The Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem sits on Agron Street, on the seam between the modern city centre and the walls of the Old City, a few minutes’ walk from the Mamilla promenade and Jaffa Gate. Ignore any mention of French Hill or Monte Mario; the address is here, in the heart of town. The hotel occupies a restored 1929 landmark, a triangular building of pink-and-cream stone that mixes Moorish, Gothic and Art Deco flourishes, reopened in 2014 with 226 rooms and suites behind the historic facade.
It is one of the most decorative luxury hotels in the country, with an arched, chandelier-hung lobby, gilded detailing and rooms that balance the period drama with modern comfort. The King’s Court restaurant and the lounge handle kosher fine dining and a lavish afternoon tea, and there is a spa with an indoor pool below ground. The location is the real luxury: you can walk to the Old City’s gates, the Tower of David and the Mamilla shops, then retreat to calm.
This is a hotel for travellers who want to be within walking distance of the Old City without sacrificing comfort or service, and who appreciate a building with genuine history. It is expensive and observant of Shabbat and kosher rules, which shapes the dining, but for location and grandeur combined, nothing in Jerusalem quite matches it.
