The smart option for travellers looking for an affordable, big-on-kitsch-and-chutzpah overnighter slap bang in the city’s buzzy centre.
03 March, 2020
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
