Jerusalem hotels, restaurants, attractions, tours & events. Helping since 2008

Hotels in Jerusalem have luxury and comfort down pat. But what about when travelers want something just a little special or different extra? Lucky for us, many Jerusalem hotels offer unique amenities or features that set them apart from the rest. Here's our list of the top five Jerusalem hotels with special characteristics.

The American Colony Hotel

The most storied of Jerusalem hotels offers far more than just the sum of its history. While the great name it enjoys with travelers and the luxuriant quarters offered there are legend, the American Colony Hotel also offers a number of perks that render it the go-to choice for spies, diplomats, journalists and discerning travelers alike. The old-world style of the hotel's campus, with open verandas and expansive gardens, are an oasis in the stir that we call Jerusalem. Plus the hotel boasts Munther's bookshop, with a wide collection of rare titles and frequent readings by authors.

Harmony Hotel

The four-star Harmony Hotel offers visitors an unparalleled location, right in the heart of Jerusalem's bustling nightlife scene. Because it's located in the center of downtown, between the shopping Mecca of Ben Yehuda street and the food and drink nexus of Nachalat Shiva, staying at the Harmony means never having to get into a cab to get a bite or worry about a long slog home after a day wandering the Old city or a night of drinks. And if you prefer to stay within the hotel's downy confines, the business lounge converts into a guests-only English billiards pub at night.

Ramat Rachel Hotel

Kibbutz Ramat Rachel is off the Jerusalem tourist beaten path, and its hotel has developed a reputation popular with Israelis and tourists in the know. If you've got a reservation at Ramat Rachel, which is located amid the orchards and upscale apartment developments on the southeastern edge of the city, you've got one of the best, and most unique views offered in all Jerusalem. The hotel overlooks the Judean Desert all the way down to the Dead Sea and Jordan (even the lights of Amman are visible at night). Turning inward, Ramat Rachel's rustic setting really feels a world away from the bustle of Jerusalem. The hotel has one of the city's largest pools, complete with shaded kiddie pool and large waterslide, plus a glassed-in Jacuzzi room that offers unobstructed views of the dotted hills to the east. If you've got a special occasion, the hotel also boasts a synagogue and one of the most popular events halls in the country.

Lev Yerushalayim

As the name implies, the Lev Yerushalayim Hotel (Heart of Jerusalem) sits at one of the busiest crossroads in the city, where the Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall meets up with King George Street. Besides for its excellent setting, the Lev Yerushalayim offers one thing, and one thing only, mini-apartment-style suites, with one or two bedrooms, dining areas, kitchenettes and living rooms. Religious travelers can even request a set of kosher dishes (at an extra charge) to take full advantage of the kitchenette and the hotel's location above a supermarket.

Little House in Baka

While many Jerusalem hotels try to pack as many rooms and suites in as possible, at the Little House in Baka, less is more. Part of the Little House mini-chain of bed and breakfasts spread across the city's leafy residential quarters, Little House in Baka is a breath of fresh air away from the city's active center, yet just a short bus or cab ride away from the Old City, Mamilla, Talpiot or downtown. It is also in within walking distance of the cafes of the German Colony. The small inn is built into a converted Turkish manor, offering visitors the requisite Mediterranean twist to their Jerusalem hotel experience.

Other hotels deserving honorable mention for their special characteristics include the new Mamilla Hotel, which offers visitors a one-of-a-kind modernist setting, with cool gadgetry in the rooms and throughout the hotel, plus an amazing location in the heart of the rebuilt Mamilla discrict, just opposite the Old City's Jaffa Gate; and the Mount Zion Hotel, which faces the Old City's walls, offers some of the city's best views and has one of Jerusalem's only old-style Hammams (Turkish baths).