2 Best Hotels in Zichron Ya'akov, Haifa and the Northern Coast

You would be forgiven if you thought this hotel was newly built: with its exposed cement, clean white lines, and natural walnut furnishings, the modern design from 1973 has been renovated into a striking hotel and world-class center for the arts. The small, hivelike rooms of the original plan have been reinterpreted as luxury accommodations. In a separate wing, the complex has an auditorium with nearly perfect acoustics; it has become a magnet for local and international performance artists. Notable works of art adorn public spaces in the hotel, and you can call ahead for a docent-led tour. The Elma's flagship restaurant, Oratorio, is a special treat.

On the western slopes of Zichron Ya'akov, a 10-minute walk from the center of town, this family-run hotel has a spectacular view of the coastal valley and the sea and rooms done in blues and yellows. The terrace restaurant specializes in meat dishes like oven-roasted duck in plum sauce. There's a pretty garden, a whirlpool-tub, and small aboveground pool. Less fit guests feel the climb to the sundeck on the roof; the three-story building has no elevator.