The

The
second outpost of the Brown Hotels’ more
wallet-friendly brand, Dave Gordon, Dave Levinsky is the mischievous
younger brother of the group. The shots of arak (the spirit beloved
by Israelis) and bottles of beer that greet you on arrival set the
tone for this fun-loving, kitsch-as-hell hotel, which is located in
the lively part of town between Rothschild Boulevard and Levinsky
Market.

Tapping into the demand for design-focused, quirky accommodation
at an affordable price point, Dave’s pale-peach hallways lead to 27
loud-and-proud guest rooms, as well as a spacious rooftop terrace
that overlooks the ever-evolving skyscape of the surrounding
neighbourhood. For groups of friends looking for a casual spot for
a sundowner and from which to explore
Tel Aviv‘s charismatic quarters, Dave is a natural
companion.

Rooms

Designed by the leading Israel designer Alona Eliasi, the guest
rooms at Dave are certainly no wallflowers. Instead, the first word
that comes to mind when you step inside is “wallPAPER”, with a
bold, orange-and-brown vintage design covering the walls and
ceilings, offset by candyfloss-pink walls. Rooms also include
flat-screen TVs, digital radios and welcome brown bags filled with
beer and local sweets, and the bedding feels more luxurious than
you’d expect from an affordable option. The white-tiled bathrooms
offer a bit of respite from the disco-fabulous vibes, while the
“BUSY” sign that lights up when someone’s in the shower is a wry
touch. While not to everyone’s taste, each room is packed with
personality and escapes the drab, minimalist formula so ubiquitous
of other “millennially minded” hotels.

What’s for breakfast?

Although there’s no restaurant on-site, Dave is a two-minute
walk from Levinsky Market, where you can pick up natural soda from
the Benny Soda food truck, buy fresh fruit and bags of nuts, or
settle in for brunch at one of the many casual café options.

How about lunch and dinner?

Ditto the above – however, if you fancy something more formal,
you’re a short walk from the busy Rothschild Boulevard or bohemian
Neve Tzedek, both of which have plenty of stellar dining options,
whatever your mood.

Is there a bar?

No, but aside from the check-in drinks you can bring in alcohol
from the supermarket next door. Although the rooms don’t come with
mini fridges, the staff can bring one up on request.

Amenities

The communal rooftop terrace’s sunloungers, hot tub and city
views provides the ideal spot to mingle and start your night – the
space also hosts regular music events. Additionally there’s free
WiFi and the staff are great at helping you plan and book tours and
activities around the city.

Things I should know

The rooms are very compact and not really a place for lounging –
instead the emphasis is on getting out and about in the city. The
relaxed atmosphere and central location also mean that you might
get unlucky with noisy guests around weekends.

Within a short walk I can find…

Levinsky Market and its stalls of spices, pulses and herbs;
Rothschild Boulevard’s vibrant bars and restaurants; and the
pretty, bougainvillea-strewn neighbourhood of Neve Tzedek.