Located on the Mediterranean Sea at the threshold of Jaffa, the Setai Tel Aviv has opened as the second outpost in the Setai portfolio, following the arrival of the Setai – Sea of Galilee last year. Home to 120 guestrooms and suites, the hotel is housed within a former 12th-century fortress that has been refreshed with classic and contemporary interiors by London-based practice Ara Design.
Oriented around an inner courtyard, the property’s five buildings were carefully restored by the Israel Antiquities Authority, Israel Preservation Society, Israeli firm Feigin Architects, and architect Eyal Ziv. Renovation efforts also saw the addition of three floors and the digging out of a basement level. Accommodations are endowed with walnut furnishings, white sea stone, custom brass fixtures, and Middle Eastern fabrics. Spear-tipped bars also adorn the outside of guestroom windows in a nod to the structure’s history.
The new Israeli restaurant JAYA is centered around a Brazilian blue marble bar in the lobby, while below, the onsite spa features seven treatment rooms, a traditional Turkish hammam, a relaxation room, and a fitness center. Four meeting and event spaces accommodate up to 200 guests as well. Additional amenities include a rooftop infinity pool, lobby jewelry store, and bar.
