The hotel is located near the beach, on the beautiful Netanya promenade often called “The Netanya Riviera,” a popular vacation destination for European Jews, especially French ones.
By TALY SHARONTHE HOTEL is small, with only 75 rooms and suites, but they are all elegantly decorated with the colors of white, beige and black, with imported marble.(photo credit: ASSAF PINCHUK)
David Tower Hotel by Sofitel is part of the M Gallery luxury collection. Its design was inspired by the story about the Ottoman Sultan Dawud Pasha, who loved the beaches of the Mediterranean and built a palace for his lover. Beyond being of utmost luxury, the décor includes images of the Sultan and his beautiful lover.The hotel is located near the beach, on the beautiful Netanya promenade often called “The Netanya Riviera,” a popular vacation destination for European Jews, especially French ones. It is near the local landmark Kikar Haazmaut that is packed with coffee shops, where public events and concerts often take place. A few moments’ drive south is the big water pond and park. Netanya is only 30 kilometers north of Tel Aviv.The hotel is small, with only 75 rooms and suites, but they are all elegantly decorated with the colors of white, beige and black, with imported marble.Most of the hotel rooms have balconies facing the beach. Their décor is luxurious and calming with all the amenities from robes to slippers, flat-screen TV, safe box, espresso machine, and minibar. The insulation is fantastic; I did not hear anything from outside and unless I was sitting on the balcony I wouldn’t have even know I’m in the city! In the heart of the hotel on the second floor is the elegant spa Via Maris. The spa spans over 1,000 square meters and features an indoor heated pool, modern equipped gym, sauna, Turkish bath (Hammam) and rest area – all facing the beach with a fantastic sea view! The spa offers some unique packages called “Journeys,” inspired by the sultan’s journeys to different parts of the world, from Morocco to Rome, India, Japan, China, etc., each package unique and different. I chose an express journey to North America with warm stones.My massagist Kay was very professional.Her smooth but steady motions often made me feel like it was a four-handed massage.There are also treatments in the Turkish bath, even if you don’t take them, ask if the “hammam” is not occupied and go there, it is a refreshing feeling to spend time there, and very good for the skin! The spa is open for visitors ages 16 and up and is very quiet and relaxing.The hotel’s kosher restaurant, Legend, is located on the ground floor. Beyond the inside bar and restaurant area there is also an outdoor seating area. The restaurant is a fusion restaurant serving dishes of local ingredients of Chef Peter Hummel. The menu is not extensive, but varied enough; it includes beef, poultry, lamb, fish and vegan dishes. We had a fabulous mushroom salad, excellent gnocchi and a very good steak. The wine menu includes some very good local and European wine selections and there are also fancy cocktails! We also had breakfast at the restaurant. Breakfast here is one of the best I’ve seen in Israel.The buffet is rather compact; it goes for quality and not quantity.Yet, the selection is very large – expensive fish and cheeses, salads, small pies and green-and-red shakshuka in small private pans, eggs made by order, a variety of pastries, cereals/fruits, coffee and fresh fruit juices. The emphasis here is on the service. While serving is buffet-style, the waiters brought us coffee, drinks, the eggs we ordered and everything we needed. It felt like a full-service restaurant, which is exactly what we needed in the morning.
David Tower Hotel, 8 King David St., Netanya, (+972) 9-373-0013. Via Maris Spa: www.viamarisspa.com/en/, (+972) 9-880-0084.The writer was a guest of the hotel.
