Prima City
9 Mapu St., Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv, 63577, Israel, Tel Aviv, IsraelWhy We Like It
Never judge a book by its cover. Despite its weathered exterior facade, this bright and cheerful hotel offers excellent design, warm service and a top-notch restaurant, all within a stone's throw of the beach and at a reasonable price point.
Fodor's Expert Review
A block from the beach, this six-story hotel on a street lined with small apartment houses has a light, airy lobby with a fun and modern design and a gourmet Kosher restaurant on the other. Colorful, comfy rooms are cheery and bright, and hallways are lined with excellent street portraits of Tel Aviv.
You Should Know The cafe and bar in the lobby is kosher and linked to Mapu restaurant, which serves meat, which means that if you crave a coffee drink, you'll have to settle for almond or soy milk in your cappuccino rather than real dairy.
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Room
Small but freshly renovated with sleek and colorful design, the rooms feature parquet wood floors and colorblocked headboards.
You Should Know If you're a light sleeper, pack earplugs; street construction starts early in this area and can be heard in some of the rooms.
Bathroom
The powder rooms are a decent size, with tan tiled walls and bright white toilets and sinks.
Lobby
Welcoming and well-designed, the lobby features Tel Aviv-inspired art, jewel toned furniture and even an etching of novelist Abraham Mapu (namesake of the hotel's street) wearing a cool pair of shades.
Tip Maps, magazines and even free beach towels are all available at the concierge desk; just ask.
Dining
It can be hard to combine "Kosher" and "cool," but Mapu, Israeli celebrity chef Nir Tzuk's newest venture in the Prima City lobby, does it pretty well. Savory meat dishes and fresh Israeli vegetable creations are the standouts.
Drinking
The lobby bar serves 1+1 beer for Happy Hour in the evenings and wine and cocktails all day long.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
Quiet Mapu street is just a hop and skip from bustling Ben Yehuda Street, where there are plenty of taxis and more buslines than you can count.
Restaurants
If you don't want to eat at the excellent in-house Mapu, there's excellent and authentic Thai to be had at the locals' favorite Thai House (6-minute walk); and sinfully indulgent barbecue and home cooking at the hipster haven Truck Deluxe (8-minute walk).