Villa Brown Jerusalem

Located just minutes from the Old City, this 24-room boutique property is the latest from the Brown Hotel group, whose portfolio includes hotels in Tel Aviv and Croatia.

Villa Brown Jerusalem dates back to the Ottoman era, when it was built as the family home of a doctor who served as the general manager of the historic Rothschild Hospital in Jerusalem. The hotel features a garden bistro-cafe, rooftop spa and terrace, as well as a meeting room and library with a curated selection of design and lifestyle publications. A subterranean “Cave Bar” is located in the former cistern underneath the house.

Jerusalem-based architects Galit Shifman Bar-Natan and Michal Cohen Magen tackled the building’s restoration as well as the addition of two extra floors. Villa Brown Jerusalem’s design blends East and West aesthetics, merging elements from the British Mandate period with Neoclassical, Ottoman and eclectic styles.

Throughout the hotel, historic and contemporary elements merge with a playful touch. In a nod to Jerusalem’s signature architecture, the building’s original stone walls were left exposed in some areas. Furthermore, bright, jewel-toned furniture brightens the public spaces, which have light-hearted design touches such as a zebra rug and birdcage chairs. The jewel tones repeat in the guest rooms, where emerald green-and aubergine-colored furniture offset pale walls. The bathrooms feature beveled green subway tiles and classic clawfoot tubs, along with amenities from Molton Brown.

Food is also a major highlight of the hotel. The Garden Bistro-Cafe serves classic regional dishes with a modern twist, while high tea is served in the garden. For more unwinding, there’s also a rooftop spa and open-air Jacuzzi.

The stone terraces are purely Mediterranean, with lush flowers and sweeping views of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Nearby attractions include the new Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, and the landmark Tabor House.

Photography Courtesy of Assaf Pinchuk.

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