Jerusalem hotels, restaurants, attractions, tours & events. Helping since 2008

Jerusalem, the city where kings ruled and sultans sat is no stranger to luxury. Today, even the visiting yeoman can find lavish quarters in which to lay his weary head, as the city has lately experienced a renaissance of luxury hotels. Some are timelessly well appointed, while others feature magnificent modern design. One theme runs between them all, though: impeccable service coupled with superb amenities and large, well-thought-out guestrooms in the lap of luxury.

Below is our list of Jerusalem's best luxury hotels.

1. The American Colony Hotel 

Perhaps no hotel captures the charm of old Jerusalem as does the American Colony. Located in a garden-filled courtyard in the heart of east Jerusalem, the hotel has been a Jerusalem mainstay since its founding in the 19th century. The hotel's 86 guestrooms are undeniably Jerusalem-flavored, with old stones and Mediterranean architectural flourishes abound. The hotel is a favorite among writers, artists and other world-class personae, from Mikhail Gorbachev to Bob Dylan, who find inspiration in its quintessential style and splendid trappings.

The five-star Inbal Hotel, sitting next to Liberty Bell Park, has been a Jerusalem institution since the 1980s when it opened (under the moniker "Laromme"). The hotel has been upgraded since then, and much like the city, finds a nice balance between old elegance and new charm, with Jerusalem stone interiors and plasma screen TVs. The Inbal's exercise complex is among the city's best, with an arch-shaped steam room, a dry sauna, TechnoGym fitness equipment, treatment and massage rooms, an adult pool and a kiddie pool. The hotel, whose name means ball of the bell in Hebrew, is truly the belle of the ball.

The David Citadel has traditionally been a home away from home for visiting dignitaries, including presidents, prime ministers and royalty. It's not hard to see why. The Moshe Safdie-designed building is located across from the Alrov Mamilla mall and is just a few steps from the Old City walls. Its 384 rooms are the height of luxury, and the hotel's designers have found a way to combine the tasteful elegance without being ostentatious. Its spa facilities are among the best in town, and its magnificent infinity pool offers breathtaking views of the Old City.

The Leonardo Plaza Hotel, located next to Independence Park, across the street from the Great Synagogue and near downtown Jerusalem, has long been a favorite for discerning Jewish visitors to the city. Though one of the city's larger hotels, the Leonardo, which used to be the Sheraton Plaza, still offers personalized service as well as large, well-appointed rooms. The hotel's pool also stands out, as does the Italian Primavera restaurant, located on its grounds.

5. The Mamilla Hotel 

One of the nicest hotels is the city is also one of its newest. The much-heralded Mamilla Hotel sits atop the newly opened Alrov Mamilla outdoor shopping mall. The Piero Lissoni-designed digs are spare and modern, yet still evoke the warmth of the city and offer the kind of luxury world-class travelers expect. While the location, opposite the Jaffa Gate of the Old City and only a few blocks from downtown, is unparalleled, the hotel offers enough amenities to make sure guests never need to leave its downy quarters, including a holistic well-being retreat and gym, exclusive dining and nightlife options, function spaces, an indoor swimming pool and a rooftop balcony facing the Old City walls. Lissoni explains that Jerusalem has the potential to be an extremely noisy place for visitors, so "It was easy for me to design something in Jerusalem that was a little more silent. It's calm, it's familiar for some reason. This huge space is completely empty."