King David Hotel

"Offers stunning views of Old Jerusalem and is a treat for dinner or a cocktail." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"Since the 1931 opening of the King David Jerusalem, nary a hospitality award has gone unclaimed, nor a foreign dignitary ignored, by this palatial limestone landmark. Though the building’s original splendor—with its Assyrian, Hittite, Phoenician, and Muslim motifs—is still very much on display, local wunderkind Adam Tihany recently refreshed the interiors for 21st-century tastes. The resulting design jives perfectly with the hotel’s location in Yemin Moshe, at the crossroads of old and new Jerusalem. Hotel guests also rave about the spectacular views of the Old City walls, minarets, and golden Dome of the Rock. For the most surreal vistas, book an upper-floor suite, then tear yourself away to visit the hotel’s tree-flanked pool and gorgeous gardens, or take a 15-minute walk to the ancient walls."

"How did it strike you on arrival? Okay, this place—all six stories of it—is money: it’s the Mac Daddy of all Israeli hotels, the one others aspire to be. Rich people stay here. Foreign dignitaries stay here. Justin Bieber stays here. And once your taxi pulls into the Yemin Moshe 'hood and you get inside, you’ll understand why they’re all volleying for a stay. It's gorgeous, magnificent, regal, and venerated, with a purpose and point to all of its decor choices. The lobby has massive columns and marble floors, with direct views of the Old City; rooms have been decorated according to various Israeli period designs, and you get a sense of just how important the place is by the inscribed tiles lodged in the lobby, bearing the names of all the important guests who’ve graced these halls since it opened in 1930. Nice. What’s the crowd like? Well, the big fuss when we were there was David M. Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Israel. That’s the tribe: wealthy, well-connected, and possibly getting bar mitzvahed. The good stuff: Tell us about your room. I stayed in a Deluxe Old City room, which had two queen beds, and looked out over—you’ll never guess—the Old City. The room itself was nice, if a little stodgy; it felt like someplace Queen Elizabeth might stay if she were in Israel: Behind the massive, crenellated walls of the hotel were rooms with myriad gold accents, inlaid ceilings, soft black upholstery hanging from a gold bar on the squarely tufted headboard. The bathroom was nice—all marble—if a little tired, and one of the sinks seemed to be on the fritz when I was there. Room service and food: Worth it? I didn’t order room service, but did sit down to one of the hotel’s special, regularly-held Friday night Shabbat dinners on arrival. The dinner was held in a grand ballroom, towards the back of the hotel; there was absolutely delicious fresh challah bread, a fairly varied salad bar, and a set menu from which you could order upmarket dishes like chicken liver paté and duck. I’ll just say this: It ain’t your bubbe’s chicken. Some of the dishes were absolutely spot on, paté and duck included; others, like the lackluster dessert options, less so. Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why? Sadly, the staff and service is the one thing I can’t commend. The service at this place should be absolutely spot on and razor-sharp, for all its history and prestige—I was terrifically sad to find that this wasn’t the case. Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you. Nothing—absolutely nothing—beats the grounds at this hotel. Babylon can’t even compete. At its entrance, the hotel is completely majestic, with a massive, pink sandstone porte cochere to greet you; and in the back, a veritable Eden, with a breakfast deck that descends into fragrant gardens, an enormous pool, and, best of all, views of the Old City of Jerusalem. That’s the thing I’d pay for again and again. Bottom line: worth it, and why? If you've got money to burn, and you're politically well-regarded, go for it!" - Betsy Blumenthal

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