HandRIsrael.txt

  
  
    
      
        Akko (Acre)
        Palm Beach Hotel and Country Club ❁❁-❁❁❁ Akko Beach; Tel.
        [phone], fax [phone]. Acre’s finest lodgings, with a beach
        and the country club’s excellent facilities. 110 rooms.
        Caesarea
        Dan Caesarea ❁❁❁ Caesarea; Tel. [phone], fax (06) 626
        9122. By the beach, in its own lovely grounds, next to Israel’s only
        18-hole golf course, this is a sports-lover’s paradise. Swimming pool,
        tennis courts, health club, and many other facilities. 114 rooms.
        Eilat
        Americana ❁❁ North Beach; Tel. [phone], fax (07) 633
        4174. A popular, well-located hotel with helpful staff, swimming pool,
        gym, sauna, and jacuzzi. Live entertainment every evening. 137
        rooms.
        Dan Eilat ❁❁❁❁ North Beach; Tel. [phone], fax (03) 362
        333. Eilat’s newest and most luxurious hotel (completed at the end of
        1995) with every imaginable facility, including five restaurants,
        virtual-reality simulators, and lots for children. 382 rooms.
        Gazit Menachem (Bed-and-Breakfast) ❁ Eilat Town; Tel. (07)
        633 3326. Simple, comfortable rooms in the centre of town, a short walk
        from North Beach. It is run by a friendly and helpful employee of the
        town’s Tourist Information Centre. 3 rooms. You can book at the tourist
        office.
        Riviera Apartment Hotel ❁❁-❁❁❁ North Beach; Tel. (07) 633
        3944, fax [phone]. This smart, three-storey complex is ideal for
        families on a relatively tight budget, and offers a large swimming pool
        and children’s play areas. 172 apartments.
        Royal Beach ❁❁❁❁ North Beach; Tel. [phone], fax (07)
        636 8811. Luxurious recent addition to Eilat with large well-equipped
        rooms, many with wonderful views across the Gulf of Aqaba. Beautiful
        pool area with waterfalls. Also health club, sauna, Turkish bath,
        jacuzzi. Ten restaurants, pub, and disco. 375 rooms.
        Orchid ❁❁❁❁ Coral Beach; Tel. [phone], fax (07) 637
        5323. Charming low-rise “Thai Village” with cobbled paths, waterfalls,
        Thai restaurant, and stylish “village-house” accommodation, each with
        its own verandah. Ask to be set back as far as possible from the main
        road for the best views and least traffic noise. Fitness room, sauna,
        Thai massage, free use of bicycles for guests. 132 bungalows.
        Haifa
        Dan Carmel ❁❁❁❁ 87 Ha Nassi Avenue; Tel. [phone], fax
        [phone]. Tops in every sense in Haifa, with wonderful views over
        the town and bay. Most of the usual facilities, including a charming
        garden, swimming pool, and health club. Pub, restaurant. 220 rooms.
        Dvir ❁❁ 124 Yefe Nof Street; Tel. [phone], fax (04)
        838 1068. The location of this hotel is excellent, affording as it does
        great views from the front-facing rooms (don’t book accommodation in
        the annex if possible). This is one of the Dan Hotel training schools,
        so you’ll find that the staff try a bit harder. Access to swimming
        pool. 30 rooms.
        Jerusalem
        American Colony Hotel ❁❁❁ 1 Louis Vincent, off Nablus Road,
        East Jerusalem; Tel. [phone], fax [phone]. Arguably the
        most atmospheric hotel in the whole country, occupying a former pasha’s
        palace that dates from 1860. Facilities and attractions include a
        swimming pool, beautiful gardens, and a tranquil courtyard open for
        breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Open-air bar, poolside restaurant, dining
        room. Rooms are decorated in either traditional or modern styles. The
        superior rooms are well worth the extra charge. 84 rooms.
        Beit Shmuel ❁❁ 13 King David Street, West Jerusalem; Tel.
        [phone]. This is a large and modern Orthodox Jewish cultural
        centre and guest-house complex which enjoys an excellent location with
        good views of the Old City. There is a friendly atmosphere and staff
        are helpful. 40 rooms.
        Christ Church Guest House ❁ Opposite the Citadel, Jaffa
        Gate, Old City; Tel. [phone], fax [phone]. Popular haunt
        with budget travellers. The atmosphere is friendly, and the rooms are
        basic but clean. Breakfast included in the price of a room. 32
        rooms.
        King David ❁❁❁❁ 23 King David Street, West Jerusalem; Tel.
        [phone], fax [phone]. Israel’s best accommodation option,
        according to many travellers, and usually the first stopping place for
        visiting heads of state. There is a charming Old-World atmosphere in
        the reception rooms. Ask for a bedroom facing the Old City walls. The
        grounds and pools are very beautiful, and the facilities also include a
        fitness centre. 257 rooms.
        Lev Yerushalayim Aparthotel ❁❁❁ 18 King George Street, New
        City; Tel. [phone], fax [phone]. The Lev Yerushalayim is a
        modern block with well-equipped and spacious apartments, situated only
        a short walk from the heart of the New City. 97 rooms.
        Notre Dame Centre, Guest House Section ❁ Opposite New Gate,
        Old City, West Jerusalem; Tel. [phone], fax [phone]. This
        is a Roman Catholic guest house, but it is open to everyone. The rooms
        are simple and comfortable, popular with budget travellers. Some rooms
        have balconies. The building has been beautifully restored, and the
        food is good. 50 rooms.
        Palatin Hotel ❁❁ 4 Agrippas Street, West Jerusalem; Tel.
        [phone], fax [phone]. This quiet and small hotel (with both
        air-conditioning and TV in the rooms) is situated very close to the
        heart of the New City. One notable feature is the contemporary art
        featured in public areas and bedrooms. Room price includes breakfast.
        28 rooms.
        St. Andrew’s Hospice ❁ 1 Kikar David Remez; Tel. (02) 673
        2401, fax [phone]. St. Andrew’s Hospice occupies a great location
        overlooking the Old City, not far from the Khan Theatre and the
        Cinematheque. The rooms are basic but comfortable; there are lovely
        gardens, and the staff are friendly. 20 rooms.
        YMCA East Aelia Capitolina ❁❁ 29 Nablus Road, East
        Jerusalem; Tel. [phone], fax [phone]. The rooms are quite plain
        and the YMCA East may lack the character of the YMCA West, but it is
        still very good value in a peaceful setting. Good range of sports
        facilities, which include a swimming pool and squash courts. Dining
        room, grill, pub. 55 rooms, 109 beds (14 rooms with balconies).
        YMCA West (3 Arches Hotel) ❁❁ King David Street, West
        Jerusalem; Tel. [phone], fax [phone]. Bedrooms and public
        rooms with plenty of character lie inside this splendid landmark
        building dating from the 1930s. There is a restaurant and a delightful
        front terrace. YMCA West also has an indoor swimming pool, four tennis
        courts, two squash courts, sauna, basketball court, and a fitness room.
        Price includes breakfast. 56 rooms.
        Near Jerusalem
        Mizpe Ramat Rachel ❁❁❁ D. N. Isfon Yehuda 9900; Tel. (02)
        670 2555, fax [phone]. One of the best kibbutz houses, the Mitzpe
        Ramat Rachel occupies a pleasant site overlooking Bethlehem and the
        Judean Hills, yet is within a short 10-minute drive of Jerusalem’s Old
        City. Swimming pool, sauna, and fitness room. 250 rooms.
        MitZpe Ramon
        Ramon Inn ❁❁-❁❁❁ 1 Ein Akev Street; Tel. [phone], fax
        [phone]. This new 4-storey hotel uses local furnishings, fabrics,
        and stone in a successful attempt to create a sympathetic harmony with
        its stunning natural setting. There is a choice of excellent local
        ethnic cuisine. Apartments also available. Access to local swimming
        pool. 96 apartments.
        NAHARIYA
        Panorama ❁❁ 8 Ha’ Ma’apilim Street; Tel. [phone]. A
        low-rise block with fine sea views from its roof-top terrace.
        Facilities include a pool. Note: half-board may be obligatory during
        high season.
        Netanya
        Maxim Hotel ❁❁ 8 King David Street; Tel. [phone], fax
        [phone]. The renovated Maxim Hotel offers good-quality,
        comfortable facilities, including several reasonably-priced suites,
        which are handy for families. There are sea views from some rooms and
        there is also a swimming pool. 90 rooms.
        Safed
        Rimon Inn ❁❁❁ Artists’ Quarter; Tel. [phone], fax (06)
        692 0456. Arguably the best — and perhaps the most historic — hotel in
        town, with parts dating from the 17th century. There are splendid
        views, a swimming pool, and extensive grounds. 36 rooms.
        Tel Aviv
        Armon Ha-Yarkon ❁❁ 268 Ha-Yarkon Street; Tel. (03) 605
        5271, fax [phone]. This is a small modern hotel, situated
        opposite the giants, across the road from the beach, and close to the
        nightspots of Little Tel Aviv. 24 rooms.
        Dan Tel Aviv ❁❁❁❁ 99 Ha-Yarkon Street; Tel. (03) 520
        2525,
        fax [phone]. It looks dated, but this rainbow-painted
        beachside monster is still reputed to be the finest hotel in Tel Aviv.
        The rooms are particularly comfortable, staff are friendly, and there
        is a choice of indoor or outdoor swimming pools. Special lounge for
        sea-view rooms. 285 rooms.
        Moriah Plaza Tel Aviv ❁❁❁-❁❁❁❁ 155 Ha-Yarkon Street; Tel.
        [phone], fax [phone]. This modern high-rise block is
        situated on the beach. It may be the recipient of few architectural
        accolades, but its rooms are comfortable and very well furnished. The
        staff are friendly and there is a swimming pool. 346 rooms.
        Moss Hotel ❁-❁❁ 6 Nes Ziona Street; Tel. and fax (03) 517
        1655. This is a fairly well-equipped hotel in a central location with
        its own parking (a great asset hereabouts). 70 rooms.
        Tiberias and the Galilee
        Church of Scotland Hospice ❁ Tiberias; Tel. [phone],
        fax [phone]. Comfortable modern facilities are offered in unusual
        black basalt buildings at the Church of Scotland Hospice, which was
        constructed a century ago as a missionary hospital. A friendly welcome
        and a pleasant garden and private beach help to ensure that this place
        continues to be popular. 46 rooms.
        Golan ❁❁ 14 Ahad Ha-Am Street, Tiberias; Tel. (06) 679
        1901, fax [phone]. This appealing hotel offers excellent value
        with wonderful views over the Sea of Galilee. Its facilities include a
        swimming pool and a peaceful garden. Dining room, bar. 98 rooms.
        Kibbutz Ein Gev Holiday Village ❁❁ 2 km (1 mile ) south of
        Ein Gev Kibbutz; Tel. [phone], fax [phone]. These modern
        cabins come with kitchen, bathroom, and air-conditioning, are set on
        the Sea of Gali­lee, and make ideal family holiday homes. There is a
        good restaurant in the village, in addition to a well-stocked
        mini-market for self-catering visitors. 100 cabins.
        Kfar Hanassi Village ❁❁ Near Rosh Pinna; Tel. (06) 691
        4870, fax [phone]. Comfortable rooms with en suite bathrooms,
        kitchenettes, refrigerators, and TV in lodges set amidst wide lawns and
        comfortable facilities for relaxation or BBQ. Breakfast served in
        dining room of kibbutz. 28 rooms.
        Mizpe Hayamim ❁❁ Safed-Rosh Pinna Road near Rosh Pinna;
        Tel. [phone], fax [phone]. Set in 12 hectares (30 acres) of
        forest, this charming small country hotel enjoys marvellous views over
        the Sea of Galilee. Its healthy-living philosophy offers home-made
        organic foods plus a wholesome diet of massage, yoga, and specialist
        exercise classes. If that is not enough, there are also swimming pool,
        jacuzzi, sauna, and gymnasium. 65 rooms.
        Nof Ginnosar ❁❁ 9 km (6 miles) north of Tiberias; Tel. (06)
        679 2161, fax [phone]. The Nof Ginnosar enjoys the reputation of
        being one of Israel’s best kibbutz accommodations, situated right on
        the Sea of Galilee and set in its own gardens. Facilities offered
        include tennis courts and a private beach. For watersports enthusiasts
        there is a good selection of kayaks, windsurfers, and sailing boats for
        hire. 170 rooms.
        Vered Ha-Galil ❁-❁❁ Korazim-Almagor Junction, 18 km (11
        miles) north of Tiberias; Tel. [phone]. This
        ranch-restaurant-guest house is something of a local institution, not
        to mention a novelty. The Vered Ha-Galil offers the perfect base for a
        Galilee riding holiday, in charming rustic accommodation. The cooking
        is good and filling and the hosts are friendly (he’s from Chicago).
        Akko (Acre)
        Abu Christo ❁❁-❁❁❁ Fishermen’s Port; Tel. [phone]. You
        can choose between the pleasant dining rooms and the waterfront
        terrace. A reputation for serving the best seafood in town.
        Eilat
        Country Chicken ❁ The Tourist Center; Tel. [phone].
        Don’t let the name or rather bland modern appearance put you off; this
        is good-value, down-to-earth Jewish cooking like Momma used to make (a
        rarity in Eilat). Fried country chicken, soups, and grills are
        specialities. Kosher.
        Eddie’s Hideaway ❁❁-❁❁❁ 68 Almogim Street, off Eilot
        Street; Tel. [phone]. Eilat’s best-known restaurant has been
        serving an inventive menu of meat and seafood dishes (Shanghai fish,
        shrimp, and pepper steak specialities) for over 20 years. They serve
        dinner only. Another treat is the free taxi from your hotel that they
        provide.
        El Gaucho ❁❁❁ Arava Road; Tel. [phone]. Here the beef
        steaks, veal, and chicken are cooked in the Argentinian style, and then
        carved and served in generous portions by staff dressed in Gaucho
        costume. The meat and the chefs are sometimes imported from South
        America. The background music (occasionally live) and the special decor
        complete the Latin theme.
        Fisherman’s House ❁ Coral Beach; Tel. [phone]. Here
        you can eat all you wish from a buffet of six fish dishes, rice,
        potatoes, and various salads. If you want somewhere to have a party or
        to take your family, then this is a good place. Excellent value.
        Last Refuge ❁❁-❁❁❁ Coral Beach; Tel. [phone]. This
        large, smart beachside fish restaurant, serving generous portions of
        fish and seafood, is located next to a marina. Because of the location
        and the restaurant’s popularity, you must reserve a table. Try to book
        one on the terrace.
        Pago Pago ❁❁❁ Lagoon, North Beach; Tel. [phone]. This
        popular romantic floating restaurant serves French, Mediterranean, and
        Far-Eastern food in a relaxed South Seas atmosphere.
        Spring Onion ❁ North Beach, by bridge to Marina; Tel. (07)
        637 7434. This is Eilat’s best dairy restaurant, generously serving
        delicious vegetarian dishes and salads in enormous portions.
        Tandoori ❁❁-❁❁❁ Lagoona Hotel, King’s Wharf; Tel. (07) 633
        3879. Popular, award-winning, authentic Indian cooking in pleasant
        relaxed atmosphere with traditional decor. Meats are specially cooked
        in tandoors (charcoal-fired clay ovens). Indian dancers and musicians.
        Buffet lunch. Open noon to midnight.
        Haifa
        Abu Yusuf’s ❁ 1 Ha-Meginim Street, Paris Square; Tel. (04)
        866 3723. Grilled meats, hummous, and other Arab staples are on offer
        at this locally famous, award-winning institution. There’s no English
        sign; just look for a basic eating house with large windows and arches
        and happy customers.
        La Chaumière ❁❁❁ 40a Ben-Gurion Avenue; Tel. [phone].
        Superb French cuisine, served in an old Arab house.
        El Gaucho ❁❁❁ 120 Yefe Nof Street; Tel. [phone].
        Large portions of Argentine-style meats. See entry under Eilat.
        Rondo ❁❁❁-❁❁❁❁ Dan Carmel Hotel, 85-87 Hanassi Avenue; Tel.
        [phone]. The Israeli and Continental cooking is reasonable, but
        the real attraction is the fantastic view of Haifa by night. Window
        seat essential. Dinner only.
        Herzliya
        El Gaucho ❁❁❁ 60 Medinat Hayehudim Street; Tel. (09) 555
        037. Lively South American chain. See entry under Eilat.
        Whitehall Steakhouse ❁❁❁ 2001 Mercazim Building, Maskit
        Street; Tel. [phone]. Many Israelis swear that these are the best
        steaks in the country. Help yourself to unlimited salad from the
        abundant fresh bar.
        Jerusalem
        Abu Shukri ❁ 63 El Wad Road, Old City; Tel [phone].
        Legendary hummous, with very little else on the menu. Very basic, with
        formica-top tables, but clean and accustomed to tourists. Quick
        service. No alcohol. It is open from 8am to mid-afternoon.
        Alumah ❁❁ 8 Ya’Avetz Street, New City; Tel. [phone].
        Jerusalem’s quintessential dairy restaurant, serving excellent
        vegetarian and fish dishes in a typical, beautifully restored and
        decorated Jerusalem golden-stone house, with garden patio. Kosher.
        Closed Sabbath and Saturday evening.
        American Colony Hotel ❁❁ Nablus Road, East Jerusalem; Tel.
        [phone]. Lunch in the leafy, peaceful, sunny courtyard of this
        famous institution, a former pasha’s palace, is a sheer delight at any
        time, but the Saturday barbeque (summer only) is something special.
        Cacao at the Cinematheque ❁-❁❁ Cinematheque, 1 Hebron Road;
        Tel. [phone]. A vegetarian restaurant serving great pasta,
        salads, and desserts in a small, modern, arty dining room with views of
        the Old City walls. Lively, young, buzzing atmosphere. Kosher.
        The (Loaves and Fishes) Coffee Shop ❁ Opposite Citadel,
        Jaffa Gate, Old City; Tel. [phone]. Small pine-panelled café
        serving excellent cakes, salads, and soups to foot-weary tourists.
        Young, friendly, Christian staff, quiet relaxing atmosphere to soothe
        your nerves after a day in the Old City.
        El Gaucho ❁❁❁ 22 Rivlin Street; Tel. [phone]. Lively
        South American chain. See entry under Eilat on page 138. This one is
        housed in a stone building with interior arches and flagstone floors.
        Kosher. Closed on Friday.
        Kamin ❁❁-❁❁❁ 4 Rabbi Akiva Street, off Hillel Street, New
        City; Tel. [phone]. Delightful, typical old Jerusalem stone house
        with a charming garden terrace. Mixture of dairy restaurant and
        international meat dishes, with French flavour.
        Kohinoor ❁❁-❁❁❁ Holiday Inn Crown Plaza; Tel. [phone].
        A member of the Tandoori chain of restaurants, serving excellent Indian
        tandoori dishes. Kosher.
        Mishkenot Sha’ananim ❁❁❁❁ Yemin Moshe, steps below the
        Windmill; Tel. [phone]. Israel’s finest French restaurant,
        boasting the country’s largest wine cellar. You can have a business
        lunch of heavenly tastes at down-to-earth prices. Reserve a window seat
        for views of Old City walls.
        Oceanus ❁❁❁❁ 7 Rivlin Street, New City; Tel. [phone].
        This small, stylish restaurant in an atmospheric, century-old house is
        said to serve the best fish and shellfish in Jerusalem. Splash out with
        fish baked in the taboon, or bouillabaisse. Closed 4–7pm.
        Off the Square ❁❁ 8 Ramban Street, New City; Tel. (02) 566
        5956. Pleasant, informal dairy restaurant in an old building with a
        lovely large summer patio. Kosher. Closed Sabbath.
        Rosemary ❁❁ 28 King David Street, West Jerusalem; Tel. (02)
        625 8157. Popular, informal dairy restaurant with an Italian bias
         — good pizzas, interesting pasta dishes. Eat out on the tree-shaded
        terrace in summer. Kosher. Closed Sabbath.
        Tavlin ❁❁ 16 Yoel Salomon Street, New City; Tel. (02) 624
        3847. Relaxing, friendly dairy restaurant serving good pies, crêpes,
        salads, and fish in a rustic old house. It has a small seating area
        upstairs. Kosher. Closed Sabbath.
        Le Tsriff ❁❁-❁❁❁ YMCA, 26 King David Street, West
        Jerusalem; Tel. [phone]. Choose from the inexpensive trendy
        cafeteria, the charming Art Deco dining room (more extensive and
        expensive menu), or the front terrace. International cuisine with many
        interesting dishes; the pies are a house speciality.
        Yemenite Step ❁❁ 10 Yoel Salomon Street, New City; Tel.
        [phone]. The oldest and most authentic Yemenite restaurant in
        town, serving excellent mellawachs (pancakes). Eat in the modern dining
        room of this old house or out on the busy street watching the nightly
        promenade. Finish off with a Yemenite coffee. Kosher. Closed on the
        Sabbath.
        Nahariya
        Singapore ❁❁ Ha Meyasdim; Tel. [phone]. You’re spoilt
        for choice at this Chinese establishment where the menu runs to over
        100 items. You should try the Singapore specials and you must not miss
        dessert. Closed 3–7pm.
        Nazareth
        Astoria ❁❁ Casa Nova Street; Tel. [phone]. This
        restaurant provides a good menu of Middle Eastern meat dishes,
        specialising in lamb.
        Safed
        Pinati ❁❁ 81 Jerusalem Street; Tel. [phone]. Hearty
        portions of Israeli meat are served here, with lamb and veal dishes
        prominent on the menu.
        Tel Aviv/Jaffa
        Alhambra ❁❁❁ 30 Jerusalem Boulevard, Jaffa; Tel. (03) 683
        4453. Don’t be put off by the less-than-salubrious location. This

        restaurant, serving French cuisine, is one of the best in the area.
        Baobab ❁❁❁ 43 Ahad Ha-Am Street, Tel Aviv; Tel. (03) 566
        331. One of the trendiest and most delightful places in town, serving
        excellent, innovative Israeli and international nouvelle cuisine.
        Eternity ❁ 60 Ben Yehuda Street, Tel Aviv; Tel. (03) 203
        151. This interesting place, run by Black Hebrews (a sect from the
        U.S.A.), serves the most inventive vegan food in town.
        El Gaucho ❁❁❁ 57 Pinsker Street, Tel Aviv; Tel. (03) 528
        3788. One of a chain of popular Argentine meat houses. See entry under
        Eilat on page 138. Kosher.
        Fishermen’s Restaurant ❁❁❁ Jaffa Port; Tel. [phone].
        One of the oldest eating places in the port, with a pleasant
        Mediterranean atmosphere and some excellent specials.
        Michel’s Aladin ❁❁ 5 Mifratz Shlomo, Old Jaffa; Tel. (03)
        682 6766. An 800-year-old former hamman (Turkish bath) on Old Jaffa
        Hill next to the Sea Mosque, overlooking Tel Aviv, is the marvellous
        setting for this young, popular café-restaurant. Fish, salads, meat,
        and snacks.
        Kassit ❁❁ 117 Dizengoff Street, Tel Aviv; Tel. (03) 522
        3855. Unfortunately Frank Sinatra and company no longer patronise the
        Kassit, but it is still one of the best café-restaurants to be found on
        Dizengoff Street. Friendly staff. Hearty Sabbath meals.
        Shaul’s Inn ❁❁-❁❁❁ 11 Eliashiv Street, Yemenite Quarter,
        Tel Aviv; Tel. [phone]. This is a colourful Middle
        Eastern-Yemenite restaurant (where the downstairs is expensive, and the
        upstairs is less formal) with an interesting menu of meat and offal.
        Not for the squeamish. Kosher. Closed on the Sabbath.
        Tandoori ❁❁-❁❁❁ Dizengoff Square, Tel Aviv; Tel. (03) 296
        185. See entry under Eilat on page 138.
        Whitehall Steakhouse ❁❁❁ 6 Mendele Street; Tel. (03) 524
        9282. Tel Aviv’s favourite steakhouse. See entry under Herzliya on page
        139.
        Tiberias
        Guy ❁❁ Ha-Galil Street; Tel. [phone]. Here you can
        enjoy Middle Eastern meat and vegetable specialities in a friendly
        atmosphere. Kosher. Closed on the Sabbath.
        Kafkas ❁❁ By the Great Mosque. This unusual restaurant is
        run by recently-arrived Russian emigrés, producing tasty, filling
        Central Asian cuisine.
        Karamba ❁❁ Waterfront Promenade; Tel. [phone]. A
        pleasant fish and vegetarian restaurant with a nice atmosphere,
        inventive dishes, outdoor dining; open very late.