Leonardo Art Tel Aviv

Leonardo Art Tel Aviv is part of the Leonardo brand of the Fattal Hotel chain, Israel’s largest hotel chain. While all Leonardo properties showcase artwork, this property is like a living art gallery with over 3,000 fine art sculptures and paintings. Both Israeli and international artists are represented on the walls and in the halls. The owner is an avid art collector and this hotel is where he displays his collection. Unfortunately, the art doesn’t distract from the building’s obvious wear and tear or outdated color palettes. Though it was only taken over by the Fatttal hotel chain’s Leonardo brand in 2014, this building is over 45 years old, and it shows. Halls are carpeted, door frames are nicked, and large slabs of old-fashioned pink and cream marble make several appearances in the public spaces. However, soft renovations were done after the takeover, though the third floor was left half-finished due to the Gaza war. Artwork changes every 12 to 18 months, and is good enough to warrant a dedicated wander through the halls. 

Leonardo Art Tel Aviv has an odd location underneath an overpass along Tel Aviv's beachfront high-rise hotel row. The location makes it difficult to reach on foot and by car since it's off one side of essentially a highway road with two multi-lane, one-way roads, and at the exact point where the roads divide into two levels. Gordon Beach is right at the back of the hotel and the promenade can be reached out of an exit that's down a few flights of stairs. 

• Six-minute walk to Ben Yehuda Street
• 10-minute walk to Dizengoff Street
• Eight-minute drive to Tel Aviv Port
• Eight-minute drive or eight-minute walk to Rabin Square
• 12-minute drive to Carmel Market
• 13-minute drive to Old Jaffa 
• 12-minute drive to Rothschild Boulevard
• 13-minute drive to Sarona Market
• 29-minute drive to Ben Gurion Airport

There are 156 guest rooms at Leonardo Art Tel Aviv and they’re all mini-gallery spaces. Decor feels mostly fresh thanks to a subtly pearlescent color scheme, wood laminate floors, and simple, contemporary furniture in cool neutral tones. However, some old-looking amenities and vanities in lower-category units are in need of an update. Small flat-screen TVs, kettles with tea and coffee, old safes, free Wi-Fi, and mini-fridges are standard amenities. 

Standard Rooms have white-tile showers and an overall cramped feel. The shower/tub combos may be modern, but dated acrylic countertops, old-fashioned pink wood furniture, and hose-style hairdryers betray the rooms’ old lives. Deluxe Rooms are updated versions of the Standard Rooms and feature more upscale decor  -- metal-accented furniture and large silver headboards -- and a more obvious pearlescent color scheme. These are the only rooms in the hotel that can connect, and bathrooms are shower-only, but have modern wall-mounted hairdryers. 

Upgrades to Suites swap wood laminate for polished tile floors and have extras like separated living rooms with comfy couches, glass dining tables, and wet bars with pod espresso machines and extra mini-fridges. Pebbled terraces are small and sport Mediterranean views. Bathrooms are modern, with separate walk-in showers and tubs, plus toiletries are upgraded to L’Occitane products. Junior Suites function as family rooms and have the most contemporary, stylish look with black-leather converter sofas. Bathrooms have showers and bidets. 

The hotel's most impressive feature is its art collection, but beyond that, features here run the gamut of a typical business property, plus a few notable freebies. The pool area is located on the large rooftop and is open from late-March through October, weather permitting. This is popular spot and gets crowded when summertime parties bring in up to 400 people. Two rooftop bars supply drinks to guests on loungers and sunbeds, and the panoramic views stretch from Gordon Beach down to Old Jaffa in the distance. 

The Lobby Bar is open from late-morning to late-evening and serves up a full bar, as well as easy grab-and-go items like fresh fruit and wrapped sandwiches. For a proper meal, the Galim Restaurant has large, kosher buffets serving a dairy selection for breakfast (free) and meat selection for dinner. There are two seating sections, one with a casual cafe vibe and the other with a more formal look consisting of white tablecloths and draped chairs. Both have nice sea views over the marina. 

Business travelers can access the Executive Lounge, a small space with marble floors and a computer with printer. There’s also a mini-fridge stocked with free drinks, plus free tea, coffee, and snacks. The Red Sea meeting room can accommodate between 70 to 80 attendees and it has a nice sea view off the marina’s edge. Hotel catering is available. 

The hotel has a small gym with Technogym equipment, an all-in-one machine, free weights, and water cooler. Wi-Fi is available throughout for a fee, but the underground parking costs extra and is run by a third-party company. Baby kits are available for free and include Gerber food, bottles, sterilizers, washbasins, and cribs. Cots and sitters are available on request for extra fees.