suggestions for improvement.
Does Elkonin Hotel have a 24-hour reception and airport transfers?
Reception services run 24/7, and the hotel offers transfers from the airport. It is worth arranging the details of a transfer with the hotel in advance.
Is there a protected space at Elkonin Hotel?
Yes, the hotel has a protected space.
What are the cancellation and arrival rules for a spa treatment at Elkonin Hotel?
A treatment cancelled less than 24 hours before its time is charged in full, with no refund. Arrive at least 10 minutes before the treatment, because lateness does not earn back the lost time. To reach the spa, call 03-5484023.
When is breakfast served at Elkonin Hotel, and what about Shabbat?
Breakfast runs Sunday to Thursday from 7:30 to 10:30, on Friday from 7:30 to 11:00 and on Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00. On Saturday it is served as a rich buffet of dishes and drinks prepared in advance.