New Imperial Hotel

Fantastic location within Jerusalem's Old City Walls, just inside the Jaffa Gate, and across the street from the Citadel and Tower of David. We stayed four nights and loved the convenience of walking to all of the major sites within or near Old Jerusalem. The Imperial Hotel has an interesting history, and once hosted Kaiser Wilhelm, II in 1898, when the Jaffa Gate entrance was expanded to permit access for his entourage. Our room was comfortable, with a mini kitchen area, several stone walls and large bathroom. As the plumbing is old, toilet paper must be placed in a waste basket as opposed to being flushed. A large and comfortable lounge is a nice place to bring a drink from off-site, and converse or catch up on world news. Breakfast is plentiful and served in another nice area of the hotel. The entrance is attractive, and a staircase (no elevator) leads the guest up to the 2nd level (and beyond) for service, which is friendly, welcoming, and where a complimentary tea and coffee machine is situated. "Tourist Information" is a two minute walk, where we booked a semi-private tour to Bethlehem, and numerous restaurants are located within the immediate vicinity, both inside the Old Walls and outside, in the Ben Yahuda Street pedestrian mall area. I highly recommend Versava Restaurant across the courtyard from the Imperial, run by a delightful Christian family. The "Night Spectacular" with lights, is shown evenings at the Citadel across the street, but it can be viewed from the Imperial's roof-top terrace. Many of the other historic sites in Jerusalem, such as Temple Mount and Mount of Olives, can also be seen from the rooftop, where my adult son and I spent evenings enjoying the ancient views. We were extremely pleased overall with this historic, budget-friendly hotel, and our inside room was exceptionally quiet. This was a unique, cultural experience.