Just under a year ago, we reported on construction on a building adjacent to the Nahalat Binyamin Pedestrian Mall in Tel Aviv. We noted that it sure looked like a boutique hotel was underway, and we prophesied that it would be part of Atlas Hotels, the well-known boutique chain that dominates Tel Aviv. Later, in February, we mentioned that plans for the much acclaimed Sir Benjamin Hotel Tel Aviv were scrapped in favor of the somewhat less interestingly named Poli House Tel Aviv, although Karim Rashid would remain on hand for the interiors. But alas, we didn't put two and two together that the historic Bauhaus structure that looked like a hotel and the future Poli were one and the same. But they are! And more excitingly, the new hotel will be opening in July, after much delays. The 40-room hotel, run by star hotelier Leon Avigad of Brown and Brown Beach House fame, will be sure to attract the cool, hip crowd of Tel Aviv, with its hopping grungy chic location and cascading rooftop pool. The hotel also promises a sunbathing lounge, rooftop cocktail bar and spa treatment rooms, meeting room and gallery space with art from local artists, and "a cultural hub with a design shop". What that latter term means, we're not quite sure. It seems that there's no dining on site, though, with guests being invited to patronize a nearby cafe for breakfast. Rooms look super cool (but tight), with futuristic bright blue and metallic accents, as well as somewhat psychedelic wallpaper in the bathrooms. We're loving the rendering of the aptly named Circle Suite, with a curving wall of windows spanning most of the room. The smallest rooms start at a crazy tight 15 square meters (151 square feet), but there are larger rooms available too. Complimentary access to a nearby fitness center is included, as are bicycles. We found rates starting at $265 in the end of July, without breakfast, although a pre-opening special takes the rate down to $199. Should you want the Circle Suite, it can be had for just $341 in this period. Sounds a tad steep to us, especially with limited services.
