Destination summer: Soho House Tel Aviv, Jaffa

Israelis have a saying, ‘Tel Aviv plays, Jerusalem prays’ – and as a city that was founded on sand dunes north of Jaffa just over a century ago, this comparatively modern metropolis hasn’t dragged its feet in pursuing this 24-hour status. Tel Aviv is a commercial centre (its start-up game is second only to Silicon Valley), it’s home to a diverse cultural scene, and its love of partying has earnt it the accolade of the Ibiza of the Middle East (right down to that crystal-clear Mediterranean water).

Tel Aviv is a city that often treads a line between secularism and religion, but it is innately progressive and hardwired for acceptance and coexistence, embracing ethnic, religious and social diversity. This is the place, after all, that The Boston Globe once referred to as ‘the gayest city on earth’, and whose annual Pride celebrations are some of the biggest in the world, attracting 250,000 visitors in recent years.

So, it comes as no surprise that this is also a place where Soho House just makes sense. From the ethos of acceptance and the celebration of creativity to a predilection for a bit of a party, the two are kindred spirits. Here’s everything you should know about our outpost in the Middle East.

The architecture and interiors

Soho House Tel Aviv is located on Yefet Street, in a castellated building that was originally built between 1883 and 1917 as a convent for the sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition. The original features of the building have been retained and restored, and the interiors, created by Soho House’s in-house team, draw inspiration from the city’s culture, colours, and influences.

A marble staircase links the club reception to a sunken courtyard and pool on the basement level. Paved with locally made terracotta floor tiles, the bespoke curve-edged swimming pool is surrounded by sunloungers, and the adjacent Jaffa Garden is an outdoor dining and lounge space dotted with 300-year-old olive trees from Galilee.

On the ground floor, The Assembly room has a bar with a mix of vintage furniture and newer pieces, vaulted ceilings, and the original patterned floor tiles have been restored throughout. 

The bedrooms

The House has 24 bedrooms spread over the first and second floors. Accessed by the original main marble staircase, these include three suites located in the circular turret spaces, each with four-poster beds, freestanding bathtubs, and living areas. 

All bedrooms feature vaulted ceilings, timber parquet flooring, and Bauhaus-inspired furniture. Rattan armchairs and ceramic bedside lamps are paired with Soho Home’s light linen fabrics and bedspreads that were inspired by textile artist Anni Albers. 

The art collections

The Soho House Tel Aviv art collection aims to showcase the country’s history, the spirit of its people, and the abundance of the land. It focuses on artists from Israel and the surrounding areas, from internationally renowned artists such as Elad Lassry, Tal R, and Ilit Azoulay to up-and-coming talent including Shai Yehezkelli and Maayan El Yakim. 
 
We could not have created an art collection in Israel without paying tribute to its unique place in design history as one of the largest concentrations of Bauhaus architecture in the world. When the Nazis expelled the Bauhaus from Berlin, the school’s design aesthetic found a warm welcome in the terraces of the first modern Jewish city. Our homage to the movement comprises works portraying balanced forms, abstract shapes, and blocks of colour.  

To become a Soho House Tel Aviv, Jaffa member, click here; to book a bedroom, click here.