EL AL | Atmosphere

Lifestyle I Hotels

Where to eat Breakfast is included in the stay, and it’s as rich and abundant as you can imagine, with a wide range of salads, cheeses, eggs in various forms, baked goods, tea, and coffee. Dinner is currently served on Fridays only, and includes salads of every kind, various fish and meat dishes, and impressive deserts (all kosher). As mentioned above, Haifa has one of the most vibrant food scenes in Israel and there are so many great restaurants to choose from that the hard part is choosing, so there’s no risk of going hungry in this city.

Sandbank, is inspired by botanical gardens across the world, and is full of colors, luscious greenery, and gorgeous artwork. Even the cocktails at the hotel bar are botany-themed, and there's a charming internal patio replete with lovely plant-filled corners. There are 163 rooms of five different kinds, including three impressive suites. The rooms of each separate floor are united in tone and color, according to the color of the Bahá’í Garden terraces that floor looks out onto – red, yellow, green, or blue. Since my room was on the third floor, the blue floor, it was painted entirely blue – everything inside was blue-toned: the armchairs, carpet, walls, sofa, etc. Equipped with a smart TV, a fridge, a writing desk, and a Nespresso machine, the room was spacious, with a particularly pampering bathroom filled with French toiletry brand L'Occitane products. The room's two balconies

both looked out onto the Bahá’í Gardens - the perfect view for a weekend in Haifa. Plush and Pampering Before my stay, I booked a massage at the hotel spa and I was so glad I did, as it made my first afternoon in the hotel nothing less than heavenly. The spa offers many kinds of wellness treatments, but I opted for the 75-minute-long "Botanica" massage. The spa also has a sauna, and there's a gym and a beautiful pool (open in the summer) in the hotel as well, with tanning and seating areas. The hotel's rooftop lounge bar looks out onto the city, and the cocktail bar is helmed by two master mixologists who have created a bespoke drinks menu inspired by the hotel's design and atmosphere. Truthfully, one could easily spend the whole weekend inside the hotel without ever going out, but

Haifa is well worth pulling yourself away from the pampering for a bit, especially since the hotel's location makes everything so easy to reach. The hotel concierge will gladly help you choose an afternoon activity or book tickets for something in particular (the food tour at the Wadi Nisnas market is a great option). A double room in this Haifa haven is NIS 1,200 a night midweek, and NIS 1,500 on the weekend, though prices vary according to the type of room of course. Members of the Fattal Chain members' club and those booking via the hotel website get discounts. There's a valet parking service and 24-hour parking, at a cost of NIS 60 after discount. botanicahotel.co.il ■

Maayan Mann was a guest at the Botanica Hotel.

30 ATMOSPHERE MARCH 2023