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Why Stay at the Efendi Hotel?
Would you like to stay in an authentic pasha’s palatial home straight out of 1,001 Arabian Nights? Here is your chance should you visit Israel.
The Efendi Hotel is 17th-century palace recently restored by a team of architects and artisans. It is the only upscale hotel in wildly historic Akko, on Israel's Mediterranean coast. (Akko is sometimes called Acre, its Biblical name.)
- See what's so special about Akko as a travel destination
- And a look at Akko's thrilling history
The Efendi Hotel is a member of the prestigious association, Small Luxury Hotels of the World. It opened in 2012 and has garnered accolades including a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and a Fodor's Hotel Award.
What Is the Efendi Hotel Like?
This hotel is one-of-a-kind hotel: a unique building and in an unparalleled setting. “Akko is still genuine," says the hotel's co-owner and driving force, Uri Jeremias.
- Who? He's an Israeli celebrity chef called, like his top Akko restaurant, "Uri Buri"
The Incredible Past of the Efendi Hotel
The Efendi Hotel is steeped in the past.
- Parts of its building are 1500 years old
- Other sections date from the 12th century, when Akko was the Holy Land capital of the Christian Crusaders
- In the 1600s, when Akko was under Ottoman rule, the building was the home of a Turkish pasha, Efendi Uda Chammar
The building was lovingly restored in recent years. It conveys a dreamy mood and architectural excitement.
- Uri Buri says he says he chose to revitalize the building and create the hotel “out of belief and love"
Who Stays at the Efendi Hotel?
- Israelis like Efendi for weekend getaways
- Around two-thirds of guests are from other countries: Americans, Brits, Germans, Swedes, Dutch
- Among Efendi's guests: diplomats, architects, archeologists, and historian
Would you like the Efendi Hotel? Take the quiz >>
Would You Like The Efendi Hotel in Akko, Israel?
See if The Efendi Hotel Would Be Your Style
You will probably love The Efendi Hotel if:
- You revel in the history of an old place
- And you like staying in authentically historic settings
- Or in hotels dripping with character
- You love intimate boutique hotels (the Efendi has only 12 rooms)
- You look forward to dining in hotels that are owned by chefs
- You're traveling in Israel with your dog and need a pet-friendly hotel policy
The Efendi Hotel may not be your ideal hotel if:
- You like modern hotels
- You like big hotels with options like multiple restaurants, a gym, and pool
- You absolutely need an in-room music player
- You're a smoker; the Efendi is entirely non-smoking
The Style of Efendi Hotel in Akko, Israel
The Style & Mood of the Efendi Hotel
The hotel was created over nearly a decade of restoration.
- The restoration involved an international team of preservationists, architects, and artisans
- Great pains were taken to retain the building's elegant simplicity and strong personality
A Dramatic Lobby Welcomes You to the Efendi Hotel
Enter the antique door set in the warm yellow stone exterior, and you will be struck by the hotel lobby's "wow factor."
- Its 18-foot-high gray stone walls rise to vaulted ceilings
- The lobby leads off to a dining room, also with walls of ancient stone
- The lobby and dining rooms were constructed in Late Islamic and Ottoman times, in the mid-1300s.
- In an earlier epoch, the dining room was part of a Christian church or chapel (an ancient cross remains on the wall)
The lobby is not only impressive. It's stylish. And it’s comfortable, too, with several groupings of cushy, colorful couches, plus tables and chairs.
- The room’s focal points are two opulent Damascus chairs, handmade in Syria of wood with inlaid mother-of pearl and bone
Rooftop Terrace at The Efendi Hotel
The Shanti Terrace is a great space: a rooftop lounge with a timeless view.
- The seating is giant cushions, and the panorama takes in Old Akko, its mosques, and the Mediterranean Sea
See what the dozen rooms at the Efendi Palace Hotel are like >>
Rooms at The Efendi Hotel in Akko, Israel
Guest Rooms at The Efendi Hotel
Since there are just a dozen guest rooms, you feel as though you are staying in a wealthy friend’s lovely home.
Efendi accommodations range from Deluxe, Grand Deluxe, and Royal rooms to the Presidential Suite.
- All rooms are non-smoking
- Rooms are air-conditioned, but windows open to allow Mediterranean breezes
The Presidential Suite has a living room. All other accommodations share a series of communal, convivial living rooms.
- Only Grand Deluxe rooms have a balcony
Rates are quite reasonable considering the hotel's superlative design. Weeknight rates are considerably lower.
- The Efendi's booking page
Decor of Rooms at the Hotel Efendi
Rooms are simply but elegantly decorated, with a beautiful Middle Eastern look.
- Rooms' gray and white Turkish marble floors are mostly original.
- The 16-foot-high ceilings are re-decorated copies of Efendi Uda Chammar’s original. Each ceiling is different, and framed Islamic-style, by an elaborate floral inlay
- Rooms are accessorized by Persian rugs, flowers, and silver accents
- Bed linens are silky, pristine white Egyptian cotton, custom-made for the hotel
- Beds are super comfortable: two mattresses suspended on a flexible wooden base
- Doors, like everything else, are done with care
- Acoustically lined doors drown out sound
Bathrooms are gracious in size, with a distinctive vintage feeling.
- They have the same magnificent marble floors, an old-fashioned freestanding tub, and sleek glass-enclosed shower
- Toiletries are from Sabor, made in Israel
Complimentary Guest Amenities in all Efendi Hotel Rooms
- In-room minibar with bottled water and soft drinks
- Coffee and teamaker plus espresso maker, with coffee pods
- Wide-screen TVs with over 100 channels (including many English-language)
- Fast and free wifi
- In-room safes
- Rooms have air-conditioning, ceiling fans, and windows that open
- Several rooms have balconies
- Free parking is provided at Uri Buri restaurant a short walk away
- What rooms lack: MP3 music player or dock
A Spa, but no Gym, at Efendi Palace Hotel
First, the bad news: there are no fitness facilities nor pool at the Efendi Hotel. Now, the good news.
- Akko visitors get their exercise wandering around this ancient city, and climbing its fortress parapets
- The sparkling Mediterranean, and a swimming beach, are a momentary walk from the hotel
Even better news: The Efendi Hotel features an in-house spa.
- It is intimate, with just a few treatment rooms
- Its original hammam (Turkish steam bath) is 400 years old, with exquisite water taps
- The hammam still operates, and is a pleasure
The spa offers a variety of massage types
- My inspired reflexology treatment was performed by Amit, who is from a nearby kibbutz. She says she knew she wanted to do this work when she was three years old. It shows
The Efendi Hotel is co-owned by an Israeli celebrity chef. The dining is wonderful >>
Dining at Efendi Hotel
Breakfast is served at the hotel daily, and dinner on Thursday and Friday nights.
Breakfast at Efendi Hotel
Breakfast is included with room rates.
- It is served at a convivial communal table in the dining area,
- This breakfast is unusual and wonderful
Israeli hotel breakfasts are typically buffets. Not at the Efendi Hotel.
- It's a tasting experience, with more than 10 small silver plates coming to you
- They are laden with dishes like tahini with date syrup and almonds; feta cheese; smoked salmon and cream cheese; mini-yogurt with granola and fresh fruit; halvah
- Guests also have the option of eggs as a breakfast entree, cooked any way you choose, and served with a warm pastry du jour
- Beautifully brewed coffee can be served many ways: Americano, cappuccino, espresso, and more, along with a variety of teas
Dinner at the Efendi Hotel
Thursday and Friday dinner is wildy atmospheric.
- It is served in the vaulted, subterranean Wine Bar, once a 12th-century Crusader residence
- The menu consists of exciting small plates; several make a varied and scrumptious dinner
- Only Israeli wine is offered: the Efendi emphasizes authenticity in all ways
Dining Off-Site at Uri Buri Restaurant
Efendi Hotel guests are eager to have lunch and dinner a few minutes' walk away at Uri Buri.
- This seafood restaurant is considered one of the best in this Mediterranean nation of Israel
- Uri Buri's owner and chef is Uri Jeremias, a co-owner of the hotel
- Uri Buri is a destination restaurant for travelers, whether from Israel or other countries
- This is a buzzing, lively place; the feeling is like having dinner with friends
The Incredible Food at Uri Buri Restaurant
Uri Buri is a place where you realize, “It’s about the food, not the décor.”
Regulars don’t even look at the menu, but try a variety of fish in small portions. “We want people to experience more tastes,” says Uri Jeremias (better known as "Uri Buri").
Diners are encouraged to try lots of dishes and linger longer. Signature dishes and must-tries:
- Rare tuna with seaweed panko and fennel
- Marinated salmon topped with wasabi sorbet
- Fresh anchovy, simply grilled, so you taste the sea
- Sweet-and-sour tilapia baked with diced beets, then lightly pan-seared to caramelize
- Trout with cream, grated onion, and black pepper, served with rice in a black pot
Uri Buri's best dessert is house-made ice cream, produced in small batches. How about rose, passion fruit, mint, or cardamom?
- Akko visitors can enjoy Uri Buri's ice creams any time at Endomela, his ice cream and espresso shop a few doors from the restaurant
Get in touch with the Efendi Palace Hotel >>
How to Connect with the Efendi Hotel
- Efendi Hotel website
- Email reservations
- Local phone 972-74-7299799
- Photos on Pinterest
- Address: Louis IX St., Old Akko 24124, Israel
To Find Out More
- Here on Luxury Travel, must-sees in Akko
- And Akko's astonishing past
- The Efendi is one of Israel's fabulous boutique hotels
- Akko visitors' site
- Israel Tourism
As is common in the travel industry, the Guest Author was provided with a complimentary visit for the purpose of describing the hotel. While this arrangement has not influenced her article, About.com believes in full editorial transparency. For details, see our site's Ethics Policy.
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