American Colony Hotel (The)

Description:

• The former home of a Turkish pasha, and later in the 19th century the center for a "colony" of American and Swedish Protestants, this romantic hotel with beautiful gardens is in a class by itself. Popular with journalists, scholars, archaeologists, and diplomats, the American Colony has become almost as legendary as Rick's Cafe in Casablanca. At the center of Jerusalem's history for more than a century (a white bedsheet from the American Colony was Jerusalem's flag of surrender to General Allenby's approaching British forces in 1917), the hotel offers walled courtyards, public areas decorated with splendid Armenian ceramics, intricately painted antique wooden ceilings, and other authentic old Jerusalem touches. The more costly executive Pasha rooms and suites are in the original building and feature antiques juxtaposed with modern bathrooms; some rooms are decorated with mother-of-pearl cocktail tables and copper trays, and have ornate gold-and-blue hand-painted ceilings. The less-expensive, but comfortable and spacious, business rooms and the smaller economy rooms are mostly in the hotel's newer, less august wings. Although less exotic in decor, they share the American Colony's magical ambience and are surrounded by luxuriant plantings. Within each room category there can be great variation, so ask to see different rooms if possible. Even if you can't afford this kind of luxury, you might want to treat yourself to the elegant and vast Saturday luncheon buffet in the Arabesque room or the charming garden cafe for a light meal or dessert. The bar hums with atmosphere and genuine intrigue. The hotel is style without glitz, and regarded as a meeting point for Palestinian and Israeli business, political, and journalistic contacts. The swimming pool is too small for a place of this size, but you can cool off in it.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Very Highly Recommended 2010