Is this a Tel Aviv apartment or a parallel universe? Because the Tel Aviv apartments I’ve come to know are typically small and half renovated (at best) or old, rickety and still expensive (at worst).
Yet apartment three at The Levee is unequivocally a work of art. Spanning 115 square metres, with 3.5 metre high ceilings throughout, plus two balconies, it’s a luxurious space that’s been painstakingly restored from its 1913 original.
The eight apartments here are the result of a stunning restoration by Bar Orian architects and interior designer Yael Siso. Originally called The Gurevitch House, the property became a Unesco World Heritage site in 2003.
Earlier this year, it re-opened its doors as The Levee: a luxury “fine stay” — marketing speak for a high-end apartment hotel — designed to offer a “home-away-from-home feeling”.
As the friendly concierge opens the door, I suppress a nervous laugh as I take in the size and stature of the place.
One of two High Heritage themed flats, apartment three combines stripped-back, exposed brick-work (possibly including shells from the building’s original cement, dredged from Tel Aviv beach), with indulgent soft furnishings in pastel colours, including a remarkable blue sofa by Italian designer Baxter, and natural light flooding in through the eight windows.
That’s all before I’ve seen the bedroom, which doesn’t disappoint with its king-size bed, private terrace and walk-in-wardrobe to rival Carrie Bradshaw’s. This luxury does come at a price but The Levee is certainly something unusual in Tel Aviv.
At 8pm, my friend arrives and we open the complimentary bottle of Dalton rose wine. We may be five minutes from the nightlife of Rothschild Boulevard and just one minute from spice-shopping mecca Levinsky market, but I have little desire to go out into the city when I can sit here in my calm cocoon.
Later on, I enjoy a hot shower in my wet-room before falling into bed. Even though there are railway engineering works taking place opposite, the triple-glazed windows block out the noise and I’m not bothered by a thing.
At 11am, I wander round the corner to fashionable Herzl 16 for a complimentary breakfast. I could have cooked at home — with two fridges (perfect for those who are kosher), a four-ring stove, an oven, microwave and Nespresso machine, the fully-fitted kitchen invites me to whip up something delicious. But eating breakfast out feels more fun.
As check-out time approaches, it strikes me that The Levee is the perfect choice for well-heeled travellers who want to get off the beaten track.
With its cool urban location, The Levee is a world away from the traditional high-rise hotels at Tel Aviv’s seafront, while its spaciousness marks it out from the boxy boutique hotels that are popping up everywhere.
However there are a few things lacking: despite all this space, my bathroom is without a bath tub for example and it would have been a nice touch to fill the designer fruit bowl for guests.
Yet still there’s no contest: if a luxury bolt-hole in the heart of Tel Aviv’s hipster district suits your city break wishlist, The Levee is the perfect discovery.
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