Brown TLV Urban Hotel

"While it’s located mere minutes from Tel Aviv’s trademark beaches, the Brown TLV Urban Hotel is decidedly city-centric. Not coincidentally, it’s also in the center of town, surrounded by an array of distinctive neighborhoods like the UNESCO World Heritage-designated “White City,” the old Yemenite area of Kerem HaTeimanim, and the seemingly endless street market that is Nachalat Binyamin. Beyond being a strategically positioned home base, however, the hotel makes for a great escape. Once you’ve explored the city on a free loaner bike, you can retreat to the rooftop hot tub, the indoor-outdoor Garden Bar, the den-like living room, or—if you’ve booked one of the Zen-inducing Relax Rooms—your private balcony, ideally after an en suite spa treatment."

"Located just below the Bauhaus-rich White City and above Ottoman-era Neve Tzedek, this stylish hotel was crafted from a 1950s bank building whose formerly dull facade has been transformed into three floors of shiny brown columns and windows. Inside is a clubby reception area with leather couches and dark wood floors, an indoor-outdoor bistro, and a well-stocked library. The 30 smallish guest rooms contain custom furniture, canopied beds, and glass-walled baths. The halls are festooned with the in-your-face photography of local artist Pilpeled, and on the roof is a sundeck with loungers and an outdoor shower. The Brown is perhaps the city’s most centrally located independent hotel with a vibe that’s both cool and hospitable, and the young staff offer the solutions-oriented style of service that can sometimes be charmless but gets the job done."