Tel Aviv: Hilton Tel Aviv (August 2018)

The Hilton Tel Aviv is located on the Mediterranean Sea in the heart of Independence Park, within an easy walk of shops and restaurants. Hotel amenities include five restaurants and bars (Cafe Med, Yakimono Sushi Bar, Chloelys, Lobby Lounge, and Pool Bar), fitness center, shops, spa, outdoor saltwater pool, and meeting/event space. Guests staying in specific room levels and some HHonors members have access to the 12^th floor executive lounge, with both indoor and (limited) outdoor space. (Breakfast is served in the morning, with snacks throughout the day, light dairy meals in the evenings, and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.) Our room was spacious, with a large bathroom, closet, and refreshment center near the door. The bathroom had a separate standing shower and soaking bathtub, sink vanity, and toilet, with bathrobes, slippers, and Ahava Dead Sea toiletries provided. (We also received a separate Ahava welcome amenity kit as Hilton HHonors members.) Although we didn’t have a suite, our regular room was more of a junior suite setup, with a king-size bed (with a nightstand on either side) and a sitting room area (with sofa, comfortable chair, coffee table, and desk/chair) that led out to a balcony (with chairs so that we could sit and admire the sea view). A complimentary welcome fruit plate and sparkling water was waiting in the room when we arrived.

Tel Aviv: Allora Cafe Rothschild (August 2018)

We stopped at the Allora Café Rothschild for some drinks as we walked down Rothschild Boulevard admiring the Bauhaus architecture. The restaurant offers prime outdoor seating on its awning-covered front porch (we couldn’t help but fawn over the cute little puppy sitting beneath the table next to us, whose water bowl was bigger than he was), as well as some indoor seating in its small dining room. When our server arrived to take our order, she dropped off complimentary bread and a spread, probably because she didn’t realize that we were only looking to order some drinks. (In the US, very few restaurants would provide anything gratis for people just ordering beverages.) She didn’t seem to hold it against us though; she was perfectly polite and efficient.

Tel Aviv: Barbunia (August 2018)

We walked from the Hilton Tel Aviv to the restaurant Barbunia. We sat indoors (the restaurant also offers outdoor seating), where patrons were seated in communal style at long tables set fairly closely together. As we dined, a server was clearing some adjacent places, when she dropped a glass that shattered, cutting my hand slightly (which no one really acknowledged or apologized for). We enjoyed a meal that included a complimentary array of starters, two fish main dishes (one fried shrimp and one shrimp in sauce), a shared dessert, and drinks for about $100 USD.