A boutique hotel in the north of Israel can mean a glamping tent with a forest view on Mount Kammon, at Rom Farm, or a centuries-old stone suite tucked into an alley of Old Akko, at Akotika Akko. Before choosing, it helps to answer three questions that actually change the answer: where exactly in the north, who you’re sharing the stay with, and what’s on the table come evening. Those three questions can lead to three very different places, and sometimes to the same one, for different reasons.
Where exactly in the north: from the old seafront to the Golan peaks
The north stretches from the Mediterranean coast to the peaks of the Golan Heights, and the difference shows in every detail. In Old Akko, Akotika Akko scatters its suites through the city’s picturesque alleys, its rooftop restaurant facing the ancient sea wall and the Mediterranean, serving an Akko-Galilean breakfast. In Haifa, The Schumacher Haifa sits in the heart of the German Colony, inside a restored Templar building beside a newer wing, with views of the Carmel, the Baha’i Gardens and Haifa port. Further into the Galilee, Rom Farm sits on Mount Kammon, at the end of a dirt road that begins not far from Karmiel, and has operated as a working goat farm since 1986. Higher still, at the highest point of Safed, Villa Galilee Safed looks out over a 360-degree panorama that takes in the Old City, the Galilee hills and the Sea of Galilee. And on the Golan Heights, two hotels: OAKS in Buq’ata, among oak forests and orchards facing Mount Hermon, and Pereh Hotel, spread across eight dunams of open Golan landscape around Beit HaMechess HaElyon.
Who you’re sharing the stay with: couples, adults-only or families too
Age policy is one of the factors that decides which boutique hotel in the north fits you. OAKS is adults-only, and so is Pereh Hotel, both on the Golan Heights. The Schumacher Haifa suits couples, with children over 12 welcomed by prior arrangement only. Akotika Akko welcomes guests aged 16 and up. Villa Galilee Safed is adults-only as well. Rom Farm in the Galilee, by contrast, carries no such age policy, which makes it the more flexible choice for a stay with family or children.
The table around which the evening is built
Food tells a different story at each address. At Rom Farm, the bistro runs Farm to Table on the property’s own goat cheese and vegetables, with the kitchen led by chef Nadav Kornfeld. At Akotika Akko, the rooftop restaurant serves an Akko-Galilean breakfast facing the sea. At OAKS on the Golan Heights, the Lusper chef restaurant grills premium cuts in a Josper oven, alongside a bar on the hotel’s roof. At Pereh Hotel, the Rouge restaurant serves contemporary, region-inspired cooking, including Golan vegetables and meats and artisanal cheeses, and does not hold a kosher certificate. At Villa Galilee Safed, by contrast, the SUMAC chef restaurant is kosher under the supervision of the local Safed rabbinate, serving Galilean cooking with modern French touches. At The Schumacher Haifa, breakfast is served at a chosen restaurant in the German Colony, and every evening brings a Happy Hour in the hotel lounge starting at 7pm.
Spa, pools and quiet: where the body rests
For anyone looking for more than sleep, the differences are clear. OAKS includes an advanced spa, a beauty clinic, a pool that operates year-round and a rooftop bar facing Mount Hermon. Pereh Hotel has an infinity pool, a wine cellar, a jacuzzi and a dry sauna alongside its spa. Villa Galilee Safed offers a panoramic pool and a luxury spa at the highest point of the city. Akotika Akko includes a wellness area with body treatments and a lounge. The Schumacher Haifa offers spa treatments and two rooftops, one of them facing the city and the Carmel range. And at Rom Farm, despite its rural character, spa treatments are available on site alongside yoga classes.
Which hotel fits whom, in short
- Rom Farm: couples and families looking for disconnection in nature, glamping and food grown on the farm itself.
- Akotika Akko: couples aged 16 and up who want to sleep inside the historic story of Old Akko.
- OAKS: adult couples looking for spa, a chef restaurant and Hermon views on the Golan Heights.
- Pereh Hotel: adult couples looking for quiet, wine and an infinity pool in the heart of the Golan Heights.
- Villa Galilee Safed: anyone looking for French-inspired design, kosher dining and panoramic views from the highest point of Safed.
- The Schumacher Haifa: couples wanting an urban base in Haifa, inside the German Colony.
All of these hotels were chosen for the Unique Hotels collection on character, location and service, not on size. Booking at each one goes directly through the hotel, with no commission added.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between an adults-only boutique hotel in the north and one that welcomes families?
OAKS and Pereh Hotel, both on the Golan Heights, are defined as adults-only. The Schumacher Haifa suits couples with children over 12 by prior arrangement, and Akotika Akko in Old Akko welcomes guests from age 16. Villa Galilee Safed is adults-only. Rom Farm in the Galilee carries no stated age restriction, making it the better fit for a family stay.
Which boutique hotel in the north combines a spa with a chef’s restaurant?
OAKS on the Golan Heights pairs an advanced spa with the Lusper chef restaurant and a rooftop bar. Pereh Hotel, in the same region, offers a spa, sauna and the Rouge restaurant. Villa Galilee Safed combines a panoramic pool and spa with its kosher chef restaurant, SUMAC.
Is there a boutique hotel in the north with a kosher restaurant?
Yes. Villa Galilee Safed runs SUMAC under the supervision of the local Safed rabbinate, serving Galilean cooking with modern French touches. Pereh Hotel on the Golan Heights, by contrast, does not hold a kosher certificate.
How do you book a room at one of the collection’s hotels in the north?
Booking goes directly through the hotel itself, at the hotel’s own rate, with no commission charged by Unique Hotels. Changes and cancellations are also handled directly with the hotel where the night was booked, according to that hotel’s own policy.
