It’s all about luxurious attention to detail at The Norman, an impressive boutique hotel in Tel Aviv’s leafy White City district. The floors are rich hardwood; the artwork on the pale lilac, cream, and blue walls is high-end and modern; the furniture is a mix of bespoke, Scandi-fabulous and mid-century; the tiles are handpainted; and the atmosphere as you move from floor to floor to get to the chic rooftop area, with its own pool, is serene and sumptuous. Speaking of the pool: it just adds to the decadence by being positioned to give guests a glimpse of the twinkling Mediterranean in the distance. But with so much on offer at The Norman, it would be understandable if guests never took the 10-minute walk to the beach. This is, after all, one of the best boutique hotels in the world, with plenty of stars and awards to prove it.

There are 50 rooms at The Norman, which start at “Classic” (elegant furniture, Israeli art on the walls, luxe bath amenities) and move steadily up through Deluxe, found in the historic wing of the hotel, until you reach the suites. The Penthouse Duplex is, unsurprisingly, at the zenith of the guest accommodation offerings, featuring a spacious and private outdoor terrace with its own hot tub, a living room, and a grand (both in size and level of comfort) king size bed. Moving through the hotel, guests will find a state-of-the-art gym, two gourmet restaurants serving Mediterranean and Japanese cuisine, and a spa.

And thanks to its central position, a stay at The Norman allows guests to enjoy all the bells and whistles of five-star luxury just minutes from some of the city’s highlights, including the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Even the White City district is explore-worthy, thanks to its abundance of 1920s Bauhaus architecture. The Norman itself is found within two such historical, fully renovated buildings (one’s lemon and the other’s forget-me-not blue) so the sightseeing starts on arrival.