The Jaffa, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Tel Aviv

The location works really well, just a short walk from some of the best restaurants and close to Tel Aviv’s nightlife, yet the hotel is surprisingly quiet at night. There are lovely sea views from many spots around the property. The historic building is stunning, and the courtyard feels like a peaceful escape in the middle of the city. The Jaffa is a beautiful blend of historic character and modern luxury. The amenities were great, from the gorgeous, well-designed pool and courtyard to relaxing yoga classes and excellent food.

The food was delicious, and the restaurant service from Andrea and Elias made the meal memorable with their warm, excellent attention. Aviad was incredibly helpful with arranging everything for our special event, while Ruth was kind, attentive, and always made us feel welcome. We had a wonderful stay, with beautiful, comfortable rooms full of historical charm.

Fresh ingredients, clear flavors, and careful execution made the cuisine a real strength. The rooms were spacious and thoughtfully laid out, with a balanced look that felt comfortable without extra fuss. Restored historic architecture paired with contemporary design gives The Jaffa a quietly distinguished feel. The hotel’s mood is calm and confident in its quality. Service was attentive while still giving us space, which added to how easy the stay felt. For a sophisticated, well-composed visit to Tel Aviv, The Jaffa is among the finest. The Jaffa, TLV.

The hotel is architecturally stunning and clearly had great potential when it opened, but it’s no longer well maintained. I had to switch rooms four times. The first two were dirty, with large stains on the sofa and dirt on the counter. Another had a broken TV, and the last had water damage. One morning while brushing my teeth, I suddenly felt water on my feet from a bathroom leak. Instead of moving me, they had me wait in the lobby for nearly two hours at 7am while maintenance tried to fix it. The final room, on the first floor, smelled terrible, like urine, and the bed was so hard and uncomfortable that I barely slept during the stay. At check-in, the front desk employee was unpleasant and unhelpful, and explained nothing about the property: not the elevators, breakfast hours, or even basic safety information in case of an alarm. An employee said they’d arrange a complimentary taxi to the airport, but instead booked a car that overcharged me. The driver said he had to pay the hotel a commission, which explained the inflated price. I spent much of my vacation at the front desk dealing with problems and on the phone with American Express trying to resolve it. Staff told me there had been a recent ownership change, and it shows in how management and service have gone downhill. Every employee I spoke with complained and seemed unhappy working there. They weren’t surprised by my problems. I also heard complaints from employees. This hotel could be great, but it’s poorly managed, not maintained well, and nowhere near the service you’d expect from a five-star property. I wouldn’t return and highly recommend staying away. It’s not cheap and isn’t worth nearly what they charge. What a horrific experience.