Hotel Gilgal

Opened in 2008 and named after a Bible verse, Hotel Gilgal proudly displays its non-secular side. The hotel's faith is reflected in its decor, with walls featuring inspirational quotes, murals of biblical scenes, and biblically inspired original works of art. There's also New Testament Bibles in each room, and once-a-week bible study classes on-site. Because of this, it's a very popular spot for Christian tour groups. Despite its roots in Christianity, the hotel still serves kosher products for breakfast and dinner (though it holds no certification and doesn't separate these items). The lobby here is large, sunny, and the hotel's only interior public lounge space. The decor is fresh and modern with parquet wood floors, thick cushioned contemporary furniture, and stylish wooden light fixtures. Beyond a couple sets of couches opposite the reception desk, there's a small section of tables and chairs near the free coffee and tea, a tall bookcase full of books up for grabs, and a few display cases full of jewelry. While this is the most modern space in the hotel, the rooms follow suit to a certain degree, and overall the hotel feels contemporary. A more appealing space, however, is the rooftop terrace with seating and city views.

Hotel Gilgal has an enviable location that's two blocks to the beach and a half-block from two of the city's busiest streets. Several of the Tel Aviv's main attractions are reachable on foot, including the Carmel Market, Dizengoff Street, King George Street, mini-marts, and several restaurants. Guests looking to catch a cab will have better luck walking the half-block to either Ben Yehuda or HaYakron streets, as it's rare for cabs to venture down this small one-way street unless they are dropping travelers off. - Less than one-minute walk to Ben Yehuda Street

• Three-minute walk to Trumpledor Beach
• 11-minute walk to Carmel Market
• 13-minute walk to Dizengoff Street
• 20-minute walk to Rothschild Boulevard
• Nine-minute drive to Tel Aviv Port
• 10-minute drive to Rabin Square
• 11-minute drive to Old Jaffa 
• 13-minute drive to Sarona Market
• 29-minute drive to Ben Gurion Airport

The 50 rooms here are simple, city-sized, and have dated-feeling bathrooms. Decor is a mix of old-fashioned and contemporary, and the rooms are not without visible dings. All rooms come with AC, flat-screen TVs, kettles alongside tea and coffee, free snacks like dates and halva, and two free bottles of water. Expect bar-sized mini-fridges, digital safes, old phones, and beds with crisp sheets and lumpy pillows. The white-tiled bathrooms come with small shower stalls and Sea of Spa toiletries. The bedside table drawers are stocked with New Testament Bibles. Economy Rooms are best for couples on short stays or singles on a budget. These rooms have high ceilings but not a lot of natural light, while upgrading to the Superior Rooms will mean large windows and lots of natural light. Deluxe Rooms have corner locations and are a bit larger, plus come with extra perks such as bathrobes, slippers, and espresso machines; some of these rooms have partial sea views. It's worth nothing that how quiet your room is really depends on the location, so be sure to request if you'd like a quiet room.

Hotel Gilgal's breakfast is one of its standout features. A free and varied Israeli breakfast buffet is set up on the sixth floor, and includes a made-to-order omelet station, self-serve juices and coffee, fresh fruits, cheeses, smoked salmon, vegetables, and pastries. The indoor seating is surrounded by windows and there are a few tables outside on the balcony, both with great close-up views of the cityscape. One level up is the partially covered rooftop terrace with a collection of wooden tables and chairs. This spot is a guest favorite thanks to its panoramic views over the city and partial views out to the beach during the day and twinkling city views at night. On Friday nights, a buffet dinner is available in the basement-level Beth Lechem dining room. Dishes are a mix between international and Israeli specialities. Up in the lobby, a small area has free, 24-hour tea, coffee, and water. During the daily "sweet hour", guests can also grab a treat like cookies here. The on-site gift shop sells jewelry, and there's a basic meeting room that's also used for Bible study. This is a non-smoking hotel (smoking is only allowed on the front patio) with decent, free Wi-Fi throughout. Guests can opt to use the 24-hour computer area with printer in the lobby. Other freebies include electrical adaptors and beach towels from reception, though a fee will be charged if the items are not returned. Parking is available at a discounted rate at a nearby, third-party lot. The hotel has a dry cleaning service at an extra fee, and guests can also purchase coins for the laundry room, which is stocked with free detergent.