I expected Jerusalem to be beautiful and alluring… but I didn’t expect to find a luxurious five star hotel in the middle of the historic old town. Mamilla Hotel is part of Leading Hotels of the World for good reason, this luxurious accommodation offers stylish bedrooms, exceptional restaurants and a renowned spa & holistic wellbeing centre.
The Mamilla Hotel is part of a group of five hotels (with other properties in London, Paris and Amsterdam). When I walked into the grand contemporary lobby I immediately felt that this hotel welcomes a large international crowd, and the sleek design would particularly appeal to younger, creative guests. The building has been designed by the Italian architect Piero Lissoni and carefully blends the the historic charm of the area with modern design and features. The name Mamilla means “I believe in God”.
There are 194 rooms in total which makes this hotel a good option for smaller group trips travelling to experience Jerusalem. It is also lovely for couples visiting Jerusalem for the weekend or families on holiday here. We were very at home in our lovely Executive bedroom, which was decorated in muted shades of beige and maroon and had simple but classy furniture. All the materials were natural and gave a sophisticated look to the room.
The bathroom featured a large marble bathtub and misted lighting for privacy. Toiletries were by the Provencal brand L’Occitane. The room also had complimentary wifi, a Nespresso coffee machine and a welcome sweet treat from the chef on arrival.
The entire Mamilla hotel is kosher, and there are five restaurants on site to choose from. We experienced the atmospheric rooftop restaurant, probably the most popular eatery at the hotel thanks to the amazing panoramic views overlooking the city. Try to go along at sunset and order a glass of Israeli wine to sip as the sun goes down. For keen wine drinkers the hotel also offers complimentary wine tasting every Friday in the hotel.
In the morning we enjoyed a lavish breakfast in our bedroom. There are a variety of options, including traditional Israeli dishes like shakshuka and hummus or more international options like fresh pastries and fruit salad. After a long restful sleep we had a slow start to the day, feasting on the breakfast spread and waking up with strong coffee and the sweetest fresh orange juice.
The amazing Akasha spa is reason alone to visit the Mamilla Hotel. This huge retreat has won numerous awards and was named one of the top 9 spas in the world by Conde Nast. Along with a heated indoor pool and sundeck there is a computerised meditation room, 7 treatment rooms, a gym and spinning room. Yoga sessions and personal trainers are available to book and there is a wide variety of treatments to choose from. The spa gets busy with both hotel guests and locals who come to escape the hot busy city and enjoy a moment of calm.
The Mamilla Hotel provided the perfect home for our short stay in Jerusalem, a modern and luxurious contrast to the beautiful old city.
More information and book a stay at the Mamilla Hotel here.