Publica Isrotel Herzliya
Abba Eban Blvd 9, Herzliya, 4672202, Israel
Why We Like It
At the Publica, the design is on fleek: Retro-themed bluetooth speakers, rich jewel toned furniture and plenty of mod-funk urban flair infuse both common spaces and private rooms. This property is managed by leading Israeli hotelier Isrotel but has also been brought into the Marriott Autograph Collection umbrella, a further mark of quality. With one of the coolest rooftop pools in town, a welcoming common workspace and a great gym, this is an all-around gem for both business and leisure.
Fodor's Expert Review
Cool, colorful and chock-full of charm, this brand new property sits smack in the heart of Herzliya's buzzing business district and within a leisurely walk of the sea. With great design, a killer pool and a roster of classes and events designed to bring hotel guests together, this is a hotel to see -- and a place to be seen.
Tip This hotel is big on getting guests to mingle and meet each other. Take advantage of the spirit by checking out its extensive events roster (writing workshops, sound meditation and more), or grabbing a seat in the 6th floor coworking space, where there's fresh coffee and free beer on tap.
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Room
Sleek, modern and fun: Guest rooms at the Publica sport dark wood floors, plush turquoise and mustard armchairs, and king-sized beds with leather headboards (and a sweet teddy bear in a Publica scarf). Cleverly designed reading lamps on both sides of the bed pop out of the wall and turn on automatically, making it easy to read before snoozing without fumbling around for a switch. Retro touches include a "rotary-style" phone (with modern push buttons) and a cool Bluetooth speaker that can easily be hooked up to your smartphone or laptop for music streaming.
You Should Know Many of the advertised rooms offer a "sea view," but this hotel is more than a mile from the beach, so while you will be able to glimpse the blue waters from your window, don't expect a stunning view in exchange for the extra cost.
Bathroom
The fun continues in the powder room, where a fun slogan in the frosted-glass shower stall looks as if it was traced in steam. Bathrooms offer robes (but sadly, no slippers), custom toiletries, and a generous-sized walk-in shower stall with a powerful rainfall showerhead.
Lobby
Warm colors, modern design and quirky touches infuse the entire lobby with a sense of calm and great aesthetics. The wide lobby bar offers wraparound seating for drinks or a nosh, and a rotating photo gallery showcases some great Israeli artists.
Tip When you get your room key, don't stuff it in your back pocket near your smartphone; it'll become deactivated and will no longer work.
Pool
The crowning glory of this beautiful hotel is without a doubt its stunning rooftop pool and deck; the sleek turquoise waters are ringed with mod black-and-white striped umbrellas and bright orange lounge chairs, making for a very "And God Created Woman" atmosphere.
Gym
The basement City Club gym offers all the cardio machines and free weights you could ever need, as well as a boxing ring and great roster of workout classes including Thai Boxing, yoga, and Barre fitness.
Dining
There's a rich breakfast buffet on offer in the lobby bar in the mornings, and the lobby serves Asian-Mediterranean fusion dishes throughout the day.
You Should Know The hotel's room service can't seem to get itself off the ground; it's advertised in both the room and on their website, but is nevertheless not available. So if you want to eat while in the hotel, you'll have to shlep downstairs to the lobby.
Drinking
Cocktails, wine and beer are served at the hotel bar, in the lobby and on the outside patio, and also available upstairs at the pool. There's also free beer on tap at the 6th floor coworking space in the early evening.
What's Nearby
Getting Around
Herzliya's buzzing business district, referred to by locals as Herzliya Pituach, overflows with startups and trendy restaurants and is relatively walkable. It's easy to find cabs here -- you'll likely see at least 2 or 3 waiting outside the hotel each morning in hopes of grabbing a passenger -- and you can also order a ride through Uber or the Israeli taxi app GetTaxi.
Restaurants
For a real five-napkin burger with perfectly salted wavy fries, walk on over to MB Burger (3-minute walk); for wildly imaginative fusion fare with the artistic influence of an Israeli celebrity chef, book a table at Segev (7-minute walk).
Bars
Sports buffs and anyone homesick for America will love the easygoing atmosphere of Mike's Place (2-minute walk); classy cocktails and delicious cuisine alike can be hunted down at Inga Bar (5-minute walk).
