Fodor's Expert Review Hilton Tel Aviv

Perched on a cliff, this sprawling hotel is buffered on three sides by Independence Park. It has direct access to the beach and a large saltwater swimming pool. In addition to enjoying the excellent, eclectic cuisine at the intimate King Solomon Restaurant, which serves everything from panfried duck breast to sea bream with olive tapenade, you can grab a bite at the café or at the sushi bar. Business travelers will find a particularly good array of services, especially its two lounges with beautiful, uninterrupted views of the Mediterranean.

room

Sleek and modern and done up in shades of brown, gray and white, the rooms are simple, crisp and fresh. Every room has a balcony with a sea view.

Guests who choose to stay in the Hilton Vista rooms can head up directly to the 17th floor for a private check-in as well as round-the-clock drinks and nibbles; so if you prefer privacy, it might be worth splashing out the extra cash.

bathroom

That bathrooms are spacious and modern, with big basin sinks and Ahava Dead Sea toiletries.

lobby

The massive sparkling lobby has a showstopping ceiling of twinkling glass cubes, as well as a sleek and modern check-in desk with an ombre art installation directly behind it. Here you'll also find shops and several restaurants, as well as plenty of quiet corners to relax, order a drink or gaze upon the sea.

YOU SHOULD KNOW The lobby bar gets crowded and service here can be slow.

pool

A huge saltwater pool and ample deck chairs means there's plenty of space to swim, splash and sun yourself.

spa

The Sheva Spa is Thai-inspired and luxurious, with treatments rooted in every corner of the world and top-notch service. This is one of the most in-demand spas in Tel Aviv, so expect both service and price points to be on par.

gym

The large gym offers floor-to-ceiling windows with direct sea views, so you can gaze at the waves while you work up a sweat.

dining

There are no fewer than five restaurants and bars to choose from in this big hotel, so you'll never be starved for choice. Breakfast and holiday buffets are served in the Cafe Med dining room; Chloelys serves upscale, white-tablecloth French and Mediterranean with full kosher supervision; Yakimono Sushi Bar offers an authentic taste of Japan; there are light snacks and sandwiches available for order in the lobby bar; and meat dishes and salads are served up by the pool.

drinking

With a lobby bar open late and a full bar at the hotel's restaurants, there's plenty of places to choose from when you're craving something stronger than juice or water.