A couples weekend in Tel Aviv with a stay and a spa works best when nobody is in a hurry. At Elkonin Hotel, at the entrance to Neve Tzedek in Tel Aviv, the pieces sit under one roof: a designed room, a Spa by Clarins, a rooftop infinity pool facing the Mediterranean, and lanes to wander just outside the door. Forty-four rooms and suites in a preserved building from 1913, in the heart of Tel Aviv.
A couples weekend in Tel Aviv with stay and spa: who it suits, and who it doesn’t
Elkonin suits two people who want to slow down. It is for the couple who would rather sleep in a small house with a past than in a large complex, who linger over a second coffee, and who count an unplanned walk as part of the itinerary. It also suits couples who like a story with their stay. Malka and Menachem Elkonin built the house, and it was the first hotel in Tel Aviv. Calm, indulgence and quiet are the schedule here, not an extra.
Who is it less right for? Better to say so now than on arrival. Superior rooms run about 20 to 23 sq m and Deluxe rooms average about 22 sq m, across 44 rooms and suites in all. A couple who wants a sprawling room, or a large resort they never need to leave, will find something more intimate here. Rooms look out on either an urban view or the Mediterranean, so anyone set on a sea view should choose the room accordingly. And Rova Aleph, the chef’s restaurant on the ground floor, is dairy and kosher, which is worth knowing in advance if a meat dinner is part of the plan.
Choosing the room for two
Every room and suite was planned and designed by Adriana Shor, and together they form a continuous thread between the historic house and the modern city. Superior rooms are in the historic building and in the hotel’s glass tower, so even the choice of building shapes the stay.
For a couple who wants the sea at breakfast, there is the Executive sea view room: about 25 sq m with a king-size bed, made for two guests. If you want somewhere to sit apart from the bed, with a book or a glass of wine, look at the Junior Suite: about 30 sq m, with a bedroom and a separate seating area. Malka Suite, about 38 sq m, is on the top floor of the glass building and looks out to the sea. It is named for the founder’s wife and is meant for 3 guests. Menachem Suite, about 33 sq m, takes the founder’s name and sleeps up to 3 adults.
The morning starts in the room itself. A Nespresso machine and a complimentary coffee and tea kit are waiting, along with a rain shower, bathrobes, air conditioning and a safe. There is also a smart TV, a minibar and free Wi-Fi, and an iron on request. None of it shouts, which is the point.
Spa by Clarins: time set aside
The hotel houses Spa by Clarins, the first of its kind in Israel. It has five treatment rooms, one of them a couples room, so the two of you can lie side by side in the same stillness. Guests also have a quiet relaxation lounge and a hammam, with room to linger between one and the other. The spa is open every day, and the hammam runs daily from 10:00 to 16:00.
The spa is open to the public as well as to hotel guests, and there is only one couples room, so on a busy weekend it is worth arranging your treatment ahead by phone on 03-5484023. Treat the afternoon as a sequence rather than an appointment: a treatment, the hammam, then a long rest, with nowhere to be.
Two small rules save disappointment. Arrive at least 10 minutes before your treatment, since lateness does not earn back the lost time. And a treatment cancelled less than 24 hours before it begins is charged in full, with no refund.
A house from 1913, and what it still carries
In 1913 Menachem and Malka Elkonin founded the hotel, and it still carries their name. It was the first hotel in Tel Aviv and went on to host figures such as Albert Einstein and David Ben-Gurion. After a renovation it reopened in 2022 as part of the MGallery collection from Accor.
The preservation keeps the building’s architectural details and its link to the streets around it, so that history can go on living inside a contemporary experience. What comes out is European elegance, local design and a Tel Aviv character, all at an unhurried pace.
Neve Tzedek by day, the roof and the table by evening
Mornings are made for starting slowly. Breakfast brings a basket of house-made breads and pastries, vegetables and dips, coffee and/or juice of your choice, and a main dish chosen from the selection. It is served from 7:30 to 10:30 Sunday to Thursday, from 7:30 to 11:00 on Friday, and from 8:00 to 11:00 on Saturday. On Saturday it takes the form of a rich buffet of dishes and drinks prepared in advance, so there is nothing to wait for.
Then the roof. The rooftop infinity pool looks out over the Mediterranean, and it is where a weekend afternoon tends to stretch longer than planned. After the spa, you can head out for an easy walk in Neve Tzedek, a neighbourhood of quiet lanes, restored stone houses, galleries and cafés. The hotel sits at its entrance, so the walk begins almost at once.
In the evening, the ground floor is waiting. Rova Aleph, led by chef Avitar Malka, serves dinner Sunday to Thursday from 18:00.
Before you book
Rates and offers change from season to season, so current prices and packages for a couples weekend are best checked directly with Elkonintelaviv. A few things worth settling ahead so the weekend runs smoothly:
- The room: sea view, a separate seating area, or a top-floor suite
- A couples treatment at the spa, arranged by phone on 03-5484023
- Arriving 10 minutes early for any treatment
- Friday and Saturday breakfast hours
Come and slow down in the heart of Tel Aviv, in a house whose story began in 1913. Reserve ←
Frequently asked questions
Is Elkonin Hotel in Tel Aviv a good choice for a couples weekend with a spa?
Yes, especially for a couple who want to slow down. Elkonin Hotel, at the entrance to Neve Tzedek in Tel Aviv, has 44 rooms and suites, a Spa by Clarins with a couples treatment room, a hammam, a rooftop pool and a dairy kosher chef’s restaurant. It suits less well anyone after very large rooms or a sprawling resort.
Does the spa at Elkonin Hotel have a couples treatment room?
Yes. The spa has five treatment rooms, one of which is a couples room. It is open to hotel guests and to the public, so it is wise to arrange your visit ahead on 03-5484023.
What happens if I need to cancel a spa treatment or arrive late?
A treatment cancelled less than 24 hours before its time is charged in full, with no refund. Guests should arrive at least 10 minutes before the treatment, and a late arrival does not earn back the lost time.
What does breakfast at Elkonin Hotel include, and when is it served at the weekend?
Breakfast includes a basket of house-made breads and pastries, vegetables, dips, coffee and/or juice, and a main dish of your choice. On Friday it is served from 7:30 to 11:00, and on Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00 as a rich buffet of dishes and drinks prepared in advance.
Which room at Elkonin Hotel is best for a couple who wants a sea view?
The Executive sea view room, about 25 sq m with a king-size bed for two guests, is the natural choice. Malka Suite, about 38 sq m on the top floor of the glass building, also looks out to the sea. Other rooms face either the city or the sea, so mention the view when you book.
Does Elkonin Hotel offer airport transfers and late-night reception?
The hotel offers transfers from the airport, and reception is staffed 24/7. A late arrival can still be a calm one.
Does Elkonin Hotel have accessible rooms?
The hotel has accessible rooms, and details are available from the reservations department. An accessible entrance can be found on Yehoshua Telomi Street. For requests or suggestions, contact the accessibility coordinator, Eva Ben Shoshan, on 03-5484011.