White Villa, Tel Aviv, Israel

Tel Aviv continues its boutique hotel building boom with the addition of White Villa, an intimate property without pretence but lots of character. 

Inspired by Le Corbusier, original architect Samuel Barkai designed the house as a private residence in 1947. Like most properties built in the international style of the time, the two-floor villa stood on poles above street level. Today the property features 18 simple but elegant rooms, a rooftop patio, a spiral staircase that runs through its core, and a verdant front porch where breakfast and drinks are served. Rooms on the ground floor open to private terraces while a handful of other rooms feature balconies. Though on the small side, the feeling throughout is light and airy thanks to white-on-white decor and elegant furnishings. Bespoke toiletries are by local perfumer Erez Zelinsky Rozen. 

Architect Stephano Dorata took five years to complete the project due to Israel’s strict preservation codes. During that time Dorata worked meticulously to maintain the spirit of the house by adding fireplaces and elegant banisters. Common areas are limited to a lounge decorated with comfortable sofas and a bookshelf lined with Taschen and Phaidon tomes, while the breakfast room features a handful of tables. A lush front porch offers additional seating for a morning coffee or afternoon cocktail. 

Ideally located on Ben Tsiyon Boulevard, the property is an easy stroll to Dizengoff Centre, Rothschild Boulevard and the beach. Guests can borrow a white beach cruiser bikes to explore the city.