An eclectic architecture-style property and the first-ever hotel in Tel Aviv has been reimagined as a 44-room-and-suite boutique hotel.
TEL AVIV – May 16th marked the official opening of Elkonin Tel Aviv, part of the prestigious MGallery Hotel Collection, featuring 44 rooms-and-suites and housed in Tel Aviv’s first-ever hotel, originally built in 1913. Located in the charming Neve Tzedek neighborhood, the Elkonin Tel Aviv opens following a soft launch in February 2023.
Restored with meticulous attention to detail by architecture studio Bar Orian, and interior design studio ICONIQUE, Elkonin Tel Aviv also encompasses a glass-ensnared modern structure, which combined with the original edifice, reflects the past and present of Tel Aviv.
History
The hotel was originally constructed in iconic Eclectic architecture and Art Deco-styles in 1913 by Malka and Menachem Elkonin with the mission of creating a welcoming retreat for international and local visitors to Tel Aviv-Jaffa. The hotel quickly became the gathering place for some of the world’s most prominent figures in art, literature, politics and royalty, including Albert Einstein, King Abdullah of Jordan, and the first prime minister of Israel, David Ben-Gurion.
Following the passing of Menachem Elkonin, the hotel lay dormant for several years before being acquired in 2004 by Franco-Israeli entrepreneur Dominique Romano, who was captivated by its rich heritage and set out to revive the boutique hotel in avant-garde French style.
Architecture & Design
Working alongside local architecture firm Bar Orian, Romano restored the 20th-century property, preserving its original architectural motifs while also adding a sleek and modern site-specific glass tower that provides access to the rooftop on the seventh-floor. The exclusive rooftop at Elkonin Tel Aviv is elevated with a swimming pool with striped-tile flooring and the Rooftop Bar, inspired by the Côte d’Azur, serving a specially curated menu of cocktails and light snacks and featuring sweeping vistas of the Tel Aviv cityscape and Mediterranean Sea.
The interiors were designed by Adriana Schor of ICONIQUE studio, who created a timeless and sophisticated European-style ambiance with custom-designed furnishings and lighting by Art et Floritude. Schor presents a sense of understated elegance and simplicity throughout the hotel, drawing inspiration from the culturally rich city of Tel Aviv and the spirit of the French Riviera. The neutral colours and soft materials used throughout the hotel serve as a prelude to its peaceful atmosphere. Much of the hotel features exquisite herringbone floors, rattan (wicker) accents, custom-made Italian terrazzo and original ceramic tiles, coupled with a blue and terracotta colour-scheme. Elkonin Tel Aviv boasts 42 thoughtfully designed rooms and two suites with well-appointed bathrooms stocked with Clarins amenities and bespoke furniture made exclusively for the project.
Dining
The crown jewel can be found on the hotel’s ground floor, adjacent to the lobby, at the property’s flagship restaurant L’Époque by Jöel Robuchon. The first hotel to partner exclusively with the prominent Robuchon group, the restaurant promises guests an exquisite gastronomy experience from breakfast to dinner. Presenting a refined dining concept that combines French haute cuisine with Middle Eastern influences, flavors and spices, the menu at L’Époque restaurant is characterized by its refinement, attention to detail and quality seasonal ingredients.
Seating up to 70 guests, L’Epoque provides an intimate restaurant experience that is drenched in natural light and candle-lit in the evening. The restaurant was distinctively designed and accented with brass and glass interiors. The restaurant also offers a private dining space for up to 20 guests offering a library-style setting. Alternatively, the restaurant also offers a Bar Lounge, which is open from morning to night.
Welless
Tranquility lies at the heart of Elkonin Tel Aviv’s ethos, which is home to Israel’s first spa by Clarins. The Clarins SPA is designed as a peaceful sanctuary for relaxation and rejuvenation, with five treatment rooms, dressed in shades of white and beige, a relaxation lounge and Turkish-style hammam.
The spa offers an impressive full range of Clarins’ innovative body and facial therapies, including the Elkonin Signature Treatment, which was created exclusively for the pleasure of hotel guests and is intended to revitalize and refocus the mind, while leaving the body toned and revived. Located in a charming surrounding, Elkonin Tel Aviv is the place to arrive, enjoy and leave with a renewed sense of vitality.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
