Israel’s capital city has it all: History, culture, great food, and great vistas. Enjoy it all while staying at one of Jerusalem’s diverse hotels.

For the hospitality industry in Jerusalem as in other cities, there was a lemon and there was lemonade.

The lemon: two difficult years without foreign tourism. The lemonade: an opportunity to redecorate, remodel or expand for the day when guests would return – and that time has come.

If you’re planning a stay in Israel’s capital city, you have a wide range of choices from downtown hotels to historic boutique hotels in quieter neighborhoods, from large chains to mom-and-pop-style accommodations.

No matter where you choose to lay your head, you are likely to start your day with a classic sumptuous Israeli breakfast as part of your overnight package.

Here are our choices for 18 remarkable hotels in Jerusalem in various categories.

BEST NEW/RENEWED HOTELS

The Biazi Hotel

Located in the quaint Nachlaot neighborhood near Machane Yehuda market, Sacher Park, and the Supreme Court, this family-owned boutique hotel is named in tribute to Eliyahu Biazi, a Turkish Jew who reached Jerusalem in 1933 via donkey, raft, and horse-drawn cart.

Biazi became a well-known confectioner, and accordingly, the hotel’s five upscale suites are named after the legendary cakes he baked: Sabrina, Berlina, Napoleon, Strudel, and Honey Cake. (Despite the food references, however, the Biazi does not serve breakfast.)

Address: 26 Kfar Bar’am Street
Amenities: Rooftop terrace, private catered events
Parking: on Shabazi Street next to the hotel, based on availability, at an hourly rate from 8-6 using Cellopark/Pango application

Brown JLM

Right in the city center overlooking Independence Park and the soon-to-open Museum of Tolerance, the 46-room Brown JLM by Brown Hotels is housed in a historic 19th-century building that has been renewed and augmented with six new floors. Preserved painted ceilings in the lobby add to the authentic feel along with vintage collectors’ items.

Address: 41 Hillel Street, corner of Ben-Sira
Amenities: Ruhan Cocktails & Brasserie, bar, infinity rooftop pool, outdoor hot tub and sunbathing area, pets up to 20 pounds permitted
Parking: in the nearby public lot

The Inbal

This consistently award-winning 5-star hotel has added two floors and 51 new suites and rooms for a total of 331. There’s a new fitness and spa complex with a swimming pool and a new kosher chef restaurant. The hotel’s existing rooms also were renovated.

Address: 3 Ze’ev Jabotinsky Street
Amenities: Several kosher dining facilities and pool bar, sun deck, spa and gym complex, indoor and outdoor pools, toddler pool, Kids Club, executive lounge
Parking: Free, based on availability

The Vert

Formerly known as the Jerusalem Hilton and then the Crowne Plaza Jerusalem, this 21-story iconic hotel sits conveniently next to the Jerusalem Convention Center; light rail, train, and bus stations; and very near Machane Yehuda market, the Supreme Court, the Knesset, and other attractions.

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A massive remodeling project completely separated the two-building complex, with 138 of the 388 rooms and suites renovated and allotted for Vert guests. The remaining 250 units in the other building were transformed into residences.

One of the changes introduced is hinted at by the name Vert (French for “green”): There are policies in place for reducing the use of paper and plastic and increasing the use of natural and biodegradable materials, recycling, and solar energy, with a commitment to go entirely green by 2025.

Address: 1 Ha’Aliyah Street
Amenities: Health/fitness club and spa, kosher dining room and lobby café, business lounge, tennis courts, heated swimming pool, six accessible rooms, and other accessibility services
Parking: On-premises for a fee, based on availability

BEST LUXURY HOTELS

Waldorf Astoria

Designed by award-winning Turkish architect Sinan Kafadar and Israeli architect Yehuda Feigin, the 226-room Waldorf opened in March 2014 as the only internationally branded luxury hotel on a street that also hosts the 5-star Mamilla, David’s Citadel, and King David hotels.

Order a slice of the Waldorf chain’s legendary Red Velvet cake to savor in the jaw-dropping lobby, which includes a special Waldorf Astoria clock designed by Avraham Aborgil with four faces adorned with Hebrew, Arabic, Roman, and European numerals.

Address: 26-28 Gershon Agron St.
Amenities: Two kosher restaurants, lobby bar, conference and event facilities including 700-square-meter Grand Ballroom, personal concierge, rooftop garden terrace
Parking: Valet

King David

Opened in 1931, the award-winning 206-room King David is a venerable landmark in Israel’s capital city and consistently ranks as one of the top 100 hotels in the world. It’s classic and classy.

King David is the preferred address for visiting heads of state and celebs. Among its famous guests over the years were US Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump; British Prime Ministers Winston Churchill, Harold Wilson, Margaret Thatcher, John Major, and Tony Blair; King George V, King Hussein, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prince Charles, Elizabeth Taylor, and Madonna.

Address: 23 King David Street
Amenities: Outdoor pool, fitness center, spa, kosher meat restaurant, a kosher dairy restaurant, bar, business services, butler service

Mamilla Hotel

This sleek modern hotel with a decidedly Continental feel, designed by renowned Israeli-born architect Moshe Safdie, introduced avant-garde features when it opened in 2009: a liquid-crystal panel between the bed and bath areas, flat-screen integrated TV/PC, electronic “Do Not Disturb” doorknob signs. Recently, the 194 rooms and suites have been refreshed by their original designer, Pierro Lissoni of Milan.

Address: 11 King Solomon Street
Amenities: Rooftop lounge/restaurant, Happy Fish Restaurant, Mirror Bar (all kosher), spa, gym, indoor pool, business center
Parking: For a fee at a parking garage in the adjacent Alrov Mamilla Mall with direct access to the hotel

The Orient

Opened in 2017, the stunning Orient Jerusalem is well situated in the historic restaurant-studded German Colony in close proximity to the Old City, First Station entertainment and dining hub, Natural History Museum, Liberty Bell Park, Mesila walking path, and much more.

Part of the Isrotel Exclusive Collection, The Orient has 243 rooms and suites decorated in an eclectic combination of old and new styles.

Address: 3 Emek Refa’im Street
Amenities: Three kosher restaurants, indoor swimming pool, outdoor rooftop swimming pool and bar, spa, fitness club, business lounge, and meeting rooms
Parking: Paid underground lot or valet

BEST HISTORIC HOTELS

American Colony

This 94-room Ottoman-style complex near the Old City’s Damascus Gate was built around 1870 by the Turkish Pasha as a palace and has been in use as a hotel since 1902. Each of its three buildings is complemented by a garden.

Originally a favorite with Christian pilgrims, the American Colony has hosted many foreign journalists and celebrity guests over the years including Winston Churchill, Laurence of Arabia, Lauren Bacall, Peter O’Toole, Richard Gere, Tony Blair, and John le Carré.

Address: 1 Louis Vincent St.
Amenities: Outdoor pool, fitness center, sauna, meeting room, courtyard and gardens, four indoor and outdoor dining areas (not kosher), two bars
Parking: Complimentary parking on the premises

Alegra Boutique Hotel

Located in a renovated authentic Crusader inn from about 1,000 years ago as well as a 200-year-old former synagogue across the lane, the 12-year-old Alegra Hotel offers six rooms and seven suites, each named after a pair of historical or mythical lovers.

The hotel is set in the quaint forested village of Ein Karem, which is part of the Jerusalem municipality and contains many churches and monasteries, art studios and galleries (and a famed chocolate shop!).

Address: 13 Derech HaAhayot St.
Amenities: Chef restaurant (not kosher), spa, wet sauna, meeting room, sunbathing/observation deck, courtyard and garden with splash pools, waterfalls, and fishponds
Parking: Nearby public lot

Sergei Palace Hotel

The Sergei Palace, built in 1889 to serve Czarist pilgrims and completely renovated in 2017, offers 20 rooms and two suites. Located a few hundred meters from the Old City, this hotel preserves the features of ancient Jerusalem architecture and contains a gallery and concert hall.

Address: 13 Queen Heleni Street
Amenities: The Palace Restaurant serves international and Russian cuisine (not kosher), outdoor café, a sauna, a souvenir shop, a bike rental, a business center, bar, a summer terrace, airport pickup, tours of nearby Holy Trinity Cathedral
Parking: A voucher provided for parking at a fixed daily rate in a nearby lot

BEST FAMILY HOTELS

David Citadel

Like its younger sibling up the block, the Mamilla Hotel, the David Citadel was designed by architect Moshe Safdie and decorated by Italian interior designer Piero Lissoni.

It’s a 5-star property but surprisingly family-friendly with a fabulous 400-square-meter Children’s Play Center that includes miniature replicas of Jerusalem landmarks such as Machane Yehuda market and the Yemin Moshe Windmill, plus a miniature kitchen, living room, and doll house. For teens, there’s a TV and computer corner as well as ping-pong, billiards, foosball, soccer pitch, and gym.

Address: 7 King David Street
Amenities: 2 chef restaurants, grill bar, lobby lounge (all kosher), spa, gym, outdoor swimming pool, and toddler pool
Parking: On-site, for a

Dan Jerusalem

With 502 guestrooms and suites, the Dan is Jerusalem’s largest hotel. Situated in the northern French Hill neighborhood, its magnificent, terraced structure was designed by Israel Prize-winning architect David Reznik on the slopes of Mount Scopus.

Like most Dan hotels in Israel, the Dan Jerusalem offers The Danyland Club on weekends and holidays, where children can play safely under the supervision of professional staff. For older children, the DanyClub offers computer games, Sony PlayStation stands, and a DVD library. And for preschoolers, DanyBaby is a fully equipped toddler clubhouse with an infant area and kiddie pool (in season).

Address: 32 Lehi St.
Amenities: Indoor and outdoor pools, spa, gym, Turkish bath, business lounge, Danyland children’s club, three kosher restaurants, lobby bar
Parking: Outdoor lot and underground garage

21^st Floor Hotel

The 21^st Floor Hotel is located on the upper two levels of an office building at the intersection of King George Street and the Ben-Yehuda pedestrian mall. Each of its 14 duplex suites has a full kitchen, living, and dining area. Unlike most hotel rooms, this is roomy enough for the whole family to hang out. And there’s a cool bonus: a telescope pointing out of the living room picture windows to get the full panoramic picture of the city below.

Address: 34 Ben-Yehuda St.
Amenities: Jacuzzis, spa, children’s board and computer games, business services; airport pickup service, personal stylist, personal chef, laundry, and other services available
Parking: 24/7 municipal and private lots nearby

Hotel Yehuda

If you’re traveling with children, you’ll appreciate the pastoral, off-the-beaten-track location of the 126-room Hotel Yehuda near the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, National Aquarium, Ein Yael interactive “living” museum and archeological site, and the huge Malcha mall – as well as the hotel’s playroom, lush grounds and outdoor kiddie pool open in the summer. Older kids will enjoy the giant chess set on the patio. Families can book connecting rooms, and cribs are available.

Address: 1 Haim A. Kollitz St.
Amenities: Outdoor swimming pool and kiddie pool (seasonal), kosher restaurant, lobby lounge, spa, fitness center, garden, business center, Gymboree playroom
Parking: On-premises

BEST BOUTIQUE HOTELS

Villa Brown Jerusalem

Housed in a restored 19th-century villa near the capital city’s historic Russian Compound, the 24-room Villa Brown is decorated in a fusion of neoclassical, Ottoman, and contemporary styles in hues of red, emerald, and mauve. The towering arched doorways were preserved for an authentic look, and the outdoor café is set off from the street by lush greenery, making it popular with tourists and locals alike.

Address: 54 HaNevi’im St., Jerusalem
Amenities: Rooftop spa, lobby library, Garden Café, business facilities
Parking: Nearby lot

Arthur Hotel

The 58-room Arthur Hotel is named after Lord Balfour and is run by the Atlas Boutique Hotels chain. Decorated in an early 20th-century theme complete with photos from that era, Turkish rugs, tiled floors, and handcrafted Armenian plates in the bathrooms, the Arthur is tucked into the restaurant- and shop-filled Ben Yehuda pedestrian thoroughfare close to the light rail on Jaffa Road.

Address: 13 Dorot Rishonim
Amenities: Free happy hour, buffet restaurant, free bicycles, tour desk, laundry, pets permitted upon request
Parking: At nearby Harmony sister hotel; guests and their luggage are transported to and from there via electric golf cart.

Leonardo Boutique Jerusalem

The Fattal chain’s Leonardo Boutique hotel in downtown Jerusalem has 74 rooms decorated in classic hues and bespoke furnishings. The highlights are the special touches in the public areas, such as a library, a refrigerated wine collection, and an intimate courtyard with a hot tub on a wooden deck, sun loungers, and plants – a little urban oasis.

Address: 3 Monbaz Street
Amenities: Spa, gym, kosher restaurant, business facilities for up to 90 participants, accessible rooms
Parking: For a fee in a nearby lot

By Abigail Klein Leichman ( Israel21c)