The Setai — Tel Aviv, Israel
If only the walls could talk at The Setai, a property that’s been accommodating people for the last millennia. Located in the ancient port city of Jaffa on the southern fringes of Tel Aviv, the hotel pays homage to its fascinating – and sometimes brutal – history through distinctive design features and Ottoman-inspired decor.
Over a 12-year renovation period, local firm Feigin Architects have carefully integrated archaeological features even as they added two floors and a new wing. Spectacular stone archways date back to its days as a Crusader fortress while spiked iron bars set atop heavy stone windows recall its use as a prison during the Ottoman era. Glance up to spot the royal seal of Abdul Hamid II – the last Sultan to rule with absolute authority before the empire crumbled – stamped in stone above the hotel entrance.
Building upon this legacy, ARA Design have created rich interiors that blend the tech-driven modernity of Tel Aviv with Jaffa-specific references. In each of the 120 rooms, traditional Turkish rugs and intricate, Arabic-inspired light fixtures nod to the hotel’s Middle Eastern heritage. A sunny central courtyard draws upon another tenet of Islamic design while, in the cavernous ground floor bar, jewel-coloured armchairs sit under a glittering chandelier. In the basement spa, a hammam awaits.
ADDRESS
David Razi'el St 22
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Maude’s Brâncuși-inspired sex toys go on display in a new Paris exhibition
Maude’s design-led vibrators are now on display at Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, as part of ‘Private Lives: From the Bedroom to Social Media’. Brand founder Éva Goicochea talks to Wallpaper* about partnering with the museum and opening up cultural conversations around sex
By India Birgitta Jarvis Published
-
‘I was captivated by the idea of merging two iconic brands’: Nigo on his 1990s-inspired collaboration with Moncler and Mercedes-Benz
Unveiled at Moncler’s ‘The City of Genius’ event in Shanghai this past weekend, Japanese fashion designer Nigo unpacks his three-way collaboration with Moncler and Mercedes-Benz, which includes a play on the G-Class alongside a fashion collection in his eclectic style
By Jack Moss Published
-
Cathay Pacific’s new business class Aria Suites take flight
Cathay Pacific raises the bar for business-class travel with the launch of the much-anticipated Aria Suites
By Lauren Ho Published
-
Six Senses Shaharut offers an Israeli desert escape
Set in the Negev Desert, some hours outside of Tel Aviv, Six Senses Shaharut is a reminder of the hotel group’s undeniable stake in luxury with a wellness twist
By Katya Boirand Published
-
Villa One at the One & Only Palmilla — Los Cabos, Mexico
By Chadner Navarro Published
-
Martim — Wroclaw, Poland
By Daven Wu Last updated
-
Tattersalls Hotel — Armidale, Australia
By Dimity Noble Last updated
-
KLoé Hotel — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
By Jennifer Choo Last updated
-
Elmina — Tel Aviv, Israel
By Harry McKinley Last updated
-
Casa Hoyos — San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
By Daven Wu Last updated
-
Littlenap — Hangzhou, China
By Daven Wu Last updated