An Eclectic architecture-style property and the first-ever hotel in Tel Aviv has been reimagined by Bar Orian and ICONIQUE as a 44-key boutique hotel. Hotel Designs got a sneak peek inside…
Tel Aviv’s first-ever hotel, built in 1913, has re-opened after it was reimagined by architecture studio Bar Orian and design studio ICONIQUE into a design-savvy boutique hotel.
Elkonin Tel Aviv, part of the MGallery Hotel Collection, shelters 44 rooms in the charming neighbourhood of NEve Tzedek. It encompasses a glass-ensnared modern structure, which combined with the original edifice, reflects the past and present of Tel Aviv.
Image credit: Accor
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.
Image credit: Amit Geron
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.
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 CoÌ‚te d’Azur, serving a specially curated menu of cocktails and light snacks and featuring sweeping vistas of the Tel Aviv cityscape and Mediterranean Sea.
Malka Suite, Elkonin Hotel, Tel Aviv
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.
Room 204, Deluxe Terrace, Elkonin Hotel, MGallery Accor, Tel Aviv
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.
The hotel also features a destination restaurant, L’Éoque by Jöel Robuchon that serves up a combination of French haute cuisine with Middle Eastern influences flavours and spices.
Image credit: Accor
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.
> Since you’re here, why not read our exclusive review of another MGallery hotel?
Main image credit: Amit Geron
