Jerusalem: Hotel East New Imperial (1 Star Guesthouse)

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Address: Jaffa gate, Old city jerusalem , Jerusalem POB 14085, Israel
Show on map

Lonely Planet review

Agatha Christie would have felt very at home in this rambling old hotel. With hallways sporting various bits of junk and antiques, collected over 60 years of the hotel's existence, it has a much 'lived-in' feel. The welcoming staff and quirky nature of the place almost make up for the antiquated facilities.

The unique character is immediately apparent in the reception area, where you'll find a mishmash of furniture, dusty novels, sheeshas (water pipes), Arab tiles and flickering lamps, not to mention scattered paintings and old photos on the walls. You may also get the feeling that the owner raided someone's old wardrobe, as moth-eaten Palestinian dresses hang everywhere. The rooms are cool, dark and dishevelled, with some built on split levels to save space. All have private bath, toilet, fridge and sink. Free Internet is a bonus. The building, however, is at the centre of a land dispute. In 2005 the owner, the Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, sold the property to Jewish investors, causing a storm of protest from the local Christian community. Hopefully, this controversy won't affect the operations of the hotel.