Laura

My husband is planning a trip to Israel at the end of March. He wants to stay at the Maxim hotel in Tel Aviv--anyone stay here recently? How is it? Rates? How safe is the area? What to stay away from? Good places to eat? This will be a weeks stay visiting various places and towns in the area. Anyplaces that are closed during Passover? Any help would be appreciated--post a reply or email directly--Thanks!!

kay

I do not know for sure, but imagine that all kosher restaurants would be closed for Passover.

AA

Laura,
Hotel Maxim is on Hayarkon St which is a narrow but busy street, parallel to the beach (1 street removed from the beach). It is a small hotel, no frills. The rate is probably accordingly. Being an Israeli, I never stayed in it. It looks Ok (but not more than that) from the outside. The better hotels are Dan Hotel (not Dan Panorama!), Sheraton, Hilton, Crown Plaza, Ramada - all are closer to the beach. Another hotel which has good reputatin is Hotel Basel. Something between the hotels I mentioned before and Maxim. All those hotels (includiong Maxim) are in a safe area.
Most restaurants are open in Passover. The kosher restaurants will not serve bread or dishes made with flour. Most reataurants in Tel Aviv are NOT kosher., with the exeption of hotel restaurants - they are all kosher. You will not get any bread for breakfast! There are some good dinig places near the Maxim. The best that comes to my mind right now is Raphael, almost across the street from Maxim in the Dan King David Tower. I am not sure whether they are open on Passover and how kosher they are. If you need more advice feel free to contact me to my e-mail address shown above. But do it quickly, I an on my way to the U.S. (next week).
AA

Sharon

Laura,
I went by the Maxim hotel this morning and it seems that it was recently renovated, so it might be a nice choice.

I've heard that the renovated Cinema hotel (in Dizzingof st.-centrally located) is a beauty.

If you're planning a weeks stay, it might be echonomical to rent an apartment in an apartment hotel.

I can be more of a help in the eating out domain.
Raphael is a good recommendation.
More ideas for high-end restaurants:

Fish/sea food places:
-Manta Ray (I think lunch is best there)
- Turquoise (excellent food)
- Qloalys (a new restaurant in Ramat-Gan)

French cuisine:
- Yoezer Bar-Ya'in (my favorite French, in a small alley in Jaffa)
- Keren (very expensive but the lunch business offer is a good deal)

Are you into Japanese?
- Onami (my all times favorite, but expensive)
- Kyoto (the Herzelia restaurant is more plesent than the one in Tel Aviv)

Steaks:
- Birenbaum & Medelbaum

Others:
- Cordelia (for a romatic dinner in Jaffa)
- Barraca (beautiful decor for this Moroccan inspired cosmopolitan cuisine)

Moderate price restaurants:
- Jiraff (a great noodle place - there are two in Tel Aviv and a large one in Herzelia)
- Agadir Bar (a burger place - try the Herzelia branch)
- Pasta Mia (fun for pasta - I like the one in Wilson street - no reservations during the week)
- Orna and Ella (an important establishment in Sheinkin street)
- Dita (sit on Rotshield ave. for good grilled meats)
- Jacco (authentic salads and fish - try the Herzelia restaurant)
- Ad Ha'ezem (Steaks, in Herzelia)

Have a great trip to Israel.
Enjoy,
Sharon

AA

Laura,
I second Sharon's recommendations.
Very nice selection of restaurants!
AA

j

Hi -- just got back from Israel. We were there for 2 weeks, and are happy to answer any questions...